@AndSmelly
Since last May or so, I've been participating in a leadership development program at work. It's been an.... interesting process. After self-awareness and emotional intelligence, we've moved on to situational leadership. I've noticed a pattern in the way that I've reacted to each new area. It seems that I don't like it when I don't… Continue reading Learning hurts
At work over the last couple of years I've been lucky enough to have had some amazing mentoring and leadership development opportunities. Through 2021 and the start of 2022, I was involved in a one-to-one mentoring program, which was exciting and scary. Then, mid-way through 2022 I was surprised to be nominated for a much… Continue reading Self-Discovery and Understanding
Wow, after two years of a virtual replacement, we're back in person for our annual workshop for the leaders in technical writing at my company. I'm almost at the end of the week of intense discussions on every possible topic. I'm exhausted at this stage. It started with a 7am alarm on Sunday, then a… Continue reading When a Work Trip Goes Wrong
This is a work post. I don't post about work very much because, well, it's generally pretty boring to people outside of my domain. I mean, seriously, I work in software, duller than dull right? Most people think software development is as obscure and highly technical as chemistry (doh, PhD chemist here too, double trouble).… Continue reading Dilemma Resolved
This isn't going to become a regular thing, long-time readers have probably picked up that I (we) am (are) not religious in the slightest. That doesn't mean that I don't think the bible or any other religious text of any denomination or faith don't have value, truth, or wisdom. They absolutely do. So, here goes.… Continue reading Love Thyself
I've been reading How to Fail: Everything I’ve Ever Learned From Things Going Wrong by Elizabeth Day recently. I'm not sure how I stumbled across it but it's a really interesting read. https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Fail-Everything-Learned-Things-ebook/dp/B07H3DRJG3 It's definitely taking precedence over my reading homework for my future leaders initiative: https://twitter.com/AndSmelly/status/1540448254504194049?s=20&t=0p0irTiB6Kxc1tDvY5iXnw I think we all dwell on our "failures"… Continue reading Three failures (and why that’s a good thing)
Last year, I wrote a series of posts about an exciting and scary mentoring opportunity at work. That came to an end in February, eventually unproductive but very interesting. Then, just over a month ago, something much scarier happened. The beginning It started with an email from the HR training lead for Europe. Now, emails… Continue reading Exciting and much scarier
Not that interesting? Well, I'm actually going to work at work. In the office. In Cambridge, 150+ miles away. For the first time since November 2019! (I think, I can't really remember) I'm both excited and kind of anxious. I can't wait to see everyone, and the drive doesn't worry me. But, I have no… Continue reading I’m going to work
So about a year ago an exciting but scary opportunity presented itself to me at work. There was some progress and then a bit more. Now we're at the end. I'd been trundling along with the same general activities for quite a while, there are challenges and long term projects running all the time and… Continue reading Exciting and scary: the end
OK, so potentially debatable opinion: I hate Zoom. Work has just switched to Zoom for conference calls and that means more video calls. I've managed to avoid them so far for the most part - himself almost always interrupts my regular Wednesday group meeting and I've started making him wave at the other participants in… Continue reading You look tired…
Smelly Socks and Garden Peas 