You’re a software engineer who wants to work better with others. What can you do to improve?

I suggest you should first focus on your communication. Meaning; you need to put an effort to understand the business people's point of view. Ask them what they need from you and listen to them very well. Just to understand what they need and why they need it. Put an effort to keep your brain focused on what the person is saying. Do not try to plan in your head as they are speaking. Then rephrase what you understood. Do this until you are on the same page. Apart from that invest on your emotional intelligence and awareness about your feelings, thinking patterns, behaviour patterns and adopt to what is wanted or needed or missing.

Actively listen, seek feedback, collaborate on projects, share knowledge, communicate effectively, respect diverse perspectives, and cultivate a supportive team environment.

When you know what you're supposed to do in a team, it's like having a map. You can see where you fit in and what you need to do to help everyone else. This helps avoid confusion and makes teamwork smoother. It's like knowing your part in a play so you can perform well and make the whole show better. Understanding your role also builds trust with your teammates and shows them you're reliable and committed to the team's success. Plus, it allows you to ask for help when needed and offer support to others effectively.

The ability to collaborate effectively requires understanding your role and responsibilities within the project, team, or organization. By knowing what is expected of you, how you contribute to the larger objectives, and what value you bring, you can set clear goals, prioritize tasks, and align your efforts with the shared vision. As a result of this clarity, conflicts, confusion, or duplication of work are mitigated, fostering smoother collaboration and greater productivity.

Understanding your role is fundamental to effective collaboration. Before diving into projects or team efforts, it's essential to grasp your responsibilities within the context of the larger picture. By knowing precisely what is expected of you, how your contributions fit into the goals, you can orient yourself towards success. This clarity enables you to establish clear objectives, prioritize tasks strategically, and ensure that your efforts are in harmony with the collective vision. Moreover, a comprehensive understanding of your role helps prevent conflicts, minimize confusion, and avoid unnecessary duplication of work, especially when collaborating with individuals who have distinct or overlapping responsibilities.

Gain clarity on your responsibilities within the team and understand how your contributions align with overall project goals. Recognizing your role fosters accountability and promotes effective teamwork.

Não seja um portador da arrogância intelectual, e não crie expectativas nos outros baseadas em você mesmo ou sua própria capacidade. É muito comum que pessoas inteligentes, e muitas vezes a engenharia atrai pessoas com formas diferenciadas de pensar e organizar os pensamentos, sejam afetados por um grau de arrogância intelectual, afinal, para quem é diferenciado muitas vezes fica evidente que uma outra pessoa talvez pense e trabalhe de outras formas, talvez menos eficientes ou otimizadas pensando em um fim específico. Isso não significa que você é objetivamente melhor, mais inteligente ou qualquer coisa que o valha - e mesmo que signifique, se você age diferente com base nisso, a partir daí começa a arrogância e prepotência intelectual.

The '3C's' matter - communication, collaboration, coordination. As an engineer your success is directly linked to how well you interact, support, and inform your colleagues, customers, leadership, and stakeholders. Being relentless with clarity, utterly transparent, and reliable (don't over commit!) are traits to exhibit at all times.

Effective communication is essential to a successful collaboration. Choose the right channels, tools, and formats for your messages so that they are clear, whether verbal, written, or visual. To ensure mutual understanding, be concise, precise, and respectful, avoid jargon and ambiguity, and actively listen, ask questions, and provide feedback. Effective communication is facilitated by this approach, which minimizes misunderstandings and facilitates productive collaboration.

Effective communication involves selecting appropriate channels, tools, and formats to convey messages clearly, whether through spoken words, written text, or visual aids. Active listening, accompanied by thoughtful questioning and constructive feedback, is equally vital. By actively engaging in these practices, you create an environment where your own ideas are conveyed accurately and understood thoroughly. In essence, effective communication is a two-way street that requires both adept expression and attentive reception. By honing this skill, individuals can bridge gaps in understanding, foster mutual respect, and enhance collaboration within teams and across organizations.

Foster open and transparent communication by articulating ideas, sharing progress updates, and actively listening to others. Clear communication minimizes misunderstandings and promotes alignment towards common objectives :-)

Effective teamwork requires open, constructive collaboration. Share ideas, opinions, and knowledge while seeking input from others. Respect the diversity and strengths of your teammates and be flexible, adaptable, and willing to compromise. For efficient collaboration, utilize collaboration tools and practices such as version control, code reviews, pair programming, or agile methods. A positive team dynamic is fostered, innovation is encouraged, and successful outcomes are achieved.

Now that you know your role and communicate clearly with others, do not forget that every team is different and not everyone is willing to collaborate. Even though it would make sens you might find yourself in positions where the other members of the team are not interested in communicating, sharing work and good practices or facilitating it to others. Unless you have the support of the manager who is pushing towards a better collaboration I would not recommend you to put pressure on your colleagues towards that goal. Explain clearly and openly what you are willing to collaborate on, how much time and resources you have putting on the table for whoever is interested to collaborate, and work with colleagues with the same mindset.

