Ask HN: What non-technical skill boosted your engineering career the most?

1•pranav_tech26•59m ago

For me it was learning how to communicate technical trade-offs clearly to non-technical stakeholders and writing concise documentation. What skills made a major difference for you?

Comments

herbst•52m ago

Honestly: Lazyness. Nearly all I do has being lazy as core motive. Never create myself more work.

bdangubic•40m ago

so much this. I’ve been in the industry for three decades and absolute thread that connects the best people I’ve ever worked with is that they are lazy at their core. laziness breeds automation, removes duplication and redundancy (and boredom).

curious_curios•47m ago

Improv believe it or not.

WheelsAtLarge•38m ago

Networking, some people hate it but it makes careers so learn to do it.

I didn't see it until after the fact but preventing burn out. I was tech 100% and loved every bit. Eventually you burn out and it severely impacts your ability to stay up to date with new tech.

pelagic_sky•4m ago

Managing up. Telling my boss what they wanted to know before they had to ask me for it.

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