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Aug 7, 2026

How to use Feedback to Build Better Software - Vicky Pirker

Vicky Pirker warns that treating colleagues like AI chatbots is destroying team empathy. Learn to overcome the IKEA bias and deliver feedback that actually builds better software.

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#1 about 4 min

Overcoming cognitive bias and cultural differences in feedback

Recognizing the psychological attachment developers have to their code prevents blunt criticism from causing emotional harm.

#2 about 6 min

Regulating emotions and translating technical issues for stakeholders

Pausing to manage neuroscience triggers allows developers to translate technical problems into business impacts effectively.

#3 about 6 min

Discovering project constraints through blameless problem solving

Asking about historical constraints and processes avoids finger-pointing and creates a safe space for collaborative debugging.

#4 about 6 min

Navigating the impact of generative AI on team empathy

The aggressive tone required to prompt large language models risks deteriorating polite and empathetic human communication.

#5 about 7 min

Balancing automated efficiency with genuine human connection

Relying solely on automated systems for customer service and communication can alienate users who require empathetic interactions.

#6 about 3 min

Engaging with developer communities to foster industry collaboration

Attending technical congresses breaks anti-social stereotypes and revitalizes developers through shared expertise and networking.

#7 about 3 min

Practicing repetition to build resilience against critical feedback

Repeatedly separating personal identity from the product trains the brain to process technical criticism without defensive emotional reactions.

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Connecting empathy to technical resilience in software development

Malin Litwinski · WWC 2022

2:20 min

Communicating software deviations with empathy to encourage positive improvement

Ingo Philipp · LIVE

2:05 min

Cultivating a learning-focused and empathetic engineering culture

Tom George · LIVE

1:36 min

Designing engineering workflows around human judgment and project context

Oskar Kruschitz Oskar Kruschitz · Europe 2026 Virtual

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