How to Be a More Effective Leader and Communicator as a Software Engineer

13 min readSep 2, 2023

In the world of software engineering, technical skills are essential. But soft skills are just as important, if not more so. Communication skills, in particular, are essential for software engineers who want to be successful.

Leadership & Communication

Why Are Communication Skills Important?

Communication skills are vital for software engineers who want to be effective leaders. They are important for a number of reasons, including:

They are vital to an organization’s ability to be productive and operate smoothly. When software engineers can communicate effectively with their team members, they can work together more efficiently and effectively. This can lead to increased productivity and better results.
They build a positive work environment, and eliminate inefficiencies. When software engineers can communicate openly and honestly with each other, they can build trust and respect. This can create a more positive and productive work environment. It can also help to eliminate inefficiencies by preventing misunderstandings and conflicts.
They accurately convey information and improve human relationships. When software engineers can communicate their ideas clearly and concisely, they can ensure that everyone is on the same page. This can help to improve human relationships by reducing misunderstandings and building trust.

Critical Leadership Skills

According to Ken Blanchard Companies, there are several critical skills that leaders need to have when working with others. The most important of these skills is communication, which accounts for 43% of a leader’s effectiveness. This means that leaders need to be able to communicate effectively in order to be successful. This includes being able to clearly and concisely express their ideas, both verbally and in writing. It also includes being able to listen actively and understand the needs and concerns of others.

The most critical skill a leader can possess when working with others is communication.

Communication is the ability to share information and ideas effectively. It is essential for leaders to be able to communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing. They also need to be able to listen actively and understand the needs and concerns of their team members.

Here are some specific examples of how communication skills can be used by leaders:

Setting clear expectations: Leaders need to be able to clearly communicate their expectations to their team members. This includes the goals of the project, the timeline, and the responsibilities of each team member.
Giving and receiving feedback: Leaders need to be able to give and receive feedback effectively. This helps to ensure that team members are on track and that any problems are addressed early on.
Resolving conflict: Leaders need to be able to resolve conflict constructively. This involves listening to both sides of the story and finding a solution that everyone can agree on.
Motivating and inspiring team members: Leaders need to be able to motivate and inspire their team members. This involves creating a positive work environment and providing opportunities for team members to grow and develop.
Building trust: Leaders need to be able to build trust with their team members. This involves being honest and transparent, and being willing to listen to feedback.

By developing strong communication skills, leaders can be more effective in working with others and achieving their goals.

Gary Burnison once stated that “Communication is where leadership lives and breathes.”

The meaning of the above quote is that leadership wouldn’t exist without communication. Essentially, communication is a process of sharing information and ideas with others. This is crucial for leaders because it enables them to:

Build relationships with their followers
Communicate their vision and goals
Provide guidance and direction
Resolve conflicts
Boost morale and motivation

Without effective communication, leaders will struggle to inspire their followers, achieve their goals, and build a strong team.

Your potential as a leader will be dependent upon your ability to effectively communicate with others

We Are All Leaders

Actually, what does the term “leadership” mean? To make it easier to understand, let’s divide it into two definitions: what and how of leadership.

What It Means: This means taking action to guide a group of people or an organization so that they can achieve the same goals together.

Simple Example: Imagine you are a captain of a soccer team. Your job is to make all the players work together to score goals and win the match. You need to tell them strategies, give motivation, and make sure everyone plays well to achieve the same goal, which is winning the game.

How It Means: Leadership is the ability to guide others towards a specific direction or decision that makes them still feel capable and accomplished.

Simple Example: Imagine you are a teacher in a classroom. You want your students to choose their own research topics. As a leader, you don’t force them to pick a particular topic, but you guide them by giving suggestions, sharing information, and listening to their ideas. In the end, each student feels in control of their choice and proud of what they chose.

The best leadership connects well with people

Connect — Motivate — Change

Connect

Focus on the person : Let’s drill in to achieve the goal of better connecting with others,

Influence & Words : focus on the person positively influence them and the appropriate use of words is imperative.

Motivate

Inspire motivation: Leaders inspire motivation means that leaders have the ability to inspire and drive motivation in others. Effective leaders can encourage individuals to work harder, be enthusiastic, and achieve common goals. They set an example that motivates others to strive for excellence and give their best. In other words, leaders not only guide by giving directions but also have the capacity to create a sense of spirit and enthusiasm within the team or group they lead.

Long-lasting motivation : long lasting motivation is a very deep and complex emotion. For example : Maybe you get a Starbucks card and that’s nice and it can be motivated but is it long lasting? No. Long-lasting motivation built up over a period of time and is based on trust.

