Business
Why Google’s Move into Patient Information Is a Big Deal (via Harvard Business Review)
There’s too much patient data and medical knowledge/research to keep up with, so Ascension is partnering with someone who has the IT and machine learning skills to help. Many people are concerned with the privacy and security of that data, and whether Google will leverage it to make a profit. It’s a delicate balance of helping doctors and patients and shareholders.
Career
The CEO’s Guide to Retirement (via Harvard Business Review)
It’s a difficult decision to make about when to exit as CEO, given that people are living longer; however, you don’t want to stay on too long and run out of steam. This article is a playbook for questions to ask yourself and options for your next move.
How to Negotiate as a Freelancer (via Harvard Business Review)
This is a comprehensive set of techniques (and questions to get you thinking) for negotiating. The first one about relationships could also apply to being a job candidate in an interview.
- Make it personal — trust and confidence are the foundation. Create a narrative about what you believe, what led you to that, and connect your drive back to the customer (i.e., you and the customer are cut from the same cloth).
- Resist the temptation to discount — it makes your work seem worth less. Go for fixed fee, although you’ll assume the risk if you need more time than you planned.
- Don’t spend time negotiating with the wrong partners — not everyone is royalty, and the effort needs to be worth your time.
The Bus Ticket Theory of Genius (via Software Lead Weekly)
I think this post could use a bit more structure, but there were some interesting questions posed. The premise is about bus ticket collectors who obsess over the details; you need ability, determination, and an obsessive interest in a particular topic. The big questions I liked… What’s the most important thing in your field and why aren’t you working on it? If you could take a year off to work on something interesting (but maybe not important) what would that be?
The Manager’s Path: A Guide for Tech Leaders Navigating Growth & Change
This is the technical manager’s playbook, explaining how each step on the journey will likely look and how you can be successful. The author distilled the lessons learned as she moved from individual contributor to CTO. Anyone pursuing management should consider this book required reading. (Scroll down to the bottom of the post to see my 31-page write-up.)
Culture
How Remote Workers Make Work Friends (via Harvard Business Review)
There are fewer chances to have organic interactions when you’re not colocated, meaning we only interact when needed. For those who made friendships remotely, the key is cadence to know when to interact. (1) Be a reliable work partner and respond timely. (2) Reach out and share something personal. (3) Leadership can “ask getting to know you” questions in meetings or chat channels. (4) Create opportunities to socialize when on-site.
Fitness
Sustaining Mobility & Movement: Human Movement Science
This course is part of my continuing education for my Program Group Exercise certification. Topics include injury prevention in group fitness, functional anatomy, the corrective exercise continuum, addressing impairment and malalignment, and implementing injury prevention in a group fitness setting.
Leadership
Getting the Most Out of 360-Degree Reviews (via Harvard Business Review)
- Confidentiality — coworkers will be honest if they know their comments won’t be shared
- Candor — making it clear that candid feedback is how the survey can be most effective
- Transparency — be clear about why you’re conducting the review
- Customization — you may need to change the language to fit your culture
- Follow up — don’t deliver the results in a vacuum
Process
Our book club discussed neglected work and setting up a kanban board.
Craftsman, executive— a tale of two modes (via Software Lead Weekly)
This post presents an analogy of a shoemaker with one shop scaling out his business to multiple shops. Most of us are more accustomed to the craftsman level (immediate experience) vs. executive level where we are “operating with abstractions, delayed feedback loops, and mostly probabilistic outcomes.”
Inefficient Efficiency (via Software Lead Weekly)
There are two variables that look similar but are different: latency (time between stimulus and response) and throughput (rate at which a system achieves its goal). For example, driving to work has lower latency than taking the bus with its multiple stops. However, the bus can move more people thus making it more efficient.