As technologists, we often find ourselves navigating a landscape of constant innovation, rapid changes, and complex problem-solving. In this dynamic environment, failure is not only inevitable but also an essential part of our journey.
Rather than fearing failure, we can learn to embrace it as a catalyst for personal growth and professional development.
”Failure is another stepping stone to greatness” – Oprah Winfrey
What Is Failing Forward?
“Failing forward” is a mindset that encourages us to view failures as steps toward success. Instead of seeing failure as a problem and something that causes issues and pain with no way forward, look at it as a valuable learning experience that strengthens you going forward. Embrace the failure, learn from it and move onwards.
Learning Opportunities
Every failure provides an opportunity to learn. Whether this is a missed deadline, code bug, or something else, there is always a learning and something for you to gain from the experience.
Reflecting on what you did and what happened can help inform you and allow you to make decisions based on experience gained. Extract the lessons that can help shape your future and if needed write them down so you can refer to them at a later date.
“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” – Thomas A. Edison
Iterative Improvements
Learning from failures allows you to try again and approaching things in iterative improvements and steps brings you closer to success. Even the most successful products and technologies available today went through multiple iterations before reaching their current state.
Resilience
Resilience is build through failing forward and is a crucial skill for technologists, especially in a field where challenges are constant. Developing ability to bounce back, adapt, and keep moving forward helps to build this resilience.
Normalize Failure
Normalizing failure is the hardest step as not everyone wants to see or hear of failure, but most will experience it within their lives. Sharing failure with others and celebrating the learning from it helps to bring a change in talking positively about failure.
It’s okay to stumble; it’s part of the journey, learn from it.
Let’s geek out for a moment. If you’re a technologist eager to master storytelling, Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) might just be your secret weapon. Whether you’re a seasoned player from your school days or someone who’s never rolled a twenty-sided die, there’s something in D&D for you. And if you’re new to the realm of tabletop RPGs, buckle up for an adventure that’s as educational as it is entertaining.
D&D is a fantasy table top role-playing game (RPG) where players embark on imaginary adventures within a fantasy setting. A player designated as the Dungeon Master (DM) serves as the game’s referee and storyteller, while also maintaining the setting in which the adventures occur, and playing the role of the inhabitants. Players each create characters to represent themselves within the game, making choices for their characters and engaging in a structured yet open-ended storytelling experience. The outcomes of the characters’ choices are determined by the rules of the game, how the DM tells the story and player choices guided by dice rolls which add an element of chance to the proceedings. It provides a unique blend of structured rules and spontaneous storytelling which allow for an immersive gaming experience that encourages creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving.
Storytelling is an essential skill in the world of business and technology. It’s not just about conveying information; it’s about engaging your audience, sharing experiences, and inspiring action.
For technologists, whose work often involves complex concepts, data and understanding the customers business needs and outcomes. The ability to tell a compelling story can be the difference between being heard and being overlooked.
Enter Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), the classic fantasy role-playing game known for its rich narratives and imaginative gameplay. You may be familiar with D&D and it may seem like a something that should be dismissed, however it is a powerful tool for honing the art of storytelling and building your skills.
If you get an opportunity to try, it is worth a go. If not there are lots of good videos on YouTube with games you can watch and learn from.
Also worth noting that this Saturday 22nd June is Free RPG Day where you can go to a gaming shop and try out some RPG and walk away with a short free game to play. Some will be available on the internet if your not able to attend an event.
Here’s how playing D&D can transform technologists into master storytellers.
Embrace Creativity and Improvisation
D&D is a game of imagination. Players create characters and embark on adventures in a fantasy world, guided by a Dungeon Master (DM) who narrates the story. This requires a high level of creativity and the ability to improvise, as the narrative can change with each roll of the dice.
Technologists can learn from this by practicing how to think on their feet and adapt their narratives to suit different audiences and situations. Whether you’re explaining a new software feature or pitching an innovative product, the ability to weave a story that resonates with your listeners is invaluable.
Understand Your Audience
A good DM knows their players and crafts a story that caters to their interests and motivations. Similarly, technologists must understand their audience to communicate effectively. By playing D&D, you learn to anticipate reactions, tailor your message, and engage listeners by addressing their needs and desires.
Understanding your audience is a critical skill for technologists including recognising the diverse needs, preferences, and challenges faced by business and the end users. A technologist needs to tailor the approach to the audience’s level of expertise, interests, and expectations using language that is accessible, providing examples that are relatable, and anticipating questions or concerns that may arise. Storytelling provides the way to do this and by putting yourself in the audience’s shoes, you can communicate more effectively, and ultimately, ensure that your story achieves the intended impact.
Develop Empathy
Role-playing in D&D requires players to step into the shoes of their characters, understanding their backgrounds, motivations, and emotions. This exercise in empathy is directly transferable to the world of technology. By understanding the user’s perspective, technologists can create more user-centric products and explain them in a way that highlights their benefits to the end-user.
