As an Architect, I find myself involved and pulled into many discussions and meetings; many of them are technical and many business specific. Some of the meetings impact me directly, others either have an indirect impact on me or doesn’t impact me at all. Nonetheless, I believe all the meetings that I get invited to are invited to me because the sender trusts me, values my feedbacks and expects me to provide my valuable feedbacks. These meetings are opportunities for me to understand my clients better and for me to help my clients succeed by providing my valuable 2-cents. I am sure, many others find themselves faced with too many meetings, therefore, I’ve compiled the following list of items that will boost your impact on these team discussions and increase your worth:
1. Prepare in Advance:
Familiarize yourself with the topics to be discussed. Review any relevant documentation, code, or materials beforehand. This will help you feel more confident and ready to contribute.
2. Ask Questions:
Don’t hesitate to ask questions when you encounter something you don’t fully understand. This not only helps you learn but can also prompt valuable discussions that benefit the entire team.
3. Share Your Insights:
If you have relevant experiences, insights, or alternative solutions, share them with the team. Your unique perspective can contribute to problem-solving and innovation.
4. Active Listening:
Pay close attention to what others are saying. Actively listen to their points of view and opinions. This demonstrates respect and helps you better understand the context of the discussion.
5. Use Clear Communication:
Express your thoughts clearly and concisely. Avoid jargon when unnecessary and aim for simplicity in your explanations. This promotes effective communication within the team.
6. Participate in Code Reviews:
Code reviews are excellent forums for technical discussions. Actively participate in code reviews by providing constructive feedback and engaging in discussions about design choices and implementation details.
7. Contribute Ideas:
Don’t be afraid to contribute new ideas or suggest improvements. Technical discussions benefit from diverse perspectives, and your input may lead to innovative solutions.
8. Offer to Present:
If there’s a topic you’re knowledgeable about, offer to present it to the team. This could be a new technology, a best practice, or a solution to a common problem.
9. Join Relevant Meetings:
Attend meetings that align with your area of expertise or interest. This could include architecture reviews, sprint planning sessions, or any meeting where technical decisions are made.
10. Stay Informed:
Stay up-to-date with industry trends, best practices, and advancements in your field. Being well-informed enables you to contribute meaningfully to technical discussions.
11. Collaborate Outside of Meetings:
Engage in informal discussions with team members outside of scheduled meetings. These one-on-one or small group discussions can be valuable for exchanging ideas and building relationships.
12. Offer to Lead Discussions:
If you’re comfortable, offer to lead discussions on topics you’re passionate about. Leading discussions can boost your confidence and showcase your expertise.
13. Respect Others’ Opinions:
Acknowledge and respect diverse opinions within the team. Constructive discussions involve understanding different perspectives and finding compromises when needed.
14. Skip it:
Sometimes the meeting is not right for you. Sometimes, it is not related to you in any way nor can you do anything to help out the attendees of the meeting. In such cases, it might be better to skip the meeting while notifying the meeting owner that you cannot attend because of such and such.
When faced with too many meetings, architects can use the above guideline to increase their value, increase their impact in team discussions, and help their company grow.
Remember, effective communication and collaboration are key to successful technical discussions. By actively participating and contributing, you not only enhance your own skills but also positively impact the overall success of your team’s projects.
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