Episode 129 – If People Don’t “Get It”, That’s On You!

Engineers love being right. But if no one understands your ideas, your impact stalls. In this episode, Steve and Jake break down the real skill behind influence: reframing. Not theory—practical, tactical advice anyone can apply immediately to make their work land with the people who matter.This is the communication advantage most engineers ignore. And it’s the reason technically strong people get overlooked while effective communicators move ahead.Key Topics Covered• Why being “technically right” isn’t enough in engineering• How reframing turns confusion into alignment and buy-in• The biggest mistake engineers make when explaining ideas• How to translate technical details into business impact• Simple ways to uncover what your audience actually cares about • How reframing fixes stalled projects, miscommunications, and lost visibility • Real examples of turning flat explanations into compelling ones • How reframing deepens relationships—not just persuasion • Why leadership listens when you speak in risks, delays, and tradeoffs • How reframing transforms your resume, meetings, and influence overnightActionable Steps• Ask: “What does this person care about most?” before speaking• Replace technical jargon with the consequence they care about• Tie every problem to time, risk, money, or customer impact• Use comparisons or relatable examples to make concepts stick• When pitching a fix, lead with the cost of not fixing it • Translate features into pain points solved (comfort, speed, reliability) • When writing your resume, reframe tasks into outcomes • Always connect design details to user experience or business value • Break vague statements into measurable, repeatable improvements • Practice reframing daily—emails, updates, and 1:1s are repsWho This Episode Is For• Engineers who feel ignored or misunderstood • ICs who want more influence without a title • Technical experts who need non-technical people to “get it” • Early-career engineers trying to build credibility fast • Anyone tired of doing good work that goes unseenWhy It MattersYour work doesn’t speak for itself—you do. Reframing is the difference between being the smartest engineer in the room and the most impactful. When people finally understand the value of your ideas, your visibility rises, your influence grows, and your career accelerates. If people don’t get it today, they will after this episode—because you’ll explain it in a way they care about.Where to ListenSpotifyApple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsOr wherever you get your podcastsShareIf this episode hit home, send it to someone. The Impactful Engineer grows by word of mouth—just like the best careers do.