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Discussion on: What's your greatest software development skill?

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Jonathan Wheat

I would have to say the two-edged sword of empathy is my skill.

I can quickly empathize with the user and understand their pain, frustration or pie-in-the-sky ideas. Which helps me quickly analyze problem areas, etc. By putting myself in their shoes, I can develop software that hits their sweet spot because I was "there" with them.

I sometimes can over-empathizing and their pain/frustration/expectations quickly become mine and that can cause stress and anxiety at times. Mostly I can see it happening and can handle it, but if it creeps up and I don't, it's stress city.