Change

Vision : leaders need a solid vision and a propensity that is a proclivity for change.

Solid Vision: A leader with a solid vision is someone who has a clear understanding of where the team or organization is headed. They can see the bigger picture and have a roadmap for achieving their goals. For example, in the role of a software engineering leader, this could mean envisioning a product’s final state, understanding its market impact, and planning the steps needed to get there. This vision guides the team’s efforts and keeps them aligned toward a common objective.

Example: Imagine a software engineering leader at a startup developing a new mobile app. Their vision might include seeing the app as a user-friendly solution that revolutionizes a certain industry. They can articulate how the app will solve specific problems, enhance user experiences, and ultimately become a widely adopted tool.

Propensity for Change: A propensity for change refers to a leader’s openness and readiness to adapt to evolving circumstances. In the fast-paced world of software engineering, technologies, methodologies, and market demands can change rapidly. A leader who embraces change is agile, willing to explore new approaches, and can steer the team in the right direction even in uncertain times.

Example: Consider a software engineering leader who oversees a team working on a complex project. Midway through development, the team encounters a new technology that could significantly improve performance. A leader with a propensity for change would be open to integrating this new technology, even if it means altering the initial plan. They understand that adapting to new tools can lead to better results.

Combining these qualities, a software engineering leader would have a clear vision of the project’s goals and its impact, while also being prepared to pivot and embrace change when opportunities or challenges arise. This kind of leader can inspire and guide their team toward success by providing a sense of direction and navigating through the ever-changing landscape of software development.

Follow the Leader

Basically, there are several reasons why people or team members should follow someone as their leader. Here are some key points to understand:

Give Them What They Need: As a leader, you should provide your team members with what they require. This could be guidance, support, resources, or any help they need. For instance, if team members need clear directions, a good leader should offer precise instructions.
Make Them Feel Comfortable: A leader needs to create a comfortable working environment for their team. This means fostering a supportive atmosphere that’s free from unnecessary tension or conflicts. For example, a good leader ensures that all team members feel safe and at ease in the workplace.
Build Trust: Trust is crucial in leadership. Team members should trust their leader. This can be achieved by honest communication, keeping promises, and demonstrating integrity. For instance, if a leader consistently keeps their word, team members are more likely to trust them.
Create Satisfaction: A good leader will strive to make team members satisfied with their work. This can involve recognizing their achievements, providing opportunities for growth, or creating a motivating work environment. For example, a leader who offers positive feedback can lead to greater satisfaction among team members.
Gain Their Belief in You: Team members should believe in the leader’s abilities and vision. This means the leader must have credibility and recognized competence. For instance, if a leader has successfully led teams to achieve goals in the past, team members are more likely to believe in their leadership.

In essence, people follow a leader when they feel the leader meets their needs, creates a comfortable and secure environment, builds trust, fosters satisfaction, and gains their belief in their leadership abilities.

What People Need in a Leader ?
Trust is the foundation of connecting

How Leaders Build Trust

Tip: Be sincere and patient

There are several reasons how the leaders build the trust. Here are some key points to understand:

Have Clear and Consistent Goals: Imagine a software development team with a clear project goal, like building a mobile app for a specific purpose. The team trusts the project manager because the goal is well-defined, and it doesn’t change frequently, leading to a focused development process.
Be Open, Fair, and Listen: Consider a tech lead who conducts regular team meetings to discuss project progress. During these meetings, they actively listen to team members’ concerns and ideas, ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard and valued. This openness and fairness build trust among the team.
Be Decisive: Picture a situation where a critical bug is discovered in the software. The team lead quickly assesses the issue, makes a decision on how to address it, and communicates the plan clearly to the team. Team members trust the lead’s ability to make prompt decisions in times of urgency.
Admit Mistakes:In software development, it’s common to encounter coding errors or misunderstand requirements. A project manager who openly acknowledges these mistakes and works with the team to rectify them earns trust. For example, saying, “I made an error in the design, and here’s how we’ll fix it,” shows accountability.
Respect the Opinions of Others: Imagine a code review process where every team member’s feedback is considered and discussed constructively. The team trusts the code reviewer because they respect everyone’s input and are open to improving the code collaboratively.
Create a Climate that Allows Empowerment: In a software development company, a manager might encourage developers to propose and lead their own projects. This empowerment fosters trust as team members feel they have the autonomy and trust to make important decisions.
Support All Team Members: As a leader in software engineering, it means helping your team when they face difficulties or challenges. For example, if someone on your team is having trouble with a tough computer coding problem, you take time to explain it and provide resources to make it easier for them to learn.
Take Responsibility for Team Actions: This means admitting when something goes wrong and saying it’s your responsibility as the leader. For instance, if there’s a mistake in the software your team created, you don’t blame others. Instead, you say, “It’s my fault for not catching this mistake earlier,” and you work with the team to fix it.
Give Credit to Team Members: It’s about recognizing and praising your team for their hard work and contributions. Imagine your team finishes a big project, and you make sure to say, “Great job, everyone! Sarah did an awesome job with the design, and Mark’s coding was crucial to our success.” This makes your team feel appreciated and builds trust.
Be Sensitive to the Team’s Needs: This means being aware of how your team is feeling and what they need to work well. For example, if your team is working late nights to finish a project, you might order dinner for them and give them some extra time off afterward to show that you care about their well-being.

