Communicating and Working with Engineers – Bridging the Gap

Why do our technical projects keep slipping? Why are the engineers I work with annoyed when I try to talk to them? Why are they resistant to coming back into the office? Why can’t they appreciate the strategic importance of what we’re building?

If you’ve ever asked yourself any of those questions – consider that the problem might not be with your engineers, but with how you communicate with them. Managers, project managers, or anyone who depends on technical teams need to understand how engineers think differently – and how to communicate with engineers to maximize their productivity and their morale.

This course is taught by Frank Kane, who brings his experience as both a senior manager and as a senior engineer at Amazon headquarters. Frank’s seen the challenges of communication between engineers and non-engineers from both sides of the table, and shares his insights on how to empathize with engineers to communicate more effectively. You’ll join 700,000 learners who have gained technical and managerial skills from Frank.

Better communication with engineering leads to more realistic project schedules, a more productive team, and an assurance your team is building the right thing. Some specific topics we’ll cover include:

• Introversion vs. extraversion, and how to create an environment conducive to both

• Communication challenges arising from a focus on the big picture vs. a focus on technical details

• Optimizing your communication style to keep engineers productive

• Soft skills vs. hard skills, and the communication challenges that arise

• Navigating cultural, language, and geographic barriers

You’ll also get four hands-on activities, including a role-playing exercise of a difficult meeting with a lead engineer. You’ll get to practice and apply what you learn.

This course is aimed at non-technical staff that depends on engineering teams to deliver results – managers, project managers, or anyone else on the business side. Understanding what makes engineers tick goes a long way in building a more productive working relationship with them. Hope to see your enrollment!

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have access to the course materials?

You can view and review the lecture materials indefinitely, like an on-demand channel.

Can I take my courses with me wherever I go?

Definitely! If you have an internet connection, courses on Udemy are available on any device at any time. If you don’t have an internet connection, some instructors also let their students download course lectures. That’s up to the instructor though, so make sure you get on their good side!