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Using Trauma-Informed Approaches in Agile Environments
Scientific and clinical understanding of how the human nervous system develops and works has increased tremendously. Its implications are so profound they radiate far beyond the field of psychology. Topics such as trauma-informed law, volleyball coaching, legal counseling, education, and social activism have arisen. It is time to consider how it affects working in an agile tech environment.
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Great Leaders Manage Complexity with Self-Awareness and Context Awareness
People's perception and expectations on leadership requires a leader to understand their own contextual significance which makes it difficult to become an appreciated leader. Also trivialisation many times unknowingly stands in the way of progress in complex situations. This article explores specific traits that distinguish people who repeatedly provide appreciated and appropriate leadership.
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How to Introduce Innovation into the DNA of 21st Century Companies
An innovation mindset is about the tiny little improvements any employee can do; hundreds of simple, low-cost- no-effort activities are in plain sight just waiting for somebody to deploy them. This article provides guidelines that can support you in changing the attitude of employees in your organization providing trust, time, space, teams, a second operating system, MVPs, and co-creation.
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Practical Applications of Complexity Theory in Software and Digital Products Development
What if we start a new conversation about complexity, also engaging a completely different crowd - the hands-on practitioners, the problem solvers, the tinkerers? What if we approach that conversation in another way? This article is guided by two new radical ideas; the first idea is on the theory and practice of complexity, and the second idea is on the human element in complexity theory.
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Becoming More Efficient and Productive in a Distracted World
This article highlights how increased distractions in agile teams can affect our mental health and cause burnout. It outlines how various productivity hacks can help to reduce this problem and make you highly efficient using real-life experiences. Finally, it discusses various steps the software industry can take to help preserve our mental health and reduce distractions.
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Becoming an Exceptional Manager
The book Manager in Shorts by Gal Zellermayer describes principles of management in hi-tech, focusing on people, processes, and culture. It provides tips and ideas that readers can use to develop their leadership skills and learn how to manage technical people and become an exceptional manager.
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Leading during Times of High Uncertainty and Change
To help teams succeed during uncertain times, leaders need to navigate different horizons; managing themselves and building strong relationships with their teams. Organisations need leadership at all levels. In order to be successful, leaders should develop skills for self-management, delegation, dealing with ambiguity, managing in all directions, systems thinking, and leading through context.
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Breaking the Taboo – What I Learned from Talking about Mental Health in the Workplace
Mental illness is a topic that does not get discussed openly very often. Many people concerned hide their own history for fear of being stigmatized, especially in the workplace. This is a story about how speaking openly about mental illness, even with your boss and co-workers, can help yourself and others. The author shares with you what she has learned from breaking the taboo.
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Dealing with Psychopaths and Narcissists during Agile Change
Psychopathic or narcissistic toxic employees can slow down the adoption of change in a company. Many of the techniques or practices you use with healthy people do not work well with psychopaths or narcissists. This article explores four key areas that can help a change consultant succeed when dealing with toxic people.
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Q&A on the Book Leading with Uncommon Sense
The book Leading with Uncommon Sense by Wiley Davi and Duncan Spelman questions typical- and for many leaders familiar- approaches to leadership. It challenges "common sense” mainstream thinking about leadership and provides alternatives that require slowing down, engaging with our emotions, paying close attention to social identities, and embracing complexity.
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Scaling Distributed Teams by Drawing Parallels from Distributed Systems
An effective distributed team’s characteristics are accountability, good communication, clear goals and expectations, a defined decision-making process, and autonomy with explicit norms. Ranganathan Balashanmugam spoke about scaling distributed teams around the world at QCon London 2020. In his talk he showed how we can apply distributed systems patterns for scaling distributed teams.
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Breaking through Three Common Engineering Myths
This article debunks three common myths that often plague engineers and may be holding them back from reaching their full potential, especially if they are a current or aspiring engineering leader. It also provides some actionable ideas you can implement right away to start making a shift in your own life away from these limiting beliefs.