The T-Shaped Technical Writer

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Publishing Synopsis

I had published this article for the tcworld India 2015 conference contest. I was declared as the winner of the competition and got a free entry ticket for the conference. Here's a sneak preview of the announcement of the results.

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Foreword

Yesterday evening I sent an important e-mail about my product documentation. As a normal practice, I navigated to my sent folder to ensure that the recipients list included all the stakeholders. The list was endless! In the span of just a few years, I realized that the recipients list had extended tremendously. I smiled at myself as I recollected my fresher days when I had e-mail exchanges only between my development team and fellow writers. Today, the emerging standards, and processes have amplified the interactions of technical writers with many other teams. Product documentation is more of a collaborative effort and the ‘I’ that connected me to the mainstream has changed into a ‘T’.
If you are pursuing technical writing since at least past five years, I am sure that you correlate to the metaphor that I just used to describe the change. Yes, indeed, we are T-shaped technical writers. Here is the Wikipedia definition that can probably convince you.

The T-Shaped Skills of a Technical Writer

Here is how I visualize the Wikipedia definition for my skills.

The Role Model of a T-Shaped Technical Writer

In my view, the T-shaped technical writer simultaneously serves a number of distinctive roles.

Trustworthy Team Player

Aspires the team goals, commits to the tasks at hand, and glorifies the team’s success.

Strong Communicator

Wins over the hearts, and rules over the minds through effective, accurate, and economical verbal and written communication.

Holistic Intellect  

Comprehends the complete information, analyzes it thoughtfully, and builds a powerful knowledge management system for all audiences.

Active Listener

Lends an attentive ear to capture information, and disseminates it creatively through suitable channels.

Passionate Leader

Collaborates at diverse levels with cross-functional professionals, and designs and monitors the documentation plan.

Enthusiastic Innovator

Looks forward to learn and adapt to new trends and technologies, develops new ideas, and evolves best practices.

Dedicated Mentor

Facilitates as a friend, philosopher, or guide and empowers fellow writers to win over in difficult times.

Conclusion

I am convinced that I am a ‘T’. Are you still dabbling into the calligraphy of an ‘I’ or a ‘T’? If so, then it is high time that you bridge the gap. No matter what you are doing, you need to think broadly and deeply.