How Leaders Build Team Trust

Tip: Encourage teammates to follow these guidelines

Address Issues Directly: This means that leaders don’t avoid or ignore problems within the team. Instead, they confront and deal with issues openly and honestly. For example, if there’s a conflict among team members, a leader addresses it directly by facilitating a discussion to find a solution, rather than letting it simmer or pretending it doesn’t exist.
Readily Share Information: Leaders provide their team with the necessary information about projects, goals, and changes. They are transparent and don’t keep important details hidden. For instance, if there are changes in project priorities, a trusted leader shares this information promptly with the team so that everyone is on the same page.
Follow Through on Commitments: Trustworthy leaders do what they say they will do. They keep their promises and meet their commitments consistently. If a leader commits to providing resources or support for a project, they make sure to follow through on those commitments, which builds trust because the team knows they can rely on the leader.
Be ‘Ok’ for Saying ‘No’: Leaders who are willing to say ‘no’ when necessary demonstrate honesty and integrity. They don’t make unrealistic promises or take on more than the team can handle. This ensures that the team can trust the leader’s judgment and decisions.
Share What You Know and What You Don’t: Effective leaders don’t pretend to have all the answers. They are open about their knowledge and limitations. For example, if a leader is asked a technical question they don’t know the answer to, they might say, “I’m not sure, but I’ll find out and get back to you.” This honesty fosters trust because the team appreciates authenticity.

Demonstrate Trust

Making a generous interpretation of mistakes means choosing to view mistakes in a positive light and understanding that they can be valuable learning experiences.

“Not jumping to conclusions too quickly” means avoiding making hasty judgments or forming opinions without sufficient evidence or information. Here’s an example to illustrate this:

Imagine you’re a manager at a software development company, and one of your team members, let’s call them Alex, missed a deadline for a project. Instead of immediately assuming that Alex is slacking off or not committed to their work, you decide not to jump to conclusions too quickly.

You might approach the situation by saying, “I noticed that the project deadline was missed. Before drawing any conclusions, I’d like to understand the reasons behind it. Alex, can you please explain what happened and why we couldn’t meet the deadline?”

In this example, you’re demonstrating the importance of gathering all the facts and giving the team member an opportunity to provide context before making any judgments. This approach fosters open communication, trust, and fairness within the team, and it allows for a more accurate understanding of the situation before taking any action.

“Open and honest communication” means talking to each other in a straightforward and truthful way, without hiding important information. Here are simple ways to do it:

Share Information: Tell people what they need to know. If something important is happening, share it.
Listen Carefully: Pay attention when others talk. Don’t interrupt, and show you’re interested in what they’re saying.
Be Honest: Don’t lie or make things up. Tell the truth, even if it’s not easy.
Ask Questions: If you’re not sure about something, ask questions to get a clear picture.Share Your Thoughts: Don’t keep your ideas or concerns to yourself. Talk about them with others.

For example, if you’re working on a team project and run into a problem, you can say, “Hey, there’s an issue we need to address. Let’s talk about it openly so we can find a solution together.” This way, everyone knows what’s going on, and you work together to fix the problem.

Demonstrate Inclusiveness

Tip: Everyone needs to feel included

Being open to different perspectives means being willing to listen and consider the ideas and viewpoints of your team members, even if they differ from your own. This openness promotes collaboration, creativity, and better problem-solving within the team.
valuing individuals’ opinions means showing respect for the ideas and viewpoints of each team member. It involves recognizing that every team member’s input is important and considering their opinions when making decisions or solving problems. For example, if a team member suggests an improvement in the software development process, you take their suggestion seriously and consider implementing it. This demonstrates that you appreciate their input and believe that their ideas can contribute to the success of the project. Valuing individual opinions fosters a positive and collaborative team environment in software engineering.

When you feel included you feel connected and motivated. If you feel connected and motivated you will be Inspired to take action.

This article provides a concise overview of the ‘Leadership and Communication Skills for Software Engineers’ course I completed on Pluralsight