leadership

Set of keys with a keychain that says "Charisma" Becoming a Charismatic Leader

Charismatic leaders can accomplish some things that may be more difficult for leaders who aren’t charismatic: They can sell the vision in a way that makes people buy into the possibilities. They can inspire people to do their best and thereby achieve results that other leadership styles can’t do as readily.

Naomi Karten's picture
Naomi Karten
Man pointing his finger Recognizing and Reversing a Culture of Blame

A culture of blame is one in which people are reluctant to accept responsibility for things that go wrong. Finger-pointing becomes an automatic response. It's nearly impossible for one person to reverse a culture of blame alone, but it is possible to demonstrate on a small scale what appropriate behavior looks like.

Naomi Karten's picture
Naomi Karten
A crack forming in concrete, photo by Mahdis Mousavi Handling the Emotional Turmoil of Organizational Change

Chaos, confusion, and emotional turmoil are not unusual during major organizational change. Nevertheless, even people at the top sometimes minimize the impact of the change on employees—and on themselves. Worse, they sometimes do so dismissively. It's important not to underestimate the challenge of managing change.

Naomi Karten's picture
Naomi Karten
Manager with megaphone communicating with employees During Times of Major Change, Keep People Informed

During times of major change, readily available information can help reduce the fears of those affected about what it means for them. If you’re involved in implementing change, it’s wise to keep people informed—not just about the change itself, but also about its impact on processes, responsibilities, and expectations.

Naomi Karten's picture
Naomi Karten
Hands nurturing a plant The Manager’s Role on a Self-Organizing Agile Team

Scrum and other agile methods focus on team roles and dynamics, and because of the emphasis on self-organizing teams, there’s sometimes a misconception that there’s no need for a manager. In reality, good people management can help an agile team thrive—the manager just has to know how to empower the team.

Steve Berczuk's picture
Steve Berczuk
Leader helping someone up 5 Myths and Misconceptions about Leadership

It’s a common myth that leaders are born, not made. Even so-called natural leaders have plenty to learn about handling the kinds of challenges and problems they’ll have to face, and many others grow into the role. Let's explore this misconception and four others to learn that anyone with the drive can be a leader.

Naomi Karten's picture
Naomi Karten
Person giving someone a flower Creating a Culture of Kindness

Employees tend to follow the model set from above, treating each other and their customers the way they’re treated by their superiors. Leaders set the tone for the entire organization, and that means that kindness starts at the top. But whatever level you're at, you can create a culture of kindness for everyone.

Naomi Karten's picture
Naomi Karten
ducks in a row What It Takes to Be an Effective Leader in Software Testing

Similar to the discussion of “How much test automation do I need?” the answer often depends on your team’s makeup and what sort of product you’re making. There isn’t a perfect equation, but there are still general, proven qualities that lead to better software and happier software testers.

Josiah Renaudin's picture
Josiah Renaudin