@duquesnay#DevInfluent

Developer under Influence

@duquesnay Coder veteran, Agile coach http://duquesnay.fr

@duquesnay#DevInfluent

Being influent

• I have something to say

• I know how to confront this opinion with others

• I know with who / where / when I should open my mouth

• I know what I’m doing here

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Do I have something to say ?

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In project’s interest ?

Can I justify it rationally ?- Facts- Analysis- Outcome for the project

Nope = it’s for my own pleasure

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How to be skilled ? become

• Experience eats Talent for breakfast

• Intransigence

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Develop your experience ?

• Out of curiosity = out of your job’s project

• Go deeper first [The Art of Learning]

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How to confront ot other opinions

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Speak your mind

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Diplomacy rules

• Talk about the code

• Don’t talk about people

• No blame

• The chances of solving a problem decline the closer you get to finding out who was the cause of the problem (G.Weinberg)

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When to hold your position ?

• No new rational element => no change

• Integrity rule

• Counter-test : when the boss pushes you to an answer, do you change your saying ?

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Being wrong know-how

• Expertise bias

• Engagement bias

• Social Pressure

Check

• How long does it take you to change your mind, facing a counter-fact ?

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Train yourself at being wrong

• Get out of your comfort zone often

• Learn all the time

• Encourage coworkers to contradict / challenge what you say

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When positions are blocked

Our ability to sort things rationally has limits

Respect intuition and passion

=> when both are not moving, let’s try and learn

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Some references• Google « Assertive Communication »

• Seek to understand before being understood [7 habits of effective people]

• Observe others to observe yourself they reflect your own state

• Work your self awareness : personality tests, MBTI, etc.

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When to open your mouth ?

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Sidekick

• Expertise + Integrity + Assertivity + Sociability + … = not you

• Any Batman has his Robin

• Doubts about your legitimity : ask the others

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Talking to the boss

• Seek a sponsor = who has power over my proposal ?

• Informal access

• Start by the conclusion

• Provoking coincidental encounter

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Never go black-op’ style

• Get the others in your reflexion, even by symbol

• « May I raise a counter-point » ?

• « May I be blunt ? »

• « I’d like to try XXX, what do you think ? »

• Wait for the explicit « yes »

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What do I do here ?

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What’s my position ?

• Situation dependent

• Financial dependency, affective dependencyvs

• Seeking performance

• Integrity means you’re ok about quitting

Both = Frustration => know where you are, eventually make your choice

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I want to change everything

• Pick your battle

• Enjoy the success you have

• Be aware that you have a quitting point (integrity principle)

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Detect cynical spiral

• Use of generalisation

• « never », « always », « on every compagny », « they » vs « I »

• Auto-therapy

• Work by writing

• When was I angry ? Where ? With who ? What was I doing ? What subject did I have in mind ?

• Anti-cynical assignment : Can you get 3 « No » within 1 week ?

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Becoming influent is a career choice

What about you ?