Business
How to Close the Gender Gap (via HBR)
Companies must address talent management inequities in (1) hiring, (2) integrating new employees into the org, (3) developing them, (4) assessing performance, (5) managing compensation and promotion, (6) retaining good performers.
Communication
Words and Phrases to Avoid in a Difficult Conversation (via HBR)
- Don’t assume your viewpoint is obvious
- Don’t exaggerate (e.g., “You always…”)
- Don’t tell others what they should do (suggest options instead)
- Don’t blame others for your feelings
- Don’t challenge someone’s character or integrity
- Don’t say “It’s not personal”
Why People Lie at Work — and What to Do About It (via HBR)
- Fear of upsetting someone or triggering conflict; provide psychological safety to tell the truth (doesn’t mean “no consequences”)
- Not wanting to expose their inadequacies; find ways to fill the gaps or move those responsibilities to others
- Trying to serve their own ends; document the examples, and create clear boundaries between acceptable and unacceptable behavior
How to Give Positive Feedback to Colleagues – with Examples! (via Software Lead Weekly)
Use the SBIR technique — situtation (where you observed the behavior), behavior (precise description), impact (how the actions affected you), request (what you’d like the person to do next time).
Process
Time Management Won’t Save You (via HBR)
“Reduce the number of tasks you take on, replace decisions with principles, and put structure in place to eliminate distractions.”
Technology
When Low-Code/No-Code Development Works — and When It Doesn’t (via HBR)
LC/NC is a double-edged sword. It can increase the speed (and decrease the cost) to get why I call “table stakes” technology deployed — for example, setting up a website, taking payments, having a customer service chatbot. On the other hand, you can run into scenarios you’d like to implement but hit the limit of the LC/NC tech; another downside is that depending on how it’s set up, it may not scale well.