Feedback Fairness

Feedback Fairness

Feedback should always be given and received freely. That’s why I’m a massive fan of 360 feedback—feedback from peers, managers, staff, etc. What makes that work is that there is a natural trust in the feedback system itself. On the other hand, online reviews (of restaurants, in this case) should always be questioned because the reviewing system is flawed. A reviewer does not need to prove that they ate at the restaurant or that they even were in the same city as the restaurant. A quick scan of the reviewers feedback can tell you a lot – and 9 times out of 10, they do not give positive feedback. Imagine, in a work scenario, if a coworker gave negative reviews 90% of the time. Would that person still have a job? It’s just not the same for online review tools.

References and Resources

Getting 360-Degree Feedback Right by Maury Peiperl/Harvard Business Review; Type: Article

Transition Back to the Office is Hard

Transition Back to the Office is Hard

Transitioning back to the office has been more challenging for some and it’s pretty clear that the “RTO” Return to Office mandates that many companies have rolled out are not the answer. Recent Return to Office mandates at Apple, SpaceX, and Microsoft have been followed by increased departures (see article below). Although seeing each other is essential for team communication and engagement, being home with reduced commute time has been a blessing for many. Finding a balance between company culture and employee satisfaction has to be the priority. Would employees accept work from home if they kept their cameras on in team meetings? Would employers consider reducing or sub-letting their space instead? There are a slew of questions to ask and answer way before the draconian tactics of RTO should be used–in my humble opinion.

References and Resources

Ordered back to the office, top tech talent left instead, study finds by Taylor Telford/Washington Post; Type: Article

The Key to Success

The Key to Success

Many receive this advice when entering the job market: “Follow your passion.” If you have yet to see Scott Galloway share his thoughts on this advice, you should spend the three minutes to do so. I’m insanely passionate about soccer but not great at it. Also, three knee surgeries put that idea to bed. And guess what? I’m not a soccer player.

Following your passion is limiting and too narrow for most. Instead, if you want good advice, follow the work that you are good at and feel good at. As a result, you’ll spend more time doing it, and who knows? You might then find that you are passionate about it.

References and Resources

Scott Galloway on follow your passion; Type: Video

BONUS: How the US Is Destroying Young People’s Future by Scott Galloway/TED; Type: Video

Sadists Anonymous

Sadists Anonymous

Recaptcha drives me nuts. It reminds me of the time when I would stand waving my hands furiously to trigger a faucet or hand drier about 10 years ago. In short, the tech is not there yet. About 75% of the time, I can’t seem to prove to Recaptcha that I’m a human. No, I can’t read that squiggle of a non-sensical word. And does the “car” image want me to include trucks? And what about the sliver of the car that crosses two boxes, do I check those too? Ugh, insanely crazy and frustrating. Which brings me to the point. Though Recaptcha intends to serve a purpose (to distinguish between bots, AI, and humans), it’s execution (it’s impact) is not good enough. New technology without a clear benefit is just a mandate. The benefits have to be there for people to embrace any change – especially if the technology works for it’s stated purpose. The intent has to be significantly closer to it’s impact.

But what do I know? According to Recaptcha, I’m at least 75% bot.

References and Resources

Verifying that you’re not a robot by Stevie Martin

Self-awareness

Self-awareness

Or pants.

Self-aware leaders become harder to find as you advance in the organization. I can think of one recent leader I crossed paths with who could benefit from this exercise. But this is for everyone else who is willing to be reflective. I have blind spots, and though I regularly seek feedback, I found this exercise to be the most effective. The first step in identifying your blind spots is being willing to self-reflect, not as a self-punishing exercise, but as a learning one.

Go to this website, find a quiet spot, and spend time answering each question. I promise you will get out of it what you put into it, so do the work—for your sake.

Learning: We all have blind spots—every single person, at every level in every Organization. If you want to learn yours, do a personal self-audit.

References and Resources

Your Next Five Moves: Master the Art of Business Strategy by Patrick Bet-David; Type: Book

Jargon Watch

Jargon Watch

The phrase “low-hanging fruit” comes from the idea that picking fruit from lower branches is usually easier and faster than picking fruit from higher branches. The first recorded use of the metaphor as a figurative expression was in 1909. Although “quick wins” seem to have taken over the “low-hanging fruit” space, we still hope there is room for both.

References and Resources

Low Hanging Fruit Definition

But is it, Though?

But is it, Though?

False. Advancement is sometimes based purely on metrics, but most of the time, it is not. If you are a top performer and wondering why you aren’t moving up while others are, I have a few questions.

  1. What are you doing to lift your team?
  2. What is your relationship with your manager?
  3. Have had a conversation about what you need to advance with your manager?
  4. What does good look like for your leadership (not just manager but skip manager)?
  5. What other measures are used to determine success? Are you outperforming all of them?
  6. Are you respected and treat people respectfully?

So many folks feel they deserve advancement without seriously looking at themselves in the mirror. It’s always easier to blame a manager when things don’t fall in place for you. Don’t get me wrong, there are horrible bosses out there. But, if you approach “managing up” with disdain because you feel you are better than or deserve this no-brainer promotion because it’s so obvious, then your manager is not the problem. It’s you.

Relationship with Change

Relationship with Change

Change Management is a tough job. On an individual level, every single person has a different relationship with Change. Some folks resist all change, and some embrace change like a new pair of underwear. Most folks, however, have a sliding scale that varies based on many factors. Those people may embrace one type of change and struggle with another. Familiarity has its benefits, as does evolving and changing. But each and every person likely has a different relationship with change – exploring your own relationship with Change is a great start.

Learning: We all have a different relationship with change, which is okay. This is not to be overly cliche, but change is constant. I embrace most changes, but walking a cat on a leash is where I draw the line.

What’s your relationship with change?

Worst Company Ever – YAY!

Worst Company Ever – YAY!

LinkedIn is an interesting community. On one hand, it’s a great place to connect with work colleagues or companies with shared interests. On the other hand, it’s pure Marketing. It’s storytelling and typically only in a positive light. How many companies have announced they won a “The Best Workplace” award? So many, it does make you wonder how many of those awards actually exist. Equally, if anyone posts something about their frustration with their company on LI, the employee is seen as being negative. And that’s because LI is skewed positive towards the company. Instead, what ends up happening is that people post their negative reflections on Glassdoor instead. And so Glassdoor skews towards a negative light towards a company.

Learning: The truth about any company is usually between the Glassdoor ratings and their LI posts—also, Tech Vs. Humans is proud to announce that it won the Best Place to Work Award for all 2020s. It’s a real award, trust us.

Learning and Doing

Learning and Doing

I love a great TED Talk and constantly find my way to a new one—like every day. It’s a problem. I wrote this because in a world of so many TED Talks, TEDx talks, podcasts, and ways to learn, I thought it would be a good idea to 1) post TED Talks that I love and 2) hear from you about TED Talks or Podcasts that you love.

Learning: Learning should always be balanced with doing. For me, staying in a perpetual learning state shows that I’m avoiding something, afraid of something, or both.

Top 5 Ted Talks (Today’s Version)