How to Improve Communication Skills?

There is an opinion that people in tech are not very sociable. But to move forward, this skill is one of the required ones. Basically, most tech people are really introverts. However, the idea that those are the people who are lost in a conversation with a stranger has long been irrelevant.

Today, tech folks are among the most advanced. They are interested in psychology, creativity, science, and, most importantly, actively participate in various events, groups and communities. But requests for the development of communication skills in tech companies are very popular. I would divide this problem into two groups.

• Difficulties in communicating with people who are far from the tech culture. With those who are very different in values and ideas about life.
• Problems with specialized communications. For example, public speaking or participation in work with a client/stakeholder along with sales.

Here are some tips to help you.

1. Switch to an understandable language, remove terminology and anglicisms. Try to explain to your grandmother what you do and you will understand what I mean. If you want to be a good communicator, then your task is to speak in a language that the interlocutor understands.

2. Accept the presence of uneven erudition. Even 50 years ago, to be erudite meant to understand different areas. Now there is so much content that even in one direction people use team training. One person is not able to master this amount of information in a lifetime. This means that a person who looks less educated in your eyes, especially in the field of digital literacy, may be very talented in other areas.
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3. Don't get into value conflicts that involve other people's important beliefs (religion, generational differences, politics, etc.). The fact is that such conflicts are inherently unresolvable. The only result will be a worsened relationship. Have a suitable phrase in reserve like: “We have different views on this issue, and I really appreciate our relationship. Therefore, I will be grateful if we do not touch this topic." Remember that one belief of a person does not speak about his personality as a whole, we are all multifaceted.

4. Learn to resist pressure and manipulation. The tech industry embraces direct, respectful and sustainable communications. Therefore, it's difficult for tech folks to interact with interlocutors who are used to communicating in an authoritarian, oppressive and manipulative manner. It's better to develop stress resistance and get acquainted with counteraction tools. Start with Susan Forward book "Emotional Blackmail".

5. Remember that no one owes you anything. It will become much easier for you to build good relationships with people if you give up beliefs from the series: “all people should communicate politely”, “everyone should know this”, “no one should be late for meetings”, “they should understand that this is important " etc.
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Communication always has its own rules. One recommendation is to study them. For example, if you are involved in negotiations with a client, even as a developer, it's great to have an understanding of the sales processes, be able to speak the client's language and be familiar with some sales technology. For example, with the SPIN sales method, which is well suited to the tech sector.

It is easier for some tech folks to develop a communication skill, while for others it is more difficult and longer. But the development plan and motivation guarantee the result.

“How well we communicate is not determined by how well we say things but how well we are understood.” – Andrew Grove, engineer, CEO