I’ve spent a lot more time over the past few months listening and talking to people than ever before. As a new manager, I’ve had to learn a few really important things first hand. Answer direct questions directly A yes or no question should be met with a yes or no answer. That said, rarely are complex questions truly binary, so if possible adjust the question until it is, and then answer. ... Read more

Who are your interesting people? The internet has done wonders for opinions, since everyone (including fools like me), can write and publish. Not every piece is going to be scientifically sound or as rigourously peer reviewed as academia, but it is unparalleled as a source of inspiration. Since everything is public, this means that the numbers of people echoing back is vast and, on average, good people rise to the top. ... Read more

There is a difference between assuming nothing and hammering things home well past the time the point has been made. I had a conversation recently where I was asked why I ask people to do things they’re already doing. During a staff update this week, I made an explicit request in response to an email that had gone out that was not explicit; once again I was informed that everyone knew that. ... Read more

Catching up on some RSS subscriptions this morning, I found myself reading Kent Beck’s blog about the Open/Closed Principle. Flipping back through his past posts, the talk Ease at Work really grabbed me. I recommend you watch it. I especially like the comparison between joy and fun at about 24 minutes in (4min into the 3rd part). The idea of being at ease with yourself put me in mind of MacGyver, and how he’s always very content to be what he is, doing what he’s doing. ... Read more