Benefits of speaking at Tech Summits
One of the most important skills that Tech Leads must have is communication. By communicating is how you can improve communication
I must confess that, at some point in my career, I found it really interesting and satisfying to share my experiences with others. It wasn't the case in the beginning, I can tell you.
At a certain point in my career, I realized the importance of improving my communication skills. The phrase “You learn to communicate by communicating” resonated in my mind. At that stage, I was accustomed to engaging in small talk, and my strategy for improvement involved exposing myself to larger audiences.
In today’s issue, I would like to share with you my vision about the benefits that, speaking in tech conferences, summits, etc, bring to Sofware Engineers and Tech Leads.
The first benefit I see is the improvement of Communication Skills. Actually, this is the reason why I got out of my comfort zone and started speaking in bigger forums. Speaking at technology conferences provides Software Engineers and Tech Leads with a rich opportunity to refine our communication skills on multiple fronts.
Firstly, it cultivates the art of clarity and conciseness, having the challenge to articulate complex technical concepts in a manner that is both understandable and engaging to diverse audiences. Make it so that someone other than your brain can understand it.
Also, conference presentations facilitate the development of non-verbal communication skills, such as body language and facial expressions, which complement verbal delivery and enhance overall message delivery and audience engagement. Through continuous exposure to conference speaking, we not only sharp our communication abilities but also gain invaluable experience in handling spontaneous interactions, receiving feedback, and refining our presentation style, ultimately becoming more adept communicators in the dynamic field of software engineering.
Another benefit I see is the Continuous Improvement. Speaking at technology conferences (usually) requires thorough knowledge and understanding of the topic at hand.
Note aside: Sometimes you speak in a forum because you are just starting with a topic, you are not a knowledgeable person, and you use the forum to get more knowledge or feedback about it. Said this, let’s get back with the explanation of this benefit.
Besides you have your own experiences and knowledge, the process of preparing the talk often involves delving into new aspects, methodologies, or innovative approaches. As engineers prepare our presentations, we inevitably encounter new ideas, perspectives, and advancements in our field. This exposure fosters a culture of continuous learning, where engineers are constantly seeking to expand their knowledge and stay abreast of the latest developments.
Moreover, engaging with other conference speakers and attendees exposes us, engineers, to a diverse range of experiences and expertise. Discussions, Q&A sessions, and networking opportunities provide invaluable insights and facilitate the exchange of ideas. Through these interactions, engineers can gain fresh perspectives, discover alternative solutions to common challenges, and broaden their understanding of industry trends.
Additionally, the feedback received from conference presentations can be instrumental in driving further learning and growth. Constructive criticism, questions, and discussions during and after the presentation encourage engineers to critically evaluate their ideas and refine their understanding.
The last benefit I see is that conferences offer an excellent opportunity to connect with other industry professionals, share experiences, and establish valuable professional relationships that can be useful in the future.
So, I could summarize in 3 ideas:
Improve communication skills.
Continuous improvement.
Networking.
That’s it! I would love to hear from you about other benefits that you see! Drop a message or reply to this email!
Best,
Marcos.