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Who’s the Boss? Let Agile Teams Manage Themselves This idea of a team in charge of itself is difficult for many people to accept. Traditional practices condition us to wait for someone to tell us what to do, and managers are accustomed to controlling everyone’s work and knowing everyone’s status. But agile teams can manage themselves—in fact, it's essential to agile. |
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The Difference between Managers and Leaders You often hear managers referred to as leaders, but the two terms are not synonymous. Managers can be leaders, but not always, and there are people who don’t have formal management positions who are leaders. Understanding the difference can help people in both roles—and their team members—be more effective. |
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How to Say No to Work Requests There are times when you have so much to do that you just have to say no to new work requests. The trick is finding a way to decline politely so there are no negative repercussions. There are ways to turn down requests at work without also hurting your career. Be clear and firm but still respectful. |
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The Last Jedi? Some Words of Wisdom "I only know one truth: It's time for the Jedi to end." That’s the bomb Luke Skywalker dropped in the first trailer for Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Pamela Rentz highlights some of the wisdom of the Jedi to keep The Force strong in the workplace and our lives. |
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The Role of Luck in Your Career Success When things go your way and you achieve some level of success, it’s natural to want to take credit for it. But in addition to your working hard and overcoming obstacles, it's likely that at least some of your success is also due to pure, dumb luck. Acknowledging that can help you recognize good luck when it appears. |
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How Failure Is Essential to Your Success No one likes to fail, but it is an essential activity in our lives. Each failure gives us a chance to learn and become better. No one is instantly successful at anything; everyone goes through a learning curve, and that may be steep and long. But we need to do better to embrace failure, because it precedes success. |
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Do Software Teams Need Managers with Technical Expertise? Soft skills matter in how effective a manager is, but what about technical skills? If you're a software engineer, how important is it to you for your manager to have the same background and to fully understand your job? Ideally they would, but in some cases, that role can be better filled by a technical lead. |
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Tips to Get You Up from Your Desk and Moving Around We've all heard the dangers that come from sitting too much. Luckily, there are plenty of ideas that can help you move a little more, even if your job entails sitting for most of the day. You just need a reminder to get up every hour or so—and among these tips, there's sure to be one that works for you. |