Empathy & Software Development: Some call it “the super sauce” and others refer to it as “the superpower” of developers.

We like to think of it as a “hidden weapon” that makes developers become more human-oriented. At the end of the day, they are typically creating tools for people to use in everyday life, and, eventually creating experiences for them…

With people being so locked in on the technology, developers should think about the actual customer they’re developing for, their teammate, their boss, and even that Internet troll. It’s super important to see it from another perspective, to think and feel in the same way.

Empathy is understanding and being sensitive to the experiences of others. The kicker is being able to understand without those experiences being explicitly communicated to you.

Dr. Brené Brown, an empathy researcher, writes: “Empathy is a strange and powerful thing. There is no script. There is no right way or wrong way to do it. It’s simply listening, holding space, withholding judgment, emotionally connecting, and communicating that incredibly healing message of ‘You’re not alone.’”

Empathy For Software Developers

Software development always involves other people and that is where empathy plays its part. It may very well be the most important skill a software developer needs to step up their game from a personal, social, and career perspective.

It can help us solve problems by getting to the heart of what’s important to people, users, and fellow developers. When you put empathy at the center of technology, human connections become stronger.

On the developer side, these connections boost collaboration and employee retention. It makes a better working space for everyone involved, helping us create better products by understanding the people who will be using them.

How can software developers use empathy to better results in their projects?

When gathering requirements

Requirements gathering is all about asking and sharing. With empathy, you’re on the fast track to understanding the people that will use your software. Other developers may choose to take a logical approach to flesh out requirements. But by using empathy as your secret weapon, you’ll have a clear way to stay focused on the most important people – your end-users.

During The Coding Process

Software developers should use empathy when building software with other people. This way, you’ll be more likely to predict the reactions of your teammates. Empathy is a big part of working in teams.

Code is another form of communication. When architecting and developing a system, we should strive to share an understanding with the people who will interact with our code. Empathy can help us put ourselves in those people’s shoes. In addition, with empathy, you’re more likely to build maintainable code. Other developers may not think about the advantage that empathy gives them. They’re quick to sacrifice maintainability for speed. They don’t think about other developers or their future selves at the component level of the system. By using empathy as your secret weapon, you’ll write cleaner code with proper documentation.

When leading

Software developers should use empathy when they’re leading. Leadership is relevant to all of us because we’re always influencing others, even when we’re not trying to.

Empathy in software development leadership is a balance between freedom and accountability. You’ll be more effective at convincing others of your point of view, but at the same time, you’ll be more likely to see both sides of a technical debate.

This ability to see things from others’ perspectives is a key skill when taking the lead.

Some developers are happy to go it alone, only focusing on their own needs. But by using empathy as your secret weapon, you’ll be able to relate to the needs of your co-workers and give them the leadership they need to be a great team.

It’s never been a better time to be a writer - or aspire to become one! 

Writing has become the fastest and most efficient way of information nowadays. It has become a crucial skill one should have in order to deliver the right message. Those who follow the articles posted on our website, already know that as a company we have a special focus on writing and sharing our experiences.

Even if writing is not a core component of our professional duties, we use our writing skills every day to communicate with others through text, including Slack, emails, reports, presentations, etc. In fact, strong written communication skills have quickly become one of the top requirements employers are looking for, regardless of the job they’re hiring to fill.

Working in a software company doesn’t mean that everything you write is code or a programming language. For us, it is very important that everyone finds themselves in the great “ocean” of writing. This is because the act of writing implies a whole process of knowing the things around you. And, it goes even further. The act of writing implies the process of self-knowledge. Only when someone intends to write does it arouse curiosity about the things around them. 

When our programmers write, they bring a whole other side of their perspective. Although technical and linguistic skills are different, the act of writing brings these two skills together to create something powerful. The more we write, the better we understand what we are doing. And when we do that, we get to know ourselves better.

In Kutia we have created a culture where in addition to the usual work, we pay attention to the development of expressive skills. This is because we see the potential of our team which overcomes the boundaries of staying simply within defined frameworks.

How can writing skills help us at work?

Communicate better through emails. Writing skills help you communicate better by saving your time with meetings. That is because when you have strong writing skills, you can communicate the right message through email, without fading into unnecessary details. These skills ensure readers understand the key points of what you’re trying to get across, come away with the ideas and impression you want them to, and, in many cases, take action to do whatever you’re hoping they’ll do.

