Top 10 traits of a good tester - Good anybody @ work

Skills you acquire during work will take you somewhere but inbuilt human skills will take you a longer, better way.  

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.