Your communication (or lack of it) defines your reputation. Miss updates, ghost clients, or wait for someone else to ask, and you’ve already lost trust. In this episode, Jake and Steve break down why communication is the real differentiator in engineering—and how you can lead without authority by setting standards others can’t ignore. Not theory—practical, tactical advice.

Key Topics Covered
• Why silence creates anxiety and destroys trust even when the work is 95% done
• How “over-communication” beats under-communication every time
• The hidden cost of vague updates and missed cadences
• How engineers unknowingly drive clients and teammates crazy
• What 75+ architects revealed about their biggest pain points with engineers
• Turning communication into a competitive advantage in your career
• The difference between being dependable vs. being reactive
• How to set clear standards for updates and hold others accountable
• Using communication as leverage to show leadership without the title
• The mindset shift: updates aren’t optional—they’re part of the job

Actionable Steps
• Set explicit expectations for how and when you’ll update clients and teammates
• Err on the side of over-communicating—let them tell you to dial it back
• Use short, factual updates instead of silence when things slip
• Track commitments visibly so progress is never a guessing game
• Chase answers fast instead of sitting in uncertainty
• Reset the standard every time it’s missed—don’t let it slide
• Treat missed updates as process breakdowns, not personal attacks
• Run real-time lessons learned instead of waiting weeks for meetings
• Remove emotion—act quickly, calmly, factually when communication breaks
• Reinforce value by solving problems and reducing client anxiety

Who This Episode Is For
• Engineers frustrated with clients or teammates going dark
• High performers who want to stand out without a formal title
• Burned-out engineers tired of confusion, rework, and last-minute fire drills
• Early-career ICs who want to prove they can lead by action, not rank
• Anyone who’s ever thought, “I’m doing the work—why don’t they see it?”

Why It Matters
Technical skill gets you in the door. Communication keeps you in the room. The fastest way to show leadership, reduce stress, and gain visibility is by setting the standard others follow. When you eliminate uncertainty, you create clarity, trust, and opportunity.

Where to Listen
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Apple Podcasts
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Or wherever you get your podcasts

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Most engineers think their job is just to deliver the technical work. Drawings done, analysis complete, box checked. Wrong. The engineers who win long term are the ones who manage stakeholder expectations. That means clear updates, fast pivots, and taking ownership of communication—even when it feels uncomfortable or “not your job.” In this episode, Steve and Jake Maxey break down how to stop hiding behind deliverables and start leading by managing expectations. Not theory—practical, tactical advice you can apply today.

Key Topics Covered
• Why engineers disappear between milestones—and how it kills trust
• Stakeholder management: what it actually means and why it matters
• Defining who your stakeholders really are (hint: it’s more than your PM)
• The silent career killer: assumptions about expectations
• The four rules of communication that put you in the top 1% of engineers
• How to set the cadence when stakeholders don’t know their own needs
• Escalating communication—from email to phone to face-to-face
• Why weekly updates make you sharper, not just more visible
• Turning updates into career leverage long after the project ends
• How to stand out in industries where poor communication is the norm

Actionable Steps
• Identify your primary stakeholders at the start of every project
• Ask directly: “What are your expectations and how do you want updates?”
• Commit to unprompted weekly updates—concise and outcome-focused
• Respond to requests within 24 hours; follow up if no reply in 48 hours
• Escalate channels: email → call → in person if needed
• Document how stakeholders want deliverables packaged and presented
• Share problems immediately—don’t wait for the next meeting
• Use updates to force clarity on progress and gaps
• Track commitments from stakeholders too, not just your team
• End every update with clear action items and next steps

Who This Episode Is For
• Engineers who think communication is “extra” work
• ICs who feel overlooked despite strong technical skills
• Early-career engineers learning how to stand out fast
• Burned-out engineers stuck firefighting instead of leading
• Anyone tired of being blindsided by shifting expectations

Why It Matters
Your technical work may get you in the door, but it won’t set you apart. What sets apart the most impactful engineers is how they manage visibility, expectations, and trust. If you can make stakeholders feel confident that you’re always on it, your reputation skyrockets. Projects succeed. Careers accelerate. That’s the real multiplier.

Where to Listen
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Apple Podcasts
Google Podcasts
Or wherever you get your podcasts

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If this episode hit home, send it to someone. The Impactful Engineer grows by word of mouth—just like the best careers do.

Most engineers don’t fail because they lack technical skills. They fail because they blow up in the moment—or because they move too slow. In this episode, Steve and Jake Maxey break down how to control your emotions when feedback hits hard, why perception trumps reality, and how speed separates leaders from the rest. Not theory—practical, tactical advice you can use immediately.

Key Topics Covered
• How emotional outbursts silently kill careers
• The difference between defending yourself vs. listening when feedback stings
• Why perception matters more than your intent
• Blind spots every engineer has—and how to find them before others do
• The right timing to give feedback without making things worse
• Why speed is the ultimate differentiator in engineering careers
• The hidden cost of “waiting for all the answers” before starting
• Risk vs. fear—what really slows teams down
• Systems and processes that allow speed without mistakes
• Why “slow is smooth, smooth is fast” applies to engineering

Actionable Steps
• Pause before reacting to hard feedback—don’t fight in the moment
• When blindsided, buy time: acknowledge, process, then return to the conversation
• Set expectations when giving feedback—never blindside your team
• Ask directly for feedback to uncover blind spots early
• Align perception of you with the reality you want others to see
• Build simple systems and templates to move faster without sacrificing quality
• Reverse engineer past projects to create reusable strategies
• Anticipate risks and prep countermeasures before issues hit
• Start tasks early, even if inputs aren’t final—most paths share common ground
• Slow down to organize your work so future speed doesn’t collapse under chaos

Who This Episode Is For
• Engineers who react defensively when feedback gets personal
• Early-career engineers struggling to prove they can lead
• High performers frustrated by slow-moving peers and teams
• ICs who want more visibility and growth but keep getting overlooked

Why It Matters
Your technical skills won’t save you if you can’t manage your emotions or if you move slower than the pace of business. Leaders notice who keeps a cool head, who absorbs feedback, and who gets things done fast without chaos. If you can master feedback and speed, you’ll separate yourself from 90% of engineers stuck defending themselves or waiting for perfect answers.

Where to Listen
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
Google Podcasts
Or wherever you get your podcasts

Share
If this episode hit home, send it to someone. The Impactful Engineer grows by word of mouth—just like the best careers do.