Create better relationships with your colleagues. Being able to communicate clearly through writing will help your work go more smoothly, increase the chances you get what you want and need from others, prevent misunderstandings, and allow your colleagues to feel informed and included. This ultimately strengthens your professional relationships.

Follow these 5 stages and become a great writer:

1. Research

This is the first and most important step. Don’t start writing a single word, without researching the topic you’re writing about. You need to make sure that the information that you’re gathering is up to date and accurate. Define what content you want to use to support your ideas. The research stage involves learning about your target customer, evaluating sources for strength and credibility, talking to experts, reviewing and analyzing data, or talking to other members of your team.

2. Planning 

This stage involves creating a structure of your information and outlining the parts of the writing process. Creating and following an outline ensures you’re incorporating all the important information in the right order and not being repetitive or straying too far from your point. When you do this, you may find out the key information that is missing. 

3. Grammar and Clarity

Knowing the basic grammar rules of any language you’re writing in, English or Albanian is crucial for communicating the right information.  Grammar is the set of rules governing language usage. It’s what guides everyone to communicate in a similar way and, as a result, understand each other more. It is necessary to know how to construct a clear, easy-to-read, and understandable sentence in order to communicate in writing.

4. Revising and Editing

The greatest writers in the world came up with their best work by going through their work several times. That is why this is the final and very important part of your writing process. This is where you finalize your thoughts and make sure you are delivering the information you wanted in the first place, by making significant changes to the structure, organization, or content of a piece. This involves proofreading, checking any misspellings or grammar mistakes. 

Conclusion:

• Good writing skills can help you communicate better and create better relationships with your teammates. 
• Strong written communication skills are one of the top attributes employers look for, regardless of the job they’re hiring to fill.
• The act of writing implies the process of self-knowledge. Only when someone intends to write does it arouse curiosity about the things around them. 
• There are 5 stages that help you become a great writer: Research; Planning; Grammar and Clarity; Revising and Editing.

It’s just another day at work. You’re feeling good after finishing some challenging tasks and you’re finally feeling comfortable in your role at the company you’re working at. This is bringing you excitement and you want everything to stay just the way it is at this moment. 

Then, it happens: a meeting is called and management changes in your company are happening. You don’t know how to feel about it. Is it good? Is it bad?

The fear of change takes place. A minute ago, you just wanted everything to stay the same. Well, buckle up! It’s time to face the changes and try to understand the fact that building a company takes more than a boss, it takes a whole system of people working together and bringing their best to not fall from the pyramid.

Your day-to-day work might change as people in your office are shifting around or a business strategy takes a turn. Change could break the routine of your company, but change initiatives are usually intended for a positive organizational development. And, to tell the truth, with your company growing and a lot of people joining the team, you should have seen this coming. 

Anyway, managerial change in companies happens for the best and for all. So, there is no point in trying to resist change. A resistance effort is futile, but readiness for change can prove invaluable for employees. 

Being a part of a team that works hard to achieve great results and provide customers appreciable services, you should understand that changes come all the way and there is no way to stop them. Instead, you should become a part of it and give an effort to this process.

How to deal with changes in the company?

Here are some tips we want to share based on our own experience at Kutia:

1. Define the change 

Take a moment and think about things you want to change in your workplace. This can be a chance for you to see a positive side in this process. Even though you are used to your work routine, change doesn’t necessarily mean you have to let everything go. It can be a chance for you to start something new and have an open mind about this. That’s why, we should first define the change that is happening. Is it something good? Is it something bad? Are there some things that you want to change and some things that you want to keep the same? Once you gave it a thought, express your ideas and proposals with your teammates and team leaders.

2. Focus on your work

Change is essential for businesses to grow, expand, and thrive. However, it is a process that steals attention. Instead of focusing on it, take the time to concentrate on your work. If you are giving your best at it, you don’t have to worry about this process at all. Practictically, the purpose of this process is to actually have everyone do their job. No need to worry about matters that don’t impact your work.

3. Make a plan

The best way to predict everything that might go wrong is to have a plan. Planning is a key step to succeed at your job. Set up your goals, things you have to do first, then define your monthly goals and given tasks. 

