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Tapping into the Power of Introverts in IT Introverts—those who rarely talk to others, seldom engage socially, and answer questions only when asked—can be the strongest contributors on a team, but only if they’re engaged effectively. Here are some tactics that can help leverage the enormous strengths of the quiet ones on your team. |
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The Communication Trap Posed by Certainty Certainty is a potentially dangerous mental flaw when we assume we know what others are thinking. It’s in situations of absolute certainty that we’re most likely to be wrong. When you're facing a problem, ask yourself if you’re sure you understand what the problem is—and ask for clarification. |
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Estimate Effort Based on Past Performance How often have you estimated how long it would take to complete a task, only to be off by a whole week? That's because we assume we will begin the task immediately and have a forty-hour week to work on it. There's a better way: prediction based on performance. Just find a batch size for your work. |
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How Testers Can Communicate More Effectively As testers, our role has been described as similar to car headlights. Although we illuminate the project and provide advance warning of risks, we’re definitely not in the driver’s seat. For this reason, communication skills are critical to our profession. Read on to become an effective communicator. |
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Assess Corporate Culture to Find a Good Fit for You From the outside, it’s difficult to assess an organization’s culture. But before taking a new job, it’s important to learn as much as you can so you won’t encounter a culture clash. If you've got an interview and are wondering whether a new workplace will be a good fit, read on for ways to find out. |
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The Mismeasurement of Software Having participated in a number of unsuccessful metrics programs throughout his career, Lee Copeland has identified and distilled four key principles that help prevent the mismeasurement of software. Evaluate how your metrics work against these four principles. Do you need to make any changes? |
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How and When to Make a Bold Decision Although it may not always be easy for us to make bold decisions, there are simple but powerful steps to keep in mind about becoming a bold decision maker. These include being quick and nimble, acknowledging that you may fail, and recognizing opportunities that come along the way. Read on. |
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Growing into Leadership in Software Testing When considering leadership in testing, before leading others, try leading yourself. Don’t do typical “leader” stuff. Instead, look at what you do as a professional. How polished are your technical skills? How about your communication and interpersonal skills? What do you do to make yourself better? |