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JavaScript Congress • Nov 24, 2021

Communication & Influence for Techies - An unconventional look at conversations

Sumit Gupta

Effective communication happens in the listener's ear, not your mouth. Stop confusing emotional stories with objective data. Discover how to leverage introverted strengths to navigate unpracticed conversations.

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#1 about 3 min

Setting foundational rules for exploring unconventional engineering communication

Three practical requests for actively experimenting with and adapting disruptive conversational techniques.

#2 about 5 min

Overcoming introversion and conflict avoidance in tech leadership

How realizing the limitations of hiding behind technology sparks a journey into better team influence.

#3 about 6 min

Understanding how internal interpretation shapes all team conversations

Why an individual's internal translation of words strictly determines how technical messages are received.

#4 about 7 min

Navigating team dynamics by speaking into the right listening

Techniques for assessing an audience's current mood to choose the optimal timing for feedback delivery.

#5 about 7 min

Leveraging language to declare new future career opportunities

How making direct requests and declaring team goals turns passive desires into concrete advancements.

#6 about 9 min

Separating objective workplace facts from manufactured internal narratives

Identifying when personal cognitive biases and subjective interpretations are mistakenly treated as organizational reality.

#7 about 4 min

Recognizing workplace problems and possibilities as constructed internal viewpoints

How consciously tracking and shifting internal narratives directly dictates subsequent workplace actions and long-term resolutions.

#8 about 5 min

Applying three distinct levels of listening to everyday interactions

A practical framework for parsing facts, uncovering underlying emotional concerns, and finding mutually beneficial resolutions.

#9 about 7 min

Reframing difficult discussions through targeted preparation and continuous practice

Strategies for converting anxious interpersonal blockers into manageable interactions by leveraging structured preparation and mindfulness.

#10 about 7 min

Addressing insecurity and ambition within manager and employee relationships

Building collaborative working models by realigning individual contributor ambition directly with overarching team goals.

#11 about 3 min

Balancing conflicting workplace values through empathetic problem solving

Uncovering underlying operational challenges to frame ambitious requests in respects to a manager's immediate priorities.

#12 about 3 min

Identifying unhelpful personal narratives by leveraging external team feedback

How gathering diverse external viewpoints helps unblock self-limiting beliefs and corrects distorted subjective assumptions.

#13 about 3 min

Deciphering interpersonal intent through subtle nonverbal conversational cues

Evaluating vocal tone and workplace body language to uncover hidden frustrations and promote trusting dialogues.

#14 about 5 min

Sustaining communication improvements through practical application and consistent repetition

Why repetitive real-world practice heavily outpaces conceptual knowledge when actively striving to overcome ingrained behavioral patterns.

Matching moments

1:45 min

Extracting professional value from tech conferences as an introvert

Ramona Schwering Ramona Schwering · LIVE

3:16 min

Summarizing core takeaways on consent, boundaries, and leadership

Ana Gil Amor Ana Gil Amor +1 · Europe 2026 Virtual

2:55 min

Fostering active interactions between human resources and technology leaders

Rudi Bauer Rudi Bauer +1 · Cappuccino with HR

4:19 min

Introduction to the speaker and context for the talk

Sani Yusuf · LIVE

15:36 min

Overcoming introversion through public speaking in developer relations

Chris Heilmann +2 · LIVE

17:52 min

Reflecting on engineering motivations and undervalued strengths

Irina Anastasiu · LIVE

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