Remember the 5-9, not just the 9-5!

Me: (Joins a conference call)

Someone on call: “Hey, how are you?”

Me: “Good”

Also Me: (pondering if I just lied or not)

What did “Good” mean for that day?

Let’s review the last 24hr:

12:05 – 12:30 AM – kid diaper change, make a bottle, feed, rock, back in bed

12:30 – 4 AM – sleep

4:05 – 4:30 AM – kid diaper change, make a bottle, feed, rock, back in bed

4:30 – 7 AM – sleep

7:05 – 7:30 AM – kid diaper change, make a bottle, feed, playtime, handoff to help

7:30-7:50 AM – shower and change

7:50 – 8:30 AM – morning commute, catching up with friends and family

8:30 – 9 AM – meeting

9 – 10 AM – meeting

10 – 11 AM – meeting

11 – 11:30 AM – snack & break, catch up with kiddo

11:30 – 12 PM – meeting

12 – 12:30 PM – meeting

12:30 – 1 PM – break, catch up on emails and chats that haven’t been hit yet

1 – 2 PM – meeting

2 – 3 PM – meeting + (call during the meeting to check in on kiddo and plans for the evening)

3 – 4 PM – meeting (commuting home)

4 – 4:30 PM – meeting

4:30 – 5 PM – kid diaper change, make a bottle, feed, play, back in bed

5 – 6 PM – dinner, discussing tomorrow’s plans

6:30 – 7:30ish PM – diaper change, bath time, make a bottle, feed, play, back in bed

7:30ish – 10 PM – finish last touches on work, spend time decompressing

10 PM – 12 AM – trying to fall asleep 

After I thought about it, I probably could have said “tired” and ranted about it…but I also know folks are just trying to be nice.

All that to say, please be mindful of people’s 5-9. You never know what kind of schedule is happening outside 9-5.

Next time you ask someone how they are, remember that “Good” might have a lot more behind it.

Also remember that stress may be on people, even in their replies or tone. We must do our best to lead with empathy and understanding as much as we can accommodate. The more we do, the more I feel like people will return it in kind.

That’s all for now, carry on.

#worklifebalance #5to9 #mindfulness #newparent

Presentation Now Available: The Power of Cross-Platform Automated Web-Based Testing in CICD Pipelines

Thanks again TESTINGMIND for the chance to speak and present – great job to the other presenters as well, learned a lot.

My presentation is now available here

#qaautomation #qa #qatesting #testingmind

View the session information from #TAS20 here: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/testingmind-consulting-pvt%2E-ltd%2E_last-week-we-completed-a-rally-of-software-activity-6722944641982971904-dxSD

TLDR: Reflection + Pain = Progress

Reflection:

Been presenting ideas lately and having some tough conversations as of late and feeling pretty defeated from it…BUT I am however reminded that the improvement does not come without a certain degree of failure.

Pain:

Without a healthy cycle of debate to review your goals and decisions it is tough to see if your plans and ideas can stand against criticism or not. It may very well turn your plans upside down.

Progress:

As you gain clarity and discuss with your colleagues and partners, things begin to improve in the vision and strategy to execute.

So, if from time to time you also feel defeated from conversations, be reminded of this equation and its impact in your every day.

#learning #goals #growth #principles #raydalio

Join me for “Healthcare Technology During COVID-19” by KTech

Excited to participate as a panelist with the Knoxville Technology Council – please join us for a timely event focused on the technology response to COVID-19!

When: Wed, May 6, 2020 – 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM EST

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/healthcare-technology-during-covid-19-tickets-102690038670?utm-medium=discovery&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&aff=escb&utm-source=cp&utm-term=listing

About: Healthcare IT Virtual Learning and Networking Event

Hear directly from healthcare technology leaders at TeamHealth, Covenant Health, and EDP Biotech about how local companies and organizations are stepping up in big ways to scale, pivot, and innovate in service to the public during the pandemic.

Panelists:

– Eric Mayer, EDP Biotech

– Jared Meredith, TeamHealth

– John Jeffries, University of Tennessee Medical Center

– Mike Ward, Covenant Health

Agenda:

11:30 AM – Login & Networking

11:45 AM – Welcome

12:00 PM – Healthcare IT Panelists Presentations

12:15 PM – Audience Q&A

1:00 PM – Additional Networking

1:30 PM – Event Wrap-up

#covid19 #workfromhome #teamhealth #knoxtech

Communications during coronavirus and a socially distant remote workforce

In these times with #coronavirus and #socialdistancing in the workplace I am learning and struggling to some personal conclusions. Perhaps you can relate or have advice as well.

The best way you can possibly make sure to address critical business effectively and directly with your colleagues or customers is to speak as closely and directly as you can to your audience.

If you can’t be in person then divert to video. If video isn’t available go by phone. If phone isn’t available…then doing it any other way risks losing the intent or tone of your message. And chances are you lose the urgency and timing here as well.

Non-critical items or the coordination to get together for critical items are appropriate in email, chats or text, but keep it short and to the point.

If you have no choice but to use text based then please consider the balance of enough vs. too much. And, please, no repeat messages or passive aggressive jabs to elicit reply.

And as always – issues, emergencies, or personnel problems should always and only be by phone as soon as possible, with a message describing your issue. Trying to solve it any other way will generally slow you down on these and will make it worse.

Let’s hear your thoughts! #learning #communicationskills #communication #audience