For technologists, developing empathy is about more than just understanding users’ needs. Developing skills and ability to see beyond the data and algorithm, to the people they impact provides a deeper prospective and helps build a stronger story to tell. It is also important to listen actively, asking the right questions, and being open to feedback.
Collaborate and Build Teamwork
D&D is a collaborative game. Players work together, each contributing their unique skills to achieve a common goal. In the tech industry, collaboration is key. Working on projects, especially in agile environments, mirrors the teamwork in D&D. Learning to collaborate in the game can improve how you work with others professionally, leading to more cohesive and successful outcomes.
Collaboration and teamwork are not just beneficial to a technologist; they are essential. Building a culture of teamwork means fostering an environment where diverse ideas and skills converge to innovate and solve complex problems. A good technologist recognises that the sum of a team’s collective expertise is greater than its individual parts. Using a team to help develop the story and sound/test it on can help push the boundaries of what’s possible and drive technological advancement.
Playing Dungeons & Dragons is more than just entertainment; it’s a training ground for the mind. It teaches technologists to be creative, empathetic, and collaborative storytellers. Playing games like D&D (other RPG’s are available) can help sharpen your storytelling skills as well as having some fun.
“Staying ahead of the curve” is an important skill set for any technologist. Knowing what is going on both internally to your company and externally, builds your knowledge capability from following strategy to identifying trends and innovation provides you with an edge to being technologist.
Information and technology is evolving at a rapid rate, so how can you stay ahead of the curve? This is something that needs a multifaceted approach dedication is a hard task to know everything so you have to build your own information strategy and filter what is important and what is just noise or not relevant.
Below are some essential strategies to help you to stay ahead of the curve.
Embrace a Growth Mindset
Learning increases your understand and get to grips with technology and business skills. These should be balanced with soft skills to help make you a more rounded technologist. Coined by psychologist Carol S. Dweck, a Growth Mindset is the belief that one’s abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication, hard work, and resilience. This mindset is in stark contrast to a fixed mindset, which assumes that intelligence and talent are innate and unchangeable.
Networking encompasses the art of building meaningful relationships, fostering connections, and creating a collaborative community. Just as computer networks enable the flow of information, networking with people propels the exchange of ideas, opportunities, and support.
Building a Professional Network: A strong professional network can open doors to opportunities, provide valuable insights, and support your career journey. Focus on Quality Connections to build out your network and prioritise meaningful relationships over a large number of contacts. Its not about numbers but how you connect with your network.
Joining Tech Communities and Forums: Participate and join industry-specific organisations, alumni groups, and online communities which will help grow your knowledge, skills and connections. Joining professional organisations such as the BCS can provide access to a wide areas of knowledge and professionals.
Attending Meetups and Networking Events: There are lots of meetups and events that can come from joining communities. Events both physical and virtual are a good platform to meeting others with similar technological mindsets. This is also a method to build your professional network.
Knowledge Exchange: Networking is a two-way street where professionals share insights, experiences, and knowledge. Engaging with peers, both online and offline, allows technologists to tap into a vast pool of expertise. Whether it’s troubleshooting code, discussing the latest frameworks, or sharing project experiences, networking facilitates meaningful knowledge exchange.
Early Access to Information: Being part of a network often means gaining early access to information. Whether it’s insider tips on upcoming technologies, insights into industry shifts, or exclusive event invitations, networking provides a conduit for staying ahead of the curve. Platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter can be powerful channels for real-time updates.
Mentorship Opportunities: Establishing connections with experienced professionals opens the door to mentorship opportunities. A mentor can provide guidance, share industry wisdom, and help navigate the complexities of career growth. Mentorship relationships foster continuous learning and personal development.
Tech News and Trends
Keeping updated on the latest trends and developments in both the technology and business sectors is a key activity for any technologist. This includes understanding how emerging technologies may impact various industries and be aware of the business challenges and opportunities associated with these changes.
Newsfeed: Create a personalised newsfeed using diversified sources to provide up to date news and trends on the topics that are of interest to your area of technology. Consider expanding to other areas to learn new things. Looking at different industries and technology areas can often bring fresh and new perspectives on things, whilst also providing possible innovation ideas.
Newsletters: Subscribe to newsletters from reputable tech publications. They often curate relevant articles and deliver them directly to your inbox.
Podcasts: Listening to a diverse set of podcasts can provide insights and opinions into business, technology and news.
Blogs: Follow technology blogs that cover industry trends, product launches, and expert insights. Regularly reading blog posts can keep you informed.
Understanding the Business Side of Technology
As a technologist, it’s imperative to move beyond the confines of it, coding and technical expertise to comprehend the broader business implications work and projects. Understanding the business side of technology is a transformative skill set that not only enhances individual career prospects but also positions the technologist as a professional integral to organisational success.
Stay Informed About Industry Trends: Keep yourself updated on the latest trends and developments in both the technology and business sectors. Understand how emerging technologies may impact various industries and be aware of the business challenges and opportunities associated with these changes.