Embrace a collaborative mindset by seeking input from team members, valuing diverse perspectives, and fostering a culture of trust and respect. Collaboration encourages innovation and enhances collective problem-solving.

Engaging in open and constructive collaboration entails actively sharing your insights, perspectives, and expertise while being receptive to the ideas and contributions of others. Flexibility and adaptability are key, as is the willingness to find common ground and compromise when necessary. Furthermore, it involves recognizing and valuing the diverse strengths and backgrounds of team members. Utilizing collaboration-enhancing tools and practices includes leveraging version control systems, engaging in thorough code reviews, practicing pair programming, and adopting agile methodologies. With these approaches, teams can streamline their workflows, and foster an environment where innovation thrives through collective effort.

TSP (Team Software Process) was a big thing back in 2010 around CMMi companies; its launching process was really insightful and intensive on thinking, discussing, agreeing, and planning. Wondering what's the equivalent method right now.

Keep abreast of the latest trends, technologies, and best practices in your field and expand your knowledge in related fields to ensure effective collaboration. Stay current on the latest trends, technologies, and best practices. Embrace challenges, failures, and changes as opportunities for growth and improvement by seeking feedback, mentoring, and coaching from others. By taking this approach, personal and professional development is fostered, teamwork is enhanced, and collaborative efforts are more likely to succeed.

Learning continuously is like expanding your toolkit as a software engineer. Just as having more tools enables you to fix a wider range of problems, acquiring new skills and knowledge empowers you to address various challenges effectively. Similarly, learning new skills is like adding new colors to your palette as a painter. With a broader range of abilities, you can create more innovative and impactful solutions. Additionally, seeking help and advice from others is akin to having supportive friends who offer valuable insights and guidance on using your skills effectively. By embracing learning and collaboration, you enhance your capabilities as a team player and contribute to the overall success of your team.

Very Very Important !!! Stay abreast of industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices through continuous learning and professional development. Investing in skill enhancement enables you to adapt to evolving project requirements and contribute effectively to team success.

Continual learning is a pivotal skill for effective collaboration and personal growth. It involves staying abreast of current trends, emerging technologies, and evolving best practices within your field. Moreover, it entails actively seeking opportunities to expand your expertise into related areas, broadening your skill set and enhancing your versatility. Embracing challenges, failures, and changes is also integral to the learning process. Rather than viewing setbacks as roadblocks, they should be seen as opportunities for growth and improvement. By approaching obstacles with a growth mindset, individuals can leverage them as stepping stones toward achieving greater proficiency and resilience.

For successful collaboration within a project, team, or community, positive and generous contributions are essential. Deliver high-quality work, meet deadlines, and adhere to standards. Encourage, motivate, and recognize others, celebrating their successes and achievements together. Maintain ethical, responsible, and professional conduct in actions and interactions, striving for the common good and social impact of your work. In this way, a positive working environment is fostered, teamwork is enhanced, and collective success is driven.

Support team morale and cohesion by offering constructive feedback, recognizing colleagues' achievements, and actively participating in team initiatives. A positive attitude fosters a supportive and inclusive work environment.

Contributing positively extends beyond individual actions to encompass ethical and responsible behavior. Upholding professional standards and integrity in all interactions ensures a harmonious and respectful working environment. Additionally, it involves considering the broader societal impact of your work and actively striving to contribute to the common good. By embodying these principles, individuals can cultivate a sense of purpose and fulfillment in their collaborative endeavors. They not only enhance the effectiveness of the team but also contribute to a culture of positivity, integrity, and social responsibility within their professional and community spheres.

An effective collaboration requires regular and honest self-reflection. Establish realistic goals and acknowledge mistakes, apologizing when necessary, and learning from them. Evaluate your performance, behavior, and attitude. Encourage personal growth, strengthen relationships, and improve productivity through constructive feedback, appreciation of efforts, and reward. This approach fosters personal growth, strengthens relationships, and improves teamwork and productivity.

Take time to reflect on your experiences, successes, and challenges to identify areas for improvement and personal growth. Regular reflection enhances self-awareness and empowers you to refine your skills and approaches over time.

It is always great to be the software engineer you are and it pays to sometimes assume you are the end user. Think about how your solution is going to impact yourself as a user. Will the solution make things easier for the user or it will make things easier for you? By this I imply that it pays to appreciate that the software you are building is not about you but about the user. Yes, your skills, knowledge and time will play a vital role but the end the end goal is to make a task, process or life itself easy for someone. Mistakes will be made, bugs may pop here and there and it is okay. Apologize, learn or upskill, resolve and move on.

In addition to technical proficiency, cultivate soft skills such as empathy, adaptability, and resilience, which are essential for effective collaboration and interpersonal dynamics. Embrace opportunities for mentorship, peer learning, and cross-functional collaboration to broaden your skill set and perspective.