docs(notes): add work communication notes for 2025-03-21

Author: lzwjava

notes/2025-03-21-work-communication-en.md

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+---
+title: Effective Work Communication for Software Engineers in Banks
+lang: en
+layout: post
+audio: false
+translated: false
+generated: true
+---
+
+As a software engineer working as a contractor in a bank, effective communication is key to your success, especially in a professional and often structured environment like a financial institution. Below are some practical suggestions to help you navigate communication, based on common workplace dynamics and best practices:
+
+---
+
+### General Approach to Communication
+1. **Balance Independence and Collaboration**: As a contractor, you’re expected to be self-sufficient to some extent, but banks often have complex systems, policies, and processes that may not be fully documented or intuitive. It’s fine to ask questions, but aim to demonstrate initiative by doing some research first.
+2. **Understand Team Norms**: Early on, observe how your team communicates (e.g., do they prefer Teams, email, or Zoom?) and adapt accordingly. If unsure, ask your manager or a colleague about preferred communication channels and expectations.
+
+---
+
+### When You Have Queries
+- **Step 1: Try to Solve It Yourself First**  
+  - Check available resources: documentation (e.g., Confluence, internal wikis), codebases, or past tickets (e.g., Jira).  
+  - Spend a reasonable amount of time (e.g., 15-30 minutes) researching before escalating, unless it’s urgent or critical (e.g., a production issue).  
+  - This shows initiative and reduces unnecessary interruptions for colleagues.
+
+- **Step 2: Decide Who and How to Ask**  
+  - **Ask Colleagues Immediately If**:  
+    - The issue is urgent (e.g., blocking a deadline or impacting production).  
+    - You’ve hit a dead end after reasonable effort and need clarification on something specific (e.g., unclear requirements or system behavior).  
+  - **Frequency**:  
+    - There’s no strict rule, but aim to batch non-urgent questions (e.g., ask 2-3 at once rather than pinging someone every 10 minutes).  
+    - For urgent issues, ask as soon as possible.  
+  - **Channel**:  
+    - **Direct Message (DM) in Teams**: Use this for quick, one-off questions to a specific person (e.g., “Hey, where’s the config file for X?”). Keep it concise and informal.  
+    - **Group Chat in Teams**: Use this for questions that might benefit the team or require input from multiple people (e.g., “Does anyone know how the Y service authenticates?”). Avoid spamming the group with overly specific/personal queries.  
+    - **Email**: Use for formal communication, such as summarizing discussions, requesting approvals, or documenting decisions. Keep emails clear, structured (e.g., bullet points), and to the point.  
+    - **Zoom/Video Call**: Reserve for complex discussions (e.g., debugging a tricky issue together) or when text-based communication isn’t cutting it (e.g., misaligned expectations). Schedule it in advance if possible, and come prepared with an agenda.
+
+---
+
+### When to Use Each Communication Tool
+- **Microsoft Teams (DM or Group)**:  
+  - Best for quick, real-time clarifications or informal check-ins.  
+  - Example: “Can someone point me to the API spec for Z?”  
+- **Email**:  
+  - Use when you need a paper trail (e.g., confirming requirements with a stakeholder) or when reaching out to someone outside your immediate team (e.g., another department).  
+  - Example: Sending a status update to your manager or escalating an issue.  
+- **Zoom/Video Call**:  
+  - Use for in-depth discussions, brainstorming, or resolving confusion that requires back-and-forth (e.g., “Let’s hop on a call to walk through this integration”).  
+  - Tip: Check availability first via Teams (“Are you free for a quick call?”).  
+- **Confluence/Documentation**:  
+  - Write documentation when your work or findings could benefit others (e.g., a setup guide, troubleshooting steps, or architecture overview).  
+  - Update it when you resolve something unclear in existing docs—this builds credibility and reduces future questions.  
+  - Don’t overdo it; focus on high-impact content rather than documenting every minor task.
+
+---
+
+### Practical Tips for a Bank Environment
+1. **Be Professional but Approachable**: Banks value clarity and professionalism. Avoid overly casual language in emails or group chats unless the team culture encourages it.  
+2. **Respect Hierarchies**: If you’re unsure who to ask, start with peers or your immediate point of contact (e.g., team lead) rather than going straight to a senior manager.  
+3. **Time Sensitivity**: Banking systems often have strict deadlines (e.g., regulatory reporting). If your query ties to something time-critical, escalate faster and use the most direct channel (e.g., DM or call).  
+4. **Documentation Matters**: Banks often require audit trails. If a decision or clarification comes verbally, follow up with an email or Confluence update to document it (e.g., “Just confirming: we’re using OAuth for X, per our call”).  
+
+---
+
+### How Often Should You Document in Confluence?
+- **Write When It Adds Value**:  
+  - Document reusable knowledge (e.g., “How to deploy to the test environment”) or solutions to tricky problems you’ve solved.  
+  - Update existing pages if you spot gaps or outdated info.  
+- **Avoid Over-Documenting**: Don’t write for the sake of it—focus on clarity and utility. Check with your team if they expect regular updates in Confluence or prefer other methods (e.g., Jira comments).  
+- **Frequency**: Once or twice a week for ongoing work is reasonable, unless your role explicitly involves maintaining docs.
+
+---
+
+### Sample Workflow for a Query
+- **Scenario**: You’re stuck on an authentication issue.  
+  1. Search Confluence and the codebase for 20 minutes—no luck.  
+  2. DM a colleague: “Hi, I’m looking into the auth flow for X. Could you point me to the right docs or person?”  
+  3. If they suggest a call, schedule a quick Zoom.  
+  4. After resolving, update Confluence with a brief note (e.g., “Authentication uses Y protocol, see Z repo”) and email your manager if it impacts a deliverable.
+
+---
+
+### Final Advice
+- **Ask Your Manager**: Early on, clarify expectations: “How should I handle questions—search first, then ask? Preferred channels?” This shows proactivity and aligns you with their style.  
+- **Adapt as You Go**: If you notice colleagues respond better to certain methods (e.g., they ignore DMs but jump on group chats), adjust accordingly.  
+- **Build Relationships**: Being friendly and respectful in your communication will make colleagues more willing to help over time.
+
+You’ve got this—contracting in a bank can be demanding, but clear communication will set you up for success! Let me know if you’d like examples or help refining your approach further.