How to Talk to Computer People

From productivity site The Cranking Widgets Blog comes “How to Talk to a Programmer” (via Lifehack.org), an excellent how-to for communicating with the “computer people” at work. The article educates you on approaching programmers by giving you a little bit of insight into how we think, without getting into technical details. Here’s a key portion of the article:

“… I promise you, Fred is going to ask you what you tried to do to fix it when you walk over to visit him (and your answer will directly affect the degree to which he helps you). If all you can say is “Fred, the TPS report generator is broken”, you’ve just shot yourself in the foot.”

This sentence is a home run. It’s right on target. Having plenty of experience in IT support, I cannot stress enough how useless the phrase “x is broken” can be. It has no meaning, and serves no purpose what so ever. If you knock on my door and inform me that “x is broken”, I am not going to get up and run over to your desk to wave the magic wand.

Unless you’re responsible for adding the zeros to my paycheck. If that’s the case, then just call me Harry-freakin-Houdini.

Before my feet even hit the floor, I am going to ask you a series of exploratory questions in order to come up with a potential diagnosis for your technical issues. If you can tell me what you think may have caused the problem, recite the steps leading up to the problem, or even just repeat what an error message said, I will be very appreciative.

Understanding others is a key to communicating effectively. By simply offering a little bit of information to your “computer people”, you’re helping them help you. Even more importantly , you’re subtly showing a sense of respect for their role as your colleague. I can’t think of a better way to work well with others than showing respect for each other’s job function.

If you master the points set forth in “How to Talk to a Programmer”, you’ll most likely score some points with your co-workers, and end up happier with the electric contraption on your desk.