December 13, 2021

Professional Development – 2021 – Week 50

Image Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/54585499@N04/

Business

When Should Your Company Develop Its Own Software? (via HBR)

This article covers the space between needing more than what off-the-shelf software can provide yet still needing the efficiencies of software to stay competitive. It also discusses the pros and cons of outsourcing, customizing existing software, and creating a software development team.

Career

So You Want to Quit Your Brand-New Job… (via HBR)

  • Reflect on why you’re disappointed in your new role.
  • Give the position a chance.
  • Have a genuine conversation with your manager.
  • Do a good job.
  • Give yourself permission to be happy.

It’s Time to Rethink Job Descriptions for the Digital Era (via HBR)

“Conventional job titles have become outdated in many different workplace contexts. The modern workplace is simply not a good fit for such rigid professional boundaries between coworkers and their respective responsibilities. Today’s employees are often required to work with other teams and offer expertise outside the confines of their department while still carrying out the specific duties outlined in their job description. With the increasing support of technology and digital transformation, today’s most engaged employees are also constantly acquiring new skills and crossing previously well-defined lines to boost productivity and work quality. A profound reimagining of how to approach job titles and descriptions is necessary to infuse day-to-day tasks with more flexibility and a broader scope.”

Feedback

Feedback Isn’t Enough to Help Your Employees Grow (via HBR)

  1. Shift from being a critic to an ally
  2. Identify and energizing outcome
  3. Discover a hidden opportunity to get to that outcome
  4. Create a Level-10 plan to achieve it (i.e., on a scale of 1 to 10, how confident are you that you will execute this plan)

Process

How to Convince Yourself to Do Hard Things (via HBR)

  • Expediency bias — doing what feels right without properly considering all variables
  • Hedonic principle — we move toward things that make us feel good and away from things that make us feel bad
  • (1) Tackle hard things when you’re in a good mood; “reappraisal” helps us shift how we perceive tasks.
  • (2) Challenge yourself to be innovative and provide incentives.
  • (3) Practice a growth mindset and give yourself room to learn.

Work-life Balance

Hybrid Tanked Work-Life Balance. Here’s How Microsoft Is Trying to Fix It. (via HBR)

  • As collaboration time increased, well-being decreased.
  • As people set aside more focused time, well-being improved.
  • As vacation time increased, so did well-being.
  • Managers need to help their teams prioritize.
  • On meetings… Build in breaks. Avoid Monday and Friday meetings. Ask whether the meetings are really helping.
  • On focus time… Encourage people to take it. Use tech to respect quiet hours.
  • On time away… These aren’t just for vacations (e.g., mental health days). Make it easier to take this time.