.NET
Collections Just Changed in C# 12 and That’s Good (via Nick Chapsas)
- Collection literals provides syntactic sugar for creating new collections. Instead of List<int> nums = new() { 1, 2, 3 } you can have List<int> nums = [1, 2, 3].
- This initialization works with lists, arrays, and spans. Dictionary support is coming, but not confirmed.
- You can put lists together: List<int> allNums = [ ..someOtherList, 4, ..yetAnotherList].
- Things get a little weird with immutable collections.
Communication
The Simple Power of Communicating with Kindness (via HBR)
- Break down defensiveness with graciousness.
- Give credit where credit is due.
- Give the other party space and clarity.
Emotional Intelligence
Keeping Your Spirits Up When You Really Need a Win at Work (via HBR)
- Remember that this is a season (there are always ups and downs)
- Celebrate tiny wins, because the big ones are more rare
- Set firm boundaries around whom you allow into your space (e.g., people that bring you down)
- Forget being grateful; look at your strengths
- Appreciate what’s going right
- Look at other people’s wins, but never to shame yourself. “If that person can do that thing well, then I can, too.”
- Expand your horizons by looking for other ways to win
Management
3 Ways to Reenergize Your Team When Morale Is Low (via HBR)
- Revitalize by connecting the team to “the why” and what they like about working with each other.
- Repair by enabling psychological safety and candor; learn from failures together.
Presentations
Nail Your Presentation — Even When Your Time Is Cut Short (via HBR)
- Practice to ensure you stay within your timeline.
- Make sure the host doesn’t over-program the schedule.
- The facilitator should manage Q&A and tangents.
- Come prepared with two versions of your presentation, one that’s markedly shorter.
- Hit the headlines.
- Don’t apologize, don’t throw your colleagues under the bus, and don’t sulk.