00:00:31Welcome to the third pedal, podcast recorded at the Vandal Lounge. In beautiful Southeast Portland, Oregon, why the third title because even the most badass entrepreneurs, get stuck up and visit and ship Creek Management Consultant. Jennifer McFarland is your third paddle, helping you get unstuck.

00:00:59May present communication challenges.

00:01:13Let's look at it in a different context. Think of it, like an ecosystem. For example, in the physical world, an ecosystem is the complex of living organisms, organisms their physical environment and all their interrelationships in a particular unit of space. It's like fish living in the ocean and getting eaten by bigger fish. When there are problems with an ecosystem like bees frogs dying. Inexplicably, it means there's something wrong with the system as a whole. The reason scientists are so concerned with bees and frogs dying, are the bees and frogs live in the same ecosystem is and we don't want to die.

00:02:20Updates customer accounts and takes the customer to the next step in the process.

00:02:40So when things go wrong, IT staff will immediately go into troubleshooting mode at the granular level and seek to solve the problems.

00:02:56General technical people want specifics. They want to know exactly what happened when and why you don't know why? The customer database is erased because the screen went blank and you counted every key on keyboard to no avail. So if this is what you tell a technical person that have no use to them, they want to know as much detail as possible because it will help them solve the problem. If you don't know the specifics, it can make you feel stupid, but you're not stupid. It's just another way of thinking.

00:03:52However, I also contends that a good technical person does not need to rely on abstract technical. Jargon to get their point across. Northern do I need to correct an interrupt not technical people while they are communicating their needs.

00:05:00I couldn't agree more what's missing from most non-technical people is why something is important? Why should they care staying completely technical about the matter. May make you feel smart as a technical professional, but it's not winning any points with management or your client at the same time. Not technical. People need to set up a meeting that allows for the presentation of needs and issues alongside ample space for questions to allow technical people to get the details. They need to get the job done.

00:05:44We talked a little about how techies think how the work is extremely detail-oriented.

00:05:59An inks article, understanding Geeks a field guide to your texts staff explains the environment perfectly. There's one common characteristic of an ideal techie workplace. Its darkness is the Geeks are, is not the Geeks are depressed, multiple monitors, bombard, users with a lot of light already, adding overhead fluorescent or super bright halogens, would be a recipe for migraines and Madness. A small desk desk lamp. Perhaps has all the light must both. Deeks can comfortably handle will at the keyboard a dim cave like environment. Also helps programmers, focus and tune out. Distractions often headphones are used to get even deeper into the zone.

00:06:52And Technical people need the time and space to work through complex problems. It's quiet work. It requires, heavy concentration for long stretches. It requires not talking to another human. Being the headphones are on if for no other reason than to cancel sound. Technical people are testing assumptions and building back and strategy. That is every bit as complicated as any marketing plan. You've ever laid your eyes on.

00:08:04But I get it technical. People can be pretty crabby. I think a lot of it has to do with what it takes to Be an Effective Problem, Solver. Sometimes it takes hours to get into the zone that place, where you're getting your groove on, and you're getting a lot done. And if you're in the team work environment, the last thing you want, is someone to interrupt you after you've gotten deep down into the weeds and started figuring things out.

00:09:08And it's at that precise moment that the phone rings or someone comes into your cubicle with a hey. Hey, can you help me with this right now?

00:09:52It's really hard to balance and we need to show each other a little Grace in our communication.

00:10:10Gender is perhaps. One of the biggest most frustrating obstacles to communicating with it staff and Technical Freelancers.

00:11:06The Wall Street Journal reported that female employees at startups on 47 cents for every dollar of equity, a male employee owns.

00:11:35One of the reasons I dedicate my business to primarily helping women-owned businesses. Make better technology decisions is because of the shoddy treatment, they received at the hands of my male counterparts and no doubt because of the shoddy treatment I received as well.

00:12:17The simplest way to improve communication between men and women is to hire more women and people of color to technical positions.

00:12:57All men. When I research articles for this podcast, I was astounded by the quote advice. Given an aid to communication. This is not a one-way Street, gentleman. Stop interrupting us and women. Stop letting men of interruptus. Our words are just as valuable, and we need to start acting like it. I will never forget the time, a male technical counterpart. I just met called me Jenny in a meeting unless you're my husband or you've known me since the 1970s. You're not allowed to call me Jenny.

00:13:49And I did, but it doesn't need to be this way. Smart women want to be treated fairly and have the same opportunities to advance just like men, but we also don't need to lose our femininity or bend, our communication, to cater to techies, whether it's an Enterprise projects or a business owner, hiring a technical service provider.

00:14:19Thank you for listening to the third pedal podcast. Be sure to catch every episode by subscribing on iTunes, to learn more. Check out our website at www.ge.com. The third pedal podcast, is sponsored by Foster growth, LLC online at, ww.w. Buster, gross.