Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips In many cases it is a bad idea to have the problem solver in the room when a problem describer describes a problem for the first time. About a generation ago, there was a movie about engineers and scientists at work in a small tech company. A couple of consultants arrive and […]

[Read more →]

by Dwayne Phillips An exercise to do at work or anywhere that more than one person gathers from time to time. Caution: this is not for the faint of heart. Here is something to do at work or anywhere that more than one person gathers from time to time: Sit in a circle. Go around […]

[Read more →]

by Dwayne Phillips In Agile Development, we are supposed to talk to one another each day. Sometimes, however, we just didn’t sign up for this talking stuff. In Agile Development, we are supposed to talk to other persons. We are supposed to sit next to other persons and work with them. All of us are […]

[Read more →]

by Dwayne Phillips The stereotype of the scientist and engineer is someone who would rather be with technical things than people. Here are a few tips. As an engineer, this holds for scientists as well, there is one fundamental question we must always be prepared to answer (two words): what’cha doin? The answer does not […]

[Read more →]

by Dwayne Phillips Sometimes I fill the role of the “just notice-er.” Perhaps that should be an official title in systems development. I was preparing a demonstration of software we developed in house. Something wasn’t happening as I expected. I asked a couple of the programmers to look over my shoulder. “Look at this,” I […]

[Read more →]

by Dwayne Phillips Drop the “but.” It erases all previous words. Use a period instead. I said: I don’t want to hurt you feelings, but, we need to change how we do things here. He heard: we, actually YOU, need to change how we do things here. Funny how the word “but” works in conversation. […]

[Read more →]

by Dwayne Phillips I write this one with some hesitancy as there is always something to be learned by continually listening. Sometimes, however, listen for meta messages, not the message as the messenger is clearly confused. Sometimes the best thing to do is stop listening—for now. And also, don’t waste time and energy wondering about […]

[Read more →]

by Dwayne Phillips An old technique that always surfaces confusion and moves us towards clarity. Me: Let’s draw a picture of this so I can understand it better. Person A: We don’t need to waste time with that. We all know what it is. …a little while later… Person A: See, we set it up […]

[Read more →]

by Dwayne Phillips Here is a simple exercise you can use with your team to learn something about how well you work together. Step 1: Get a deck of playing cards. Step 2: Hand every person on your team some cards. Hand some person a couple of cards and hand some persons a dozen cards. […]

[Read more →]

by Dwayne Phillips Why disdain fake news and social media? Let’s embrace it for what it gives us—a new excuse. I recently learned that fake news on social media controls the world. All money flows in a direction it flows because it is directed by fake news. All elections are won by fake news purveyors. […]

[Read more →]