Read Business Literature: Reading business-oriented literature helps to expand your thinking and mindset beyond a technical view. Sources such as industry reports, business magazines, and books can provide insights into the strategic aspects of technology in business.
Engage in Cross-Functional Collaboration: Actively seek opportunities to collaborate with professionals and key stakeholders from different departments within your organisation. Engaging with colleagues from different departments can provide valuable perspectives on how technology aligns with and supports various business outcomes and functions.
Attend Business Conferences and Seminars: Participate in conferences and seminars that focus on the intersection of technology and business. These events often feature industry leaders sharing insights into how they leverage technology to achieve business objectives.
Build Relationships with Business Stakeholders: Identify and develop relationships with key stakeholders in your organisation. Regular conversations with these individuals can provide valuable insights into the business goals and challenges that technology can address.
Understand Financial Implications: Learn the basics of financial principles and how they relate to technology projects. This will help you to understand and how to assess the costs and benefits of technology initiatives, and how to communicate these aspects to non-technical stakeholders.
Map Technology Solutions to Business Objectives: Always keep the broader business objectives in mind when working on technology projects. Understand how the project / your work contributes to the organisation’s outcomes and business goals will allow you to articulate the business value of solutions.
Today’s world is rapidly changing, driven in part by technology, which has become a driving force behind virtually every industry. Technological advancements are reshaping the way we live and work in both work and home life. For professionals across various fields, the journey through their careers is now marked by witnessing paradigm shifts brought about by these tech evolutions.
“Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.”
George Bernard Shaw
What is a Paradigm Shift
Paradigm Shifts were first wrote about by Thomas Kuhn in his influential work “The Structure of Scientific Revolutions.” Khun used the term in relation to natural sciences, however the concept has also been used in non-scientific contexts such as in business and technology. A paradigm shift refers to a fundamental change in the way something is understood, interpreted, or approached. In the context of science and technology, a paradigm shift occurs when the dominant and accepted way of thinking, problem-solving, or conducting activities in a particular field is replaced by a new and often revolutionary perspective.
Paradigm shifts can be both disruptive and challenging as they can challenge existing ways of thinking, norms, practices and beliefs. Paradigm shifts go beyond just change as they can change the underlying assumptions and methodologies. They can often lead to on one hand ambiguity and on the other innovations and changes that can reshape. It is better to embrace these paradigm shifts and changes although they may be unsettling, and remove the ambiguity through research, questioning and expanding upon the area covered, embracing the unknown.
In the context of technology, paradigm shifts occur when new breakthroughs or innovations redefine the normal of an industry, often rendering old methods or tools obsolete. There have been many examples of this through time from the Industrial Revolution to semiconductors and communications. Consider how many shifts have happened to the industries involved for the device your reading this blog on.
How can you navigate Paradigm Shifts
There are several steps you can take to help navigate these paradigm shifts:
Continuous Learning and Upskilling: Keeping up to date and staying relevant is an important factor to adapt and work with new paradigm shifts as they happen. Using an IDP (Individual Development Plan) to map out your training needs provides a good way of ensuring you are looking at the right areas to develop yourself in. Recording learning in a CPD record allows you to reflect on what you have learnt and allow for and direction changes in your IDP. There are lots of good ways to learn from course to webinars and blogs.
Adopting a Growth Mindset: Having a Growth Mindset in which you are comfortable with the amount of change and the rapid paradigm shifts that are happening is about growing yourself through being curiosity and a willingness to fail fast and learn from your mistakes. The term Growth Mindset comes from the study and theory of Dr Carol Dweck that intelligence can be developed. This can be applied to every person young and old to reach higher levels of achievement.
Researchand Insights: Building a PKMS (Personal Knowledge Management System) is a good way of gaining information, research and insights into new and emerging paradigm shifts. These can help with learning and upskilling.
Networking and Collaboration: Building a strong professional network can provide you with insights into emerging trends and technologies. Using channels such as LinkedIn can provide access to thought leadership posts, research and data from others that will help with navigating paradigm shifts. Collaborating with colleagues, attending industry events, and engaging in online communities can expose you to diverse perspectives and help you identify potential areas for growth.
Flexibility and Adaptability: Professionals who can adapt quickly to change and deal with ambiguity are better positioned to thrive. Being flexible in your approach to these paradigm shifts, work and open to new ways of doing things can set you apart with the rapidly changing world.
Embracing Interdisciplinary Knowledge: Many of today’s technological breakthroughs occur at the intersection of different disciplines, however it is important to consider the intersection of technology and ethics and the impact that this can have with any paradigm shift. Having a basic understanding of related fields can provide you with a broader perspective and enable you to contribute innovative solutions.
Leadership and Initiative: Being active and engage/embracing new technologies and paradigm shifts can become leaders in your field. Taking the above steps can help you to explore, learn and experiment with emerging technologies, trends and paradigm shifts as they occur. This can open the opportunity for you to position yourself as an early adopter, influencer and go-to leader for your peers.
Max Hemingway 