This document provides advice on how software developers can become more influential. It discusses developing experience by working on projects outside one's job, confronting other opinions diplomatically by focusing on code and facts rather than people, and knowing when and where to voice one's opinions, such as by finding sponsors and having informal discussions with bosses. It also addresses how to acknowledge being wrong, get feedback from others, and avoid cynical thinking by focusing on successes. The overall message is that becoming influential takes experience, integrity, assertiveness, and social skills.

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

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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 dependency
vs
• 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

24. What about you ?