personal improvement

Open dictionary Attention, Word Nerds: We’ve Got New Dictionary Entries

Merriam-Webster just added 640 new words to its dictionary, in addition to the more than 840 entries added in September. While you're learning new language, check out the Sideways Dictionary, a crowd-sourced collection of definitions. There are a lot of software terms there, so see how people define "agile" and "VPN."

Pamela Rentz's picture
Pamela Rentz
Thank-you card next to a cup of coffee Learning to Accept Compliments

If people at work pay you a compliment, do you say thanks? Or do you always seem to deflect the compliment or respond with something self-deprecating? If it's the latter, that's a habit you should break. Compliments are a great way to create a positive workplace culture. Here's how you can learn to accept them.

Naomi Karten's picture
Naomi Karten
Groups of people networking at a conference Learning to Network: Fake It till You Make It

Failure is part of learning; we have to do things we are not good at in order to become better at them. To learn networking, we have to take the risk of failing and do what we fear. This means taking small steps to open up, asking questions, and listening—and even pretending to be interested until you really are!

Isabel Evans's picture
Isabel Evans
Unapproachable man scowling at his computer Are You Unintentionally Unapproachable?

Could you be giving off an air of unapproachability without meaning to? Is it possible that you exhibit some unwelcome behaviors that are so subtle you’re not even aware of them? Think about whether you have any of the following habits that could give your coworkers the impression that you are unapproachable.

Richard Estra's picture
Richard Estra
Person with writer's block holding a pen over a blank piece of paper Unblocking Writer’s Block

Being unable to think of what to write can happen to anyone. Maybe your assignment is to contribute a blog post for the company website, draft a white paper, or produce design documents or other materials. What do you do? Here are some helpful suggestions for unblocking writer's block and getting started.

Pamela Rentz's picture
Pamela Rentz
Two people shaking hands after earning a promotion 3 Tips for Moving Up the Testing Leadership Ladder

Moving up the career ladder often means more money, more fun, and more impact. But it's not a good idea to sit around and just hope it will happen. There's a lot you can do to speed up the process and earn a well-deserved promotion. Jason Arbon shares three tips he has for moving up the testing leadership ladder.

Jason Arbon's picture
Jason Arbon
Jeff Payne Maintaining Technical Excellence: A Slack Takeover with Jeff Payne

Thought leaders from the software community are taking over the TechWell Hub for a day to answer questions and engage in conversations. Jeff Payne, the CEO and founder of Coveros, hosted this Slack takeover, discussing agile transformation, automating documentation, and how leaders can maintain technical excellence.

Owen Gotimer's picture
Owen Gotimer
"Don't walk" sign saying to stop Don’t Fall Victim to the Fundamental Attribution Error

Before jumping to a conclusion about a particular situation, try to see circumstances from the other person’s perspective. Consider possible explanations for the person’s behavior that are based on the situation, not the person’s character. Work runs more smoothly when you assume actions have a good and logical reason.

Naomi Karten's picture
Naomi Karten