Did you know: tech work isn’t about tech
🚀…it’s about humans.
No, really.
Katherine Porfilio refreshed this thought in my mind this morning with her latest post.
You know, I’m a mechanical engineer by training. I love technology. I find the smell of machine grease pleasant. Imagine my surprise when I realised that engineering isn’t actually about technology, it merely seems to be. I was actually retroactively a bit disappointed with my professors at university, who went to great lengths to make me good at maths – but spent pretty much not time making me good at working with humans.
Sure, engineers solve differential equations, or write C++ code, or make drawings. But – only after they’ve understood what they need to build. By communicating with other people: customers, managers, colleagues.
If that communication doesn’t happen successfully beforehand, there’s no chance the engineers will end up creating a successful product.
What’s your experience with the human side of technical work? I’d be excited if you replied and let me know.
(Photo by Sasan Saidi from FreeImages)