<p>Often we start communicating with someone or try to convince them to do something without thinking about who they are. This can make communication challenging. </p> <p>If you want to communicate effectively with someone, you must first understand who they are. Most techies are brilliant and many are somewhat introverted. Because of this, the better you understand how to communicate effectively with a techie, the better your working relationship with them will be. </p> <p>Here are 9 ways to make your communication more effective when talking or communicating with a techie. </p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. The person you are communicating with is brilliant.</span> To this end, you need to realize that they like to be with people who are competent in what they do. This means striving to do your work well and efficiently. It means not making careless mistakes. The group (techies) of people you are working with seldom make mistakes. If they do, websites go down, computers stop working and security breeches occur. In addition to valuing competence, they also value intelligence. When communicating with them, it is imperative that you get your facts correct. If you do not, you will lose credibility with them very quickly. They tend to be very competent and if you are not, they will not value you or your opinion.</p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. They tend to be very analytical.</span> They are good in their jobs at troubleshooting when there are issues with code or other problems. Because they have these skills, they are also typically good at analyzing lots of data. If you are trying to convince them to do something, make sure you provide all the facts, all the numbers and all the information. They don’t want to make a decision based on your opinion. They like data! The more scientific the data is, the better. You will likely convince them when you provide lots of information and solid evidence. </p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. Most of the time, it is best to be concise and discuss relevant issues when communicating.</span> There is a tendency for techies to be impatient with things that are irrelevant. When you are interacting with them, stick to the point. Most of them are not “people people.” They want to get back to their computer and their gadgets. When talking, break the ice, tell them what you need and let them get it done. Most of them don’t want to hear a lot of “fluff.” A lot of small talk, typically will not impress this group. </p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">4. Techies love to solve problems and contribute their ideas</span>. If you are open to suggestions, ask for their suggestions. They will typically give you some great ideas. However, if you ask for them, make sure you are serious about trying them. If you don’t intend to use them, you will lose your credibility with this group. It will irritate them that you wasted their time and did not take their suggestions seriously. They will likely never share their suggestions with you again and you will lose your credibility.</p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">5. If you would like a techie to do something for you, ask them and then give them the space to do it their way</span>. Most are very smart and they will likely have an idea of the best way to do it. Just make sure you clearly explain the outcome you would like.</p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">6. Everyone needs appreciation and recognition.</span> Techies are no different. It makes one feel good, feel valued and important to the organization they are working for. Pointing out the way their work affects their organization and improves the world, will likely help to retain them in your organization. Remember to appreciate the skills they bring and the work they do. Most are great at inventing and creating. These are easy areas to appreciate.</p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">7. Typically techies will be good at seeing the “big picture.”</span> They use these skills on a daily basis when they are planning their creations and when they are troubleshooting. If you are working with them on something, share your big picture and ask for their outlook. They may have a lot to share. </p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">8. If you are extremely extroverted, it may help to tone down the way you interact with this group</span>. The majority of techies are somewhat introverted. Someone who is loud or gregarious could be overwhelming. Often introverted people tend to shut down a bit when someone is extremely gregarious. To avoid this, tone yourself down just a bit. </p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">9. If you are in a meeting with someone who is on the quiet side and they have not said very much, ask for their opinion or feedback on the topic you are discussing.</span> They may be busy checking their e-mail on their laptop or they may think they do not have a lot to say. Often, when asked, they have more to say than they realized. You may find that it is very important or profound. </p> <p>By following these tips, you will have more effective communication with the techies in your work place and your life. </p> 2008-08-11T03:23:58Z 2008-08-11T16:00:55Z -18.5764 678 1403 true 5 11098 how-to-communicate-effectively-with-techies 12 2008-08-11T16:00:49Z 2008-08-11T16:00:49Z

Have you ever tried to communicate with someone more technical than you are? By reading this article and implementing the ideas within it, you will become a much better communicator with technical people.

0 2009-02-24T09:45:27Z