4. Listen & Learn

You are going to have a lot of questions, ideas, feelings, and emotions. It is important to actively listen in order to express these concerns, validate them, and address them as clearly and frankly as possible. All changes come with the risk of the unknown, uncertainty, and other potential challenges. It is important that companies are upfront about the challenges that may be faced. Even if those challenges have not been fully identified and planned for, it is a good move to try and discuss the potential challenges, the range of those challenges, and what the company is doing or will do to address them.

This expression has become famous mostly for the energy that it spreads through people. Dynamic workdays make it impossible for people to do something different during the weekdays, leaving Friday such a desirable day! 

What makes this day special is the mood that reigns from the beginning of the day. People come to work smiling, relaxed, and surprisingly, calmer to face the challenges of the day.

With a pleasant atmosphere filled with the expression “Thank God It’s Friday”, this day can easily be turned into one of those days where employees are given the most difficult tasks. Under the adrenaline rush of “Friday”, people get things done more easily and the workday goes by faster.

Social Media Exposure

When the end of the day comes and the second part of this day officially begins, social networks become flooded by #TGIF, #Friyay #FridayFeeling. This is when the other phase of the day starts – Social Media Exposure.

People start to post more, and, well, it feels good seeing that people you couldn’t reach out to during the week are good and healthy. Just enjoying the day with their families and friends!

Friday Nights

In Prishtina, Friday nights are usually full of people, ready to celebrate, dance, and enjoy the evening with friends. It becomes more attractive without worrying about the early morning alarm. People make reservations at their favorite places, days ahead. Although the current situation with the Covid-19 pandemic and movement restrictions have caused changes in the way people go out and celebrate on Fridays, – Friday still remains Friday- and people enjoy it even if they just stay home and watch a movie.

With several national holidays coming next month, Fridays are becoming more & more attractive! We wish that with professional development and more attention to human factors in our companies, people will become less stressed and enjoy every day of their work just like it’s Friday! To do this, we need to empower our people and create a culture that lets them be themselves and love what they do. There is nothing more important for a leader than seeing their people happy in their work environment! 

Cheers to a happy Friday! 

Engaging in a hobby is one of the many things developers can use as a coping and relaxing mechanism. If it doesn’t involve coding, even better! There are many hobbies that our developers see as a chance to sharpen their skills, besides relaxing and fun. 

Today we decided to get some thoughts of our developers about the hobbies and sports they choose to relax over the weekend. This is a topic that brings some interesting facts about how weekend activities play a huge role in people’s work mood. Numerous studies have highlighted the importance of physical activities not only for physical benefits but also for mental health advantages.

Having a 2-day “precious” weekend, the decision on how to spend it is a science itself.  There is a strong connection between what people choose to relax after a dynamic week at work and how it is represented during the workdays. In other words, individuals will most likely choose a type of sport that will make them feel comfortable with all of the demands, requirements, and nature of the sport they are choosing. From what we see on a daily basis, a dynamic weekend dedicated to nature and sports brings to work more effective and relaxed people, with increased positive energy. Dangerous sports, basketball, skiing, football, swimming, fishing, or even gym exercises; each of them has their own uniqueness and show more about the type and the characteristics of a person.

Every Monday, the first conversations in our offices have to do with how we spent the weekend, where we went and what we did. To get an idea of what activities our developers choose for the weekend and how this choice affects their performance, we took some thoughts from them:

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I personally love Enduro. It is a kind of sport that includes various activities and visits to nature. This includes interesting places that can not be visited on foot or by car. This is a part of adrenaline that makes you feel more alive. Personally, this type of sport makes me much more productive at work. That is because it helps you get out of that work-home-work-home rhythm a bit and makes you start the week more relaxed. So, this sport helps me see, visit, or engage in other activities that don‘t relate to computers. This way, it enables me to see different parts of nature, beautiful places that make you feel full of life.

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As the most active person in  Kutia :P, I like fitness and basketball the most. These two activities affect my mood and my performance at work. When I go to fitness before work, my day becomes much more energetic. 

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I enjoy skiing 🎿  and Football ⚽. This year, I went skiing a lot. I notice that when I ski, I have a very good week and I am much more productive at work. This also affects me physically. At the beginning of the winter season, I feel very tired. At the end of the season, my physical condition obviously improves.