Pete Walen is not going to tell you how to be a good test manager. Instead, Pete shares ideas on becoming a true leader. While some managers certainly are leaders, testers of all varieties and experience levels can become leaders. Developing technical leadership skills, regardless of job title, involves overcoming our own uncertainties, self-doubts, and perceptions. Learning to foster relationships while perfecting our craft is a challenge for everyone, particularly when others look to us to be an expert—even when we don’t feel like one. Pete presents choices, options, and paths available to software professionals, including opportunities for self-education, networking, and other professional and technical development. He describes how he learned to apply these lessons in day-to-day work situations, building skills for himself and his co-workers. In this interactive discussion, Pete shares his mistakes and successes, what he learned from each, and what opportunities there are for you to grow as a leader in your own right.
1. W5
Personal Excellence
10/15/2014 11:30:00 AM
Growing into Leadership
Presented by:
Peter Walen
Gordon Food Service
Brought to you by:
340 Corporate Way, Suite 300, Orange Park, FL 32073
888-268-8770 ∙ 904-278-0524 ∙ sqeinfo@sqe.com ∙ www.sqe.com
2. Peter Walen
Gordon Food Service
Pete Walen has been involved in software development for more than twenty-five years. Today,
Pete is a Senior Software tester with Gordon Food Service in Grand Rapids, Michigan, working
with the company’s quality groups and test teams to help them with testing and coaching them
to improve their testing techniques and practices. He describes himself as a Software
Anthropologist and Tester, examining how software and people relate and react to each other.
Pete is a signer of the Agile Manifesto, a member of the American Society for Quality and The
Association for Software Testing, and an active blogger on software testing
at rhythmoftesting.blogspot.com. Follow Pete on Twitter @PeteWalen.
7. A Tester is someone who knows
that things can be
Different
--- Gerald M. Weinberg
Change won’t happen unless
you are willing to
dare greatly
8. Feeling like you don’t fit in?
Looking for something even if
you don’t know what that is?
Maybe it is because you know
things can be different?
9. Formal training is only a START
Allow yourself to be curious
