As a developer, I used to think that I should sit alone in the corner and spend my whole time to write the code only, but I was wrong. I realized that majority of my time goes to deal with the people, not with the computers.
If you see your daily life, you go to meetings to get requirement, discuss design with the team, write code which people use, coordinate with the testers to test code and work with the client to push code on production.
Ultimately your main job as a software developer is to deal with the people. Better you understand the people, better code you will deliver.
In this article, I am just putting few general tips to improve relations with the people. These rules are very easy than any application platform and have huge potentials for return over investment.
1. Say Thanks and Please a lot
No matter, how big or small a favor is, always say “Thanks”. It makes you humble and kind, people appreciate that you recognized their efforts. For every request, start with “Please”. It helps you keep kind while asking favor and people will not feel that you are forcing him to do the task. You will also feel good when someone will say “please” and “thankyou” to you.
2. Never Criticize
I always thought that if you want to get work done from team, use harsh words, give them negative feedback, team will afraid and work restless. But I was wrong. For a moment, it will look that it is working but it is not. When you criticize someone, you are putting that person in defending position. In place of working on your feedback, he will start thinking to safe himself and reply you. Ultimately you will not get what you want from him. So next time, if you are about to criticize someone, bite your tongue and say only appreciative words.
3. Avoid Arguments
We all think that we discuss logically but we always fall into this trap. No matter, how logical we think, others are also thinking in their logical manner. So ultimately it will convert into arguments, neither you will agree on his logic nor he will agree with you and this will generate unpleasant situation.
So better to avoid arguments. Next time when you have disagreement, just take a thought whether or not this point is a hill to die. If not, accept others logic and move on. It is not necessary for you to be right every time.
It will help you to keep good relation and others will also appreciate you. You will be able to use these credits when tables are turned.
4. Be Kind
No matter how smartest developer you are, but if you do not have good manners and have bad attitude, your colleagues will avoid to work with you. It will hurt your reputation. How big or stupid an issue is, yelling on someone will not solve problem. So always remember to be calm and kind with all and try to find solution of the problem. Team will appreciate your kindness and will come together to help you to get out from the problem.
5. Always Appreciate Others
People like praise. Always appreciate others for all small or big achievements. You do not need to say longs sentences, only “well done”, “good job” will also give boost to others to keep morale high. Do not wait for achievements, find all small reasons and appreciate that in front of the team. It can be anything like Deployment of stable code build, completing stable code module, helping other team member to finishing his work or ordering food for team while others are busy.
6. Keep Smiling
Never forget to smile. It keeps light weight environment and people will feel free to talk. If you smile, others will also smile back to you. This will make you and others feel better.
7. Never Hesitate to Apologize
Everyone do mistakes, you are not alone. So never shy to admit your mistake. Accept it, apologize it and move forward. Do not take this on your ego. You cannot be right every time. Hiding mistake and giving unnecessary excuses will not help. Everyone understand that we all are human being and can do mistake. If you accept mistake and apologize, people will appreciate it that you realized and look forward.
8. Ask Question to Assign Tasks
In place of ordering to do a work, ask help in form of question, i.e. can you help to finish this piece of work? It will help others to understand that you are not forcing him to do but asking help and opinion. People will feel good while accepting it. If in case, they deny, since you were kind while asking, chances are high that they will also be very kind and polite while denying and you will not hurt or feel bad.
9. No Politics
You may find many people who will be good in politics. They always look for opportunities to let other people down, keep criticizing others or take credit of others. Try to keep distance from these people. Because they will poisoned you to think negatively as they think. If you cannot keep distance, change the project or change the job.
If you did not get time to work on your public dealing skills, there is no better time than this. More you will practice, more you will succeed. You will find your life more enjoyable when you interact and deal with others in pleasant way. These skills are priceless and long lasting. So keep practicing.