Technical Founders Write Better

Shaan Puri shares his observation about technical founders and their communication styles, noting a distinct difference between their online and offline personas. This insight came from his interactions with successful tech entrepreneurs, particularly during a lunch with Dharmesh Shah (Hubspot co-founder).

Key Points:

• Online vs Offline Communication:

  • Some people are better at talking to others online than in person
  • Their online social skill is often better developed than their in-person social skill
  • This is especially common among technical founders and entrepreneurs

• Reasons for This Dynamic:

  • Many spend more time communicating online than in person
  • Their "cockpit" or comfort zone is sitting at a desk in front of a computer
  • Some are "rusty" at in-person interactions due to limited practice

• Real-World Examples:

  • A colleague who was quiet as a mouse in person but became the "class clown" in Slack
  • The person grew up with primary English social interactions happening online (chat rooms, games, Discord)
  • This created a more developed online persona compared to their in-person presence

• Personal Communication Preferences:

  • It's important to recognize where you're "the most you"
  • Could be through text messaging, phone calls, written emails, or in-person
  • Understanding your optimal communication channel is valuable

• Key Insight:

  • This isn't something "weird" about these people
  • It's actually a completely normal phenomenon
  • Better to identify and work with your strongest communication style than try to force something unnatural