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stephbgI hope (or perhaps more accurately fear) to go to the ACS professional development session tomorrow night, for the subject is networking, with the threat of practical exercises. That would be *talking* to people, presumably at some point about me. Which (lj evidence in the thousands of words to the contrary) I dislike intensely.
I'm quite comfortable talking to just about anyone at any level about a particular ICT project. I like to have a goal for my communications, use my time efficiently. I understand the requirement in business for a bit of team bonding, rank sorting and chit chat but deep down I'd rather just get on with it. It being the task, goal or project at hand. Meetings--or worse, social gatherings--to "meet the team and stakeholders" (no business talk allowed!) are high on my list of levels of hell. There are other ways to get to know your people.
I've known this for some time. It's one of the reasons I hate the kind of job interviews where people ask me questions. I'd rather do the asking, and my favourite interviews have been the ones where I get to take charge and giver the alleged interviewer a solid grilling about the project.
In theory I know the solution. I have to become the project. The goal is to communicate to people what I do in as few words as possible and be prepared to expand as necessary. I know I find it difficult to ask questions when I have no interest in the answer; it's a very inefficient use of resources. What I have to do is convince myself that finding out from strangers what they hope to learn from the session (for example) is the goal of the exercise. I need to value the results of the conversation and actively do research on human subjects. I may have to at least start with my security blanket of notepad and pen. It's my work signal to myself that I am expecting to hear or think about important information.
*great light dawns*
If I'm trying to talk to someone without holding pen and notepad I'm telling myself that I expect nothing of value will result from the interaction. If it's not of value for either of us, it's pointless, inefficient, and must be stopped. Guards!
"Do you mind if I take notes?" I value you and what you have to say. I have a dodgy memory.
Perhaps it's a bit like blokes learning to (at least pretend) to listen to women because of the perceived payoff?
I refer only to initial bonding and networking with colleagues. I'm not quite so ruthless in social situations, although it might take me a minute or two to warm up :-)
It will be interesting to see what I learn tomorrow night, and if I say anything as spectacularly stupid as last month.
I'm quite comfortable talking to just about anyone at any level about a particular ICT project. I like to have a goal for my communications, use my time efficiently. I understand the requirement in business for a bit of team bonding, rank sorting and chit chat but deep down I'd rather just get on with it. It being the task, goal or project at hand. Meetings--or worse, social gatherings--to "meet the team and stakeholders" (no business talk allowed!) are high on my list of levels of hell. There are other ways to get to know your people.
I've known this for some time. It's one of the reasons I hate the kind of job interviews where people ask me questions. I'd rather do the asking, and my favourite interviews have been the ones where I get to take charge and giver the alleged interviewer a solid grilling about the project.
In theory I know the solution. I have to become the project. The goal is to communicate to people what I do in as few words as possible and be prepared to expand as necessary. I know I find it difficult to ask questions when I have no interest in the answer; it's a very inefficient use of resources. What I have to do is convince myself that finding out from strangers what they hope to learn from the session (for example) is the goal of the exercise. I need to value the results of the conversation and actively do research on human subjects. I may have to at least start with my security blanket of notepad and pen. It's my work signal to myself that I am expecting to hear or think about important information.
*great light dawns*
If I'm trying to talk to someone without holding pen and notepad I'm telling myself that I expect nothing of value will result from the interaction. If it's not of value for either of us, it's pointless, inefficient, and must be stopped. Guards!
"Do you mind if I take notes?" I value you and what you have to say. I have a dodgy memory.
Perhaps it's a bit like blokes learning to (at least pretend) to listen to women because of the perceived payoff?
I refer only to initial bonding and networking with colleagues. I'm not quite so ruthless in social situations, although it might take me a minute or two to warm up :-)
It will be interesting to see what I learn tomorrow night, and if I say anything as spectacularly stupid as last month.
