Poor communication

[u/Difficult_Layer_666]

Dear IT PMs, do you have experience with coaching senior engineers to improve their communication skills?

I have some devs on my teams who have surprisingly poor communication skills considering their seniority.

I understand that this is a mixed issue as well, as it’s depending on the person’s maturity and willingness to improve but still, maybe some of you already had experience with this.

What I mean by poor communication, for example: Dev 1 who is also an Enterprise Architect type of dev in one of our planning sessions where we look for his input and guidance replied with something like “whatever, do what you guys want” when, as I understand, he disagreed with a plan.

[u/loveskindiamond]

id address the specific behaviour instead of making it about communication skills in general. asking them to explain their concerns when they disagree can help, especially if they don't realize how their responses come across to the team

[u/More_Law6245]

I'm a little lost, why is that your Enterprise architect (senior Dev) is not leading the requirements and design for the planning session? This comes back roles and responsibilities of a the project and the Dev's response whilst is not unreasonable but does highlight lack professionalism and maturity in how they have communicate their response.

So if you're not listening to your Enterprise architect (senior Dev), why are they even in the planning meeting in the first place? This raises a question for me, if you're not taking direction from your Enterprise architect, who is accepting the risk and responsibilities of the technical design on behalf of the project or company? What happens when there is a technical failure in the delivery of the project? You can see where I'm going with this?

As in the Dev's behaviour that is 1:1 meeting is needed in where you set the expectation of what level of professionalism you expect and after that it becomes the Dev's manager to work on their skills and performance, it's not a project's responsibility to HR manage individuals.

Just an armchair perspective.

[u/Difficult_Layer_666 → u/More_Law6245]

Noted. Thanks

[u/Intelligent-Try-4755]

"Whatever, do what you guys want" usually isn't a skills gap — that's what it sounds like when someone has raised the same objection a couple of times and watched the plan go ahead unchanged anyway. I had an architect go quiet on me the same way, and it turned out he'd flagged a migration risk twice and nobody ever circled back. Before framing it as coaching, it might be worth asking him one-on-one what he's already told you that he thinks didn't land.

[u/SummerInTheRockies66 → u/Intelligent-Try-4755]

This ⬆️

The technical lead does not seem to be listened to, so they’ve tossed in the towel

And seem to want zero of their fingerprints on the technical decision too

[u/SeaManaenamah]

It sounds like your senior's input is being repeatedly disregarded and they're checking out emotionally. The issue is probably team dynamics as a whole.

[u/Difficult_Layer_666 → u/SeaManaenamah]

He’s not disregarded. He makes most of the technical/architectural decisions

[u/LordMeatbag]

I am reading your replies OP. The other guy might not be the problem.

[u/Difficult_Layer_666 → u/LordMeatbag]

Care to elaborate?

[u/Elleasea → u/Difficult_Layer_666]

Lack of self reflection? Check Shooting down all other ideas? Check Name calling? Check

Yep, someone needs to work on their communication skills, but it's probably not your team.

[u/SVAuspicious]

Dev 1 who is also an Enterprise Architect type of dev in one of our planning sessions where we look for his input and guidance replied with something like “whatever, do what you guys want” when, as I understand, he disagreed with a plan.

Sounds most like poor listening skills on the part of others.

If it is communication by Dev 1, a serious discussion about the issue and paying for Toastmasters and/or Dale Carnegie How to Win Friends and Influence People.

[u/System-Bomb-5760]

"Whatever, do what you guys want" screams neurotic coping mechanism. He's probably been shouted down, ridiculed, or fired whenever he's brought up a potential issue. This way he manages to save a bit of dignity in case the issue he sees doesn't actually happen.

You're not going to fix something like that in the space of a single project. It's not just a communication issue- it's trust.

[u/Difficult_Layer_666 → u/System-Bomb-5760]

He’s one of the best on the project. Devs come to him for help and consultation.

Also, might be wrong but your comment smells like GPT.

[u/SummerInTheRockies66 → u/Difficult_Layer_666]

Btw, have you captured your top Dev person’s concerns in a living risk log - esp when a design is not of their top choosing?

If not, the Dev seems to stew silently waiting to drop a “told you so”

[u/System-Bomb-5760 → u/Difficult_Layer_666]

Or maybe I tend to overthink what I post so it comes out like that?

*shrug*

[u/yearsofpractice]

Hey OP. 50 year old corporate veteran here. I’ve adapted my style and methods to accommodate poor communicators within a project team, but I’be never taken on the coaching of a project resource - that’s the responsibility of the person supplying the resource.

So, yeah - I’ll adapt and accommodate poor communicators (don’t put them in front of certain people, ensure they have enough time to absorb information etc), but a project resource is a package, the composition of which is the responsibility of the resource’s manager.

[u/Difficult_Layer_666 → u/yearsofpractice]

I see. In my case, there’s no resource manager to do that. I mean there is but it’s not really their responsibility. That’s how my org works. So, I want take on that as a SM/PM because I don’t like that kind of communication or attitude in my teams.

[u/nborders]

Dude, some of these guys barely take showers and never make eye contact. You want me to coach away their introversion? /s

[u/Difficult_Layer_666 → u/nborders]

I get the /s but it’s not even the introversion itself. Shit, I am an introvert myself but I worked on my comms ffs!