Latest Posts - Page 51 of 198

August 9, 2022July 31, 2022 Grow From Failures

Status Reporting – The Simple Solution For Avoiding Big Problems

Few things cause excitement like the phrase, “status reporting.” Yes, I know you are already quivering from anticipation, but that is our topic. This episode looks at how much confusion could have been avoided (and some loss) through better use of this communication form. Accordingly, this is an excellent lesson to learn early in your career. Status Reporting – Staying on the Same Page The best reason for regular communication in a project is to ensure everyone stays on the same page. A lack of cohesion in a team is a common reason for failures, over-runs, and low quality. While status reporting may feel or seem like busy work, it is not. There is a noticeable value in even the... Read more

August 4, 2022July 26, 2022 Grow From Failures

Smart Scheduling – Including Buffer So It Can Flex

Our approach to becoming a better developer requires planning. Likewise, we need smart scheduling to hit our targets. That is the focus of this episode. I look back at a time when I overloaded my schedule and ended up stressing out. That led to more harm than good in many ways. Thus, we need to look at building in ways to allow our schedule to be flexible and adjust to life events. Smart Scheduling 101 – Add “Wiggle Room” A rigid structure is more likely to break when it is shown resistance. Think of a dry spaghetti noodle. Once you apply pressure, it is likely to break or crack. However, there are similar things (like a wet noodle) that are... Read more

August 2, 2022July 26, 2022 Grow From Failures

Making Good The Enemy of Better

There are many mistakes we make related to pushing too far or not pushing enough. The latter is where we make good the enemy of better. More precisely, good enough becomes our goal instead of getting better. That approach can be comfortable. However, it can also limit our growth professionally and personally. This episode shares a story where I limited myself regularly shooting for a goal that was good rather than better. While we can take the “win” and move on, there are more times we should aim higher. Good The Enemy of Better – Limiting Growth The idea of perfect as the enemy of good and pushing too hard has been discussed in other episodes. Those situations have us... Read more

July 28, 2022July 17, 2022 Grow From Failures

Proving Your Worth – Understand Expectations

It is not at all uncommon to focus on proving your worth when you start a new job or enter a new environment. However, we expect more than others. We often make the mistake of thinking we are expected to know everything. That is not the case. In fact, we are rarely likely to know much in the early days of a new job. That is why many companies have training and orientation programs for new hires. While there is typically not the same formal process when we move to a new team, there are still the same needs. It is a “rookie mistake” to think you are expected to hit the ground running at 100%. Your best days are... Read more

July 26, 2022July 26, 2022 Grow From Failures

Differences In Perception – A Stupid Bet

There are many fights and arguments that start from differences in perception. Whether it is the line-of-sight, angle, or bias, we have differing views. These can cause reasonable people to take starkly different positions on a subject. While those are honest differences, they are also essential to note. Sometimes an argument can be avoided by one of the parties looking at the issue from a different perspective. We must realize these differences exist and work with them rather than digging in our heels. Differences in Perception and Perspectives Perspective has a more significant impact on our decisions and positions than most expect. We think we see things how they are and can be adamant about it. However, we all have... Read more

July 21, 2022July 15, 2022 Grow From Failures

Mistakes In The Cloud – Know Where Things Live

Modern technology is the focus of this episode as we look at mistakes in the cloud. You can impact a lot of people with a simple error. That is why you need to be aware of what these new tools do and how to use them properly. For example, backups are great unless you manage to delete them all. Likewise, file sharing is excellent. However, it can lead to one person disrupting the work of your entire team. These cloud-related tools take the reply-all option in emails from a minor nuisance to a potentially crippling obstacle. Mistakes In The Cloud Are Common First and foremost, know that the easy accessibility of these tools can be a problem. They tend to... Read more