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RubyConf 2018 - Humans Aren't APIs And Your Request Is 400 Denied by Jennifer Tu Have you ever asked someone to do something, and they hear the exact opposite? Why do miscommunications happen? Does knowing why matter? And more importantly, how do you achieve your original desired request? If you want to learn more ways to influence those around you, this talk is for you! You’ll learn about different causes for failed communications, and different workarounds you can apply for different failure modes. Come to this talk to add another tool to your communications toolbox.
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In her talk at RubyConf 2018 titled "Humans Aren't APIs And Your Request Is 400 Denied," Jennifer Tu explores the complexities of human communication and how miscommunication occurs in professional environments. She emphasizes that effective communication is not merely about delivering a clear message but involves understanding the perspectives of others and fostering a dialogue. Tu introduces three key variables that define the state of communication: understanding, agreement, and willingness, and explains their significance in ensuring successful interactions. - **Communication Challenges**: Miscommunication can lead to frustration on both sides—those making requests and those receiving them. Tu points out that perceived failures in communication often stem from misunderstandings rather than outright failures. - **Perspective Matters**: The talk opens with an illustration of perspective featuring a duck-rabbit image, highlighting how different viewpoints can lead to different interpretations of the same message. Changing one's perspective can turn a feeling of failure into an opportunity for dialogue. - **Variables of Communication**: Tu outlines her approach to communication interactions through three core variables: - **Understanding**: First, ensure that the other person has comprehended the request clearly. Without this, further communication efforts may falter. - **Agreement**: Next, ascertain whether the other party agrees with the request and sees it as valuable. - **Willingness**: Finally, determine if the individual is willing to take action based on the request. - **Examples of Communication Scenarios**: Tu provides a relatable illustration where a request to include unit tests in change requests can yield different outcomes based on the state of these three variables. She explains how toggling these variables affects communication outcomes, emphasizing that if understanding is not established, efforts to secure agreement or willingness will likely be futile. - **Milestones in Communication**: Throughout, Tu encourages recognizing and celebrating small milestones of communication, such as reaching an understanding, even if further work is needed to achieve agreement and willingness. In conclusion, Tu's insights present a framework for navigating and improving communication in the workplace by viewing miscommunication not as a failure but as an opportunity for dialogue and understanding. The key takeaway is that communication is a dynamic process that requires patience and adaptability, especially when working with people operating in good faith.
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