Overcoming Bias

Leading A (Distributed) Team? Foster "Above the Line" Behaviors.

Poor cohesion in distributed and co-located teams can be addressed by fostering a team culture of Above the Line behaviors, which involve taking ownership, accountability, and responsibility for their situation. Below the Line behaviors, which involve pushing blame, making excuses, and denying issues, should be avoided. Resources such as videos and mentors can help teams learn how to practice Above the Line behaviors.

Taking a Product From a Concept to Launch

The speaker heard from customers that they needed a way to easily manage their products, so they did a market analysis and gathered data from stakeholders, competitors, and customers. They developed a product requirements document, did a build-versus-buy analysis, and presented the recommendations to the executive team. They ended up OEMing a third-party vendor software and building integrations around it. Lessons learned included doing a 360-degree analysis, making decisions quickly, and testing thoroughly with end-to-end customer scenarios.

Dropping the Ball Explicitly

This story is about a program manager who was given significant responsibility in a large corporation. He accepted the responsibility halfheartedly and ended up not delivering on it, leading to a fire drill. He learned the lesson that it is okay to drop the ball as long as it is done explicitly, and to always ask for help when needed. He now makes sure to communicate clearly if he is unable to deliver on a project.

Being the Only Woman In the Room

This article discusses the challenges that women face in the workplace and offers advice on how to overcome them. It suggests that women should focus on doing things that are smart and be themselves, rather than trying to prove themselves. It also encourages women to be transparent and direct with their colleagues, and to remain calm if something unfair or embarrassing happens. Finally, it suggests that women should give people the benefit of the doubt and not let emotions influence their decisions.

Speak Up To Avoid Larger Issues

The company hired an EVP of engineering who made one of the team members a director without considering his lack of experience. This resulted in a year of disruption and damage before the team member was made an individual contributor again and someone else was put in charge. This situation taught the speaker to trust their gut and speak up when necessary.

The Quiet Efforts to Overcome the Men-Only Environment in a Startup

This article discusses the issue of "bro-culture" in startups, where men outnumber women in senior executive positions. It suggests that to address this issue, people should understand the cultural dynamics, communicate with colleagues, and actively participate in changing the environment. It also suggests that events such as Brene Brown's TED Talk on the power of vulnerability can help create psychological safety.