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I often play the part of a teacher. It's something I enjoy doing and if you get me on a subject I'm enthusiastic about, you many need a large blunt object to shut me up. I really like seeing people "get it" and I'm exceptionally happy if I can help in the discovery.
A role sometimes take at work, though not explicitly, is tech translator. Or, perhaps more correctly, tech mediator. It goes like this, the tech side says something, the management looks confused, and I translate into laymen's while also confirming that's what the tech side meant. You know you got it right when the manager gratefully nods and the tech guy says something like, "yeah, that's what I said." I then sometimes translate in the other direction, trying to divine what management is looking for and put it in terms the implementor is comfortable with.
I know I'm doing well when both sides end up giving me grateful looks, as if to say, "thanks for finally making them understand." It's something I've done so often over the years that if I'm in a room I automatically try to help two parties understand each other, unless I get the vibe they don't really want me butting in. Most the the time, people are happy to get their point across and don't begrudge my presumption.
Strange thing is, I never seriously thought about my habit of doing this. Until today.
I followed along to a meeting between an artisan and a customer. It had to do with historical sites and custom metal work for the restoration. I was with one of the metal workers, meeting the customer. I was introduced as the "web guy" and thus immediately dismissed, which was fine with me, I only showed up for moral support.
In the course of the request for services and the explanation of how the work would be done, I kind of got involved. I found myself explaining what I thought the customer wanted, with them nodding. I explained to them the reason for physical characteristics of the work and why that was good, not bad. In the end, the customer seemed relieved and the metal workers seemed content and I thought, "what the hell did I just do?" I kind of stepped in and mediated, just like I often do at work. I was happy to help, but surprised that I had.
A role sometimes take at work, though not explicitly, is tech translator. Or, perhaps more correctly, tech mediator. It goes like this, the tech side says something, the management looks confused, and I translate into laymen's while also confirming that's what the tech side meant. You know you got it right when the manager gratefully nods and the tech guy says something like, "yeah, that's what I said." I then sometimes translate in the other direction, trying to divine what management is looking for and put it in terms the implementor is comfortable with.
I know I'm doing well when both sides end up giving me grateful looks, as if to say, "thanks for finally making them understand." It's something I've done so often over the years that if I'm in a room I automatically try to help two parties understand each other, unless I get the vibe they don't really want me butting in. Most the the time, people are happy to get their point across and don't begrudge my presumption.
Strange thing is, I never seriously thought about my habit of doing this. Until today.
I followed along to a meeting between an artisan and a customer. It had to do with historical sites and custom metal work for the restoration. I was with one of the metal workers, meeting the customer. I was introduced as the "web guy" and thus immediately dismissed, which was fine with me, I only showed up for moral support.
In the course of the request for services and the explanation of how the work would be done, I kind of got involved. I found myself explaining what I thought the customer wanted, with them nodding. I explained to them the reason for physical characteristics of the work and why that was good, not bad. In the end, the customer seemed relieved and the metal workers seemed content and I thought, "what the hell did I just do?" I kind of stepped in and mediated, just like I often do at work. I was happy to help, but surprised that I had.