Skills
you acquire during work will take you somewhere but inbuilt human skills will
take you a longer, better way.
Hey Wait…
Have we forgotten our ability to do other things as well? Many times, the
answer is yes. We are so focused on our goal that we have become slaves to our
task list and slowly; our ego is taking over our ability to learn.
The
quote says it all. This is the most fun part as your mind plays games of
comparison and it is left to you to make subtle changes to yourself and the
environment around you to behave and work for you in certain manner.
It has been over
18 years in testing. I keep wondering what made me a tester and what my
customers and colleagues liked and continue to like. I have put together few points, which I think
is important which makes up for a good recipe for success as a tester.
When we
start our career, we all start as an empty box, eager to learn and start
earning handsome money to spend and start family. We set our goals and start
working towards the goal and adding things to the box. We introspect to find
where we are in the scale when it comes to our goal.
Hey Wait…
Have we forgotten our ability to do other things as well? Many times, the
answer is yes. We are so focused on our goal that we have become slaves to our
task list and slowly; our ego is taking over our ability to learn.
When it
comes to work in technology sector, it is not always about technology. We
learnt about GIGO when we were kids and today I see GIGO in human beings.
Your boss,
teammate or customer does not like you just because you know something new in
technology but they like you for combination of qualities you have which has
made you a person whom they can rely on when it comes to delivery.
In testing,
we always talk about domain expertise, scripting languages, process, teamwork
and other technology related matters while we tend to forget the qualities of a
person that makes things happen. I
believe that as a true tester, he should be a human first and focus on the
qualities he has.
Attitude -
“Excellence is not a skill. It is an attitude – Ralph Marston”
Hey…
hold on. It is not about attitude to break the code…
It
is about human attitude. Starts with being humble, questioning (self, customer
and team), learning, communicating and trying. Start your day or work with an
attitude that my box is empty and you will learn more about yourself and also
the work on hand. One of the most important factor is to unlearn I know all
myth you have in your mind.
Analytical
The list of tasks in a day has taken
the toll on our mind. We can only think of tasks on hand and a certain way to
completing it. Stop…. Retrain your mind to think systematically on different
means and ways to achieving the same in short span of time. Have a good reason on why you did certain
things and document. Being Analytical is one of the most important factors of
being anyone.
Methodical –
“Education is the methodical creation of the habit of thinking – Ernest Dimnet”
How
many times have you forgotten about a work you did faster and better? Many
people tend to forget how they did it. Being methodical helps you to document
and introspect to see the results of your efforts. It is also an effective tool
for knowledge transfer.
Reasoning
I
have my reasons and you need not question it…. Just by saying it, many times,
this causes lot of doubt in the mind of your opposite. A sound reason should be
shared and should accompany with the data and facts. A strong reasoning skill would
give trust and comfort with your customers and team.
Adaptability
- “All living things contain a measure of
madness that moves them in strange, sometimes inexplicable ways. This madness
can be saving; it is part and parcel of the ability to adapt. Without it, no
species would survive ― Yann Martel, Life
of Pi"
The
quote says it all. This is the most fun part as your mind plays games of
comparison and it is left to you to make subtle changes to yourself and the
environment around you to behave and work for you in certain manner.
Honest
– “No legacy is so rich as honesty - William Shakespeare”
Even
if is supposed to be harmful, it is always important to be honest to yourself
and others around you. You will have to work 1000 times more to try closing one
lie and at the end, truth still prevails. I have seen many people falling flat
when their lie was caught. Imagine losing credibility with your team and
customer.
KISS – Keep
it short and simple, not stupid. Not the other one that you are thinking J
People
are a complicated lot J. They tend to merge many things
in one and try to communicate the complex structure in a long note. This
creates more confusion. Breaking it to small pieces and communicating about it
in simple and to the right quantum helps. You may tend to communicate
individual pieces independently and that’s just fine as you are bringing a
structure to the madness.
Knowledge
– “Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's
ignorance – Confucius”
Learning never stops. One who thinks I know
all does not know anything. World is a moving goal post and to be on par with
people around you and for them to appreciate you, learning and knowledge is the
key. It is also important to know different and better ways to do things you
have set out to achieve.
Language
– “Language is a social art - Willard Van Orman
Quine”
Language
is a very effective communication tool and not just used for scripting J. Many people think that language
comes next to your core skill. Well yes to certain extent but just imagine that
you are unable to effectively put your point across to people around you. Don’t
let even the smallest of things between you and success and language falls in
the category where it is nonessentially essential for you to conduct work and
everyday life.
Effort to
deliver
Success
is not just based on your delivery but also on effort you put to deliver even
when it not complete. There is lots of learning which you can get from the
effort put to deliver and that is what shapes you and your future. Experience
is key always make an effort to deliver and on time you had promised.
