Professionalism - the sequel

September

In the last newsletter, we started a conversation about the profession of technical communication, and asked readers to complete a survey on the subject. We even offered a prize, because prizes make everything more fun, especially if you win them. We can now announce that the $100 Prezzy Card goes to.... Peter Clayton-Jones of Orion Health - happy spending!

The people who participated were newbies (< 3 years as TCs: 13%), the majority (4-15 years as TCs: 65%), and wisebeards (16+ years as TCs: 23%). Yes, that doesn't quite add up, but we're using Swedish rounding, OK?

The most important attributes of a technical communicator

We asked you to rank the importance of 16 attributes for a professional technical communicator.

Most people rated being audience-focused (68%) and writing well (61%) as essential, with maintaining confidentiality coming a close third. Being truthful was also very important, and writing in plain English, delivering on promises and respecting colleagues, co-workers and clients coming in fifth equal place.

You gave lower priority to assisting colleagues through mentoring, dressing professionally and seeking recognition for the profession, although opinions were mixed, with some seeing these attributes as unimportant while others thought they were essential.

We also collected your opinions on professional traits that we didn’t include in our list. Here’s what you thought.

Great communication and social skills

Many of you agreed that excellent general communication and social skills are essential attributes for the professional technical communicator. Listening, interviewing, presenting, and interacting effectively with all types of users, SMEs and stakeholders is key; as well as being approachable and understanding and respecting other points of view. Not being easily offended allows us to see the merits in what others are suggesting, and networking with others within the profession is vital to understanding ‘how others do it’. Getting out into the world and becoming familiar with a range of cultures and languages builds our professional maturity.

A desire to continue learning

You also said that continual learning, curiosity, being open to new ideas and having the guts to routinely ask "why?” are seen by many as important traits.

An understanding of the big picture

Professionally you’ll score points if you’re actively seeking to understand the big picture and business needs, as well as the needs of the user. The ability to balance practicality against ideals, and having the experience to match solutions to needs, helps us to avoid suggesting complicated software when a more simple solution would suffice.

While accuracy and attention to detail are seen as important, perfectionism is also seen as a disadvantage that can stop us progressing professionally.

Professional confidence

You told us it was important that as a professional you are confident enough to challenge a plan or design when your expertise tells us it won't work, and to back up a colleague when your expertise tells you they are right. Persistence, fearlessness and pragmatism are all traits of the professional, and it's also important to value your work and your profession. Being able to prioritise our own work and manage projects helps promote our independence and value.

Solution focus and resourcefulness

Many of you see a professional technical communicator as someone who has the ability to respond to conflict by focusing on solutions, as well as the ability and desire to identify, troubleshoot and communicate problems – software, user interfaces, workflow and processes. Professionals have the smarts to convert bad customer experience into a better experience, and are both logical AND creative. Being respected for the knowledge you possess is seen as a sign that you are viewed by others as a professional.

Technical knowledge

Solving software issues ourselves, being more than computer literate, being able to code and prototype, and keeping up with (or leading) technology and industry trends are now becoming more important factors influencing how professional we appear to others. Effectively using multiple communication methods other than traditional writing programs, and using technology as an aid for more efficient writing, both help our cause.

Finally, as one person put it the professional technical communicator today is ‘less nerdy tech writer’ and more ‘slick, modern professional’.

How many of these professional attributes can you tick off?