Soft Skills posts

How to convince people you’re not there to automate them out of a job

When your job is automation, people sometimes think you're trying to put them out of a job. Here are some of the ways I fight that perception.

Communication, Leadership & Ethics 2018-12-07

The Infamous Free Slurpee Story - a Tale of Integrity

A story about Slurpees containing a lesson about integrity. Sure, it's an unlikely combination but you have to admit, Slurpees are pretty tasty.

Communication, Leadership & Ethics 2018-07-11

Beware the Interview Feedback Policy

Many companies are instituting policies against interview feedback. You should ask if such a policy exists the next time you interview for a position.

Communication, Leadership & Ethics 2017-07-06

Tips for Cross Cultural Communication with Worldwide Partners

Working globally, I participate in cross cultural communication all the time. I've put together some tips for making this communication more effective.

Communication, Leadership & Ethics 2017-06-20

Differentiate Yourself - Two Quick Lessons From a Bad Electrician

An experience I had with an electrician taught me two important lessons about how to differentiate myself professionally from my peers.

Communication, Leadership & Ethics 2017-05-01

Never Let the Boss be Surprised

Communication, Leadership & Ethics 2013-06-03

Worst Practices: Anti-Social Networking

Pro Tip: If you have a company Twitter account, use it for more than blasting out self-serving advertisements. You are wasting the perfect opportunity to connect with your customers, improve their experience, and address their complaints and concerns!

Communication, Leadership & Ethics 2012-02-26

The Daily - Also Poorly Architected

A few weeks ago I took a peek at The Daily (a “digital newspaper” app from News Corp.) and quickly decided that my time and money were better spent elsewhere when it comes to getting the news. Bear in mind that I am more strict in my evaluation of The Daily because it requires a paid subscription. In my mind, that raises my expectations significantly. The initial version of the App performed poorly in a number of areas, including:

Systems & Architecture 2011-02-20

The Daily - I'll Pass

On February 2nd, News Corp. launched The Daily, an iPad app that aims to bridge the gap between the print and digital world in the news arena. There were a number of news stories about this one before it arrived because Apple had been working with News Corp. to figure out a subscription payment structure and how to support it in the iTunes store. Curious, I downloaded the app, which nicely includes a 2 week free trial, and decided to see what all the fuss was about. Here’s what I found:

Engineering Thinking 2011-02-05

What Motivates Us

I found this video from the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA for short) to be very insightful.

Communication, Leadership & Ethics 2010-06-26