leadership in technical writing - stc india2016-conference.stc-india.org/ppt/d2t1/d2t1...leadership...

LEADERSHIP IN TECHNICAL WRITING

GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

© 2016, STC INDIA CHAPTER 1Kavitha Shinde

Director - User Assistance

PTC

© 2016, STC INDIA CHAPTER 2

KEY OBJECTIVES

Understand challenges in growth in technical writing

Identify opportunities for leadership

Build and develop your growth plan

Being successful in your new leadership role!


CHALLENGES TO GROWTH

• Smaller team sizes

• Lone technical writers

• Variety of domains

• Perceived as a support function

• Does documentation have a future?

• Fewer leadership opportunities

• Fewer role models

• Leadership path not defined

• Perceived glass ceiling

Challenges are many,

Pave your way through it!


IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITIES TO OVERCOME CHALLENGES

Look for or create opportunities,

Be the change agent!

Customer needs

And

Industry trends

Strategic thinking

and

Decision making

Situational

leadership

Stakeholder

management

Latest tools

and techniques

Technical trackManagerial track


PATH TO SUCCESS - LADDER OR JUNGLE GYM?

There is no single track for growth.

Unleash your potential to find your path to success!


TYPICAL CAREER PATH FOR USER ASSISTANCE

Associate Technical Writer

Senior Technical Writer

Group Leader Principal Writer

Manager Technical Consultant

Director

VP User Assistance Technical VP

Choose your track.

Technical Stream or Managerial Stream?


PLANNING FOR SELF DEVELOPMENT

Grab Opportunities &

Prepare for Change

Tools & Techniques

Upskill

Domain

Technical

Interpersonal

Volunteer

New Assignment

Willingness

New Tools

Processes

Ecosystem

Continuous learning and upskilling is essential for survival,

Grabbing the opportunities defines your winning attitude!


STAYING ON THE TECHNICAL TRACK

Leadership is about giving technical direction too.

That’s proficiency!

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES


Goals Ownership

The goals change from tactical to strategic.

The focus shifts from immediate to long term solutions!


OWNERSHIP ON TECHNICAL TRACK

Driving Innovation & Providing Technical Direction

Coaching and Training, Editorial and Technical reviews

Tools and Processes

Scripting and Automation

Domain expertise

Technica

l Lead

ership

Technical Leadership

People management is not the only option!


ROLES OF A TECHNICAL WRITING MANAGER

Creating schedules, plans and tracking progress

Baselining and measuring work

Setting up writing and editorial guidelines and processes

Setting up channels for the team members to interact with other R&D stake holders

Developing direct reports

Setting up the technical writing team

Evaluating performance and providing feedback

Deciding the deliverables to be supported

Hiring and staffing

Training and Coaching

Roles, Responsibilities and challenges of people managers are universal,

Stream, domain or industry does not matter!


TRANSITIONING TO A PEOPLE’S MANAGER

Get to know your team

Mentor and coach and delegate effectively

Develop hiring and staffing plans and evaluate performances

Represent your team and their contributions

Manage the monkeys

Understand your role and expectations,

Develop your own management style!


BUILDING TRUST

Build Trust.

Essential to be a successful manager!

Credit – The SPEED of Trust: by Stephen M. R. Covey


BEHAVIORS TO BUILD TRUST

• Talk Straight

• Demonstrate

Respect

• Create

Transparency

• Right Wrongs

• Show Loyalty

• Deliver Results

• Confront Reality

• Clarify

Expectation

• Practice

Accountability

• Listen First

• Keep

Commitments

• Extend Trust

Trust doesn’t happen,

You earn it!

Credit – The SPEED of Trust: by Stephen M. R. Covey


BEING A LEADER

Vision

Goals

Empower

Innovate

Succession

Expand

Vision statement for the department

Develop department goals

Empower your technical writers

Develop next level leaders

Foster creative thinking and innovation

Growth from a Manager to a Leader,

Know the difference!

Go beyond and expand your reach


Thank you!

leadership in technical writing - stc india2016-conference.stc-india.org/ppt/d2t1/d2t1...leadership...

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