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!

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.

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.