The vast majority of the work at Google (and at most companies!) doesn’t require genius-level intellect, but 100% of the work requires a minimal level of social skills
What will make or break your career, especially at a company like Google, is how well you collaborate with others
Hiding Considered Harmful
Get feedback as early as possible, test as early as possible, and think about security and production environments as early as possible
It’s All About the Team
Software engineering is a team endeavor
The Three Pillars of Social Interaction
Pillar 1: Humility
You are not the center of the universe (nor is your code!). You’re neither omniscient nor infallible. You’re open to self-improvement
Pillar 2: Respect
You genuinely care about others you work with. You treat them kindly and appreciate their abilities and accomplishments
Pillar 3: Trust
You believe others are competent and will do the right thing, and you’re OK with letting them drive when appropriate
Humility, Respect, and Trust in Practice
Learn to respect your peers and give constructive criticism politely
Learn to accept criticism as well
You are not your code
TL;DR
A small investment in understanding personalities and working styles of yourself and others can go a long way toward improving productivity
To work effectively with a team or a large organization, be aware of
your preferred working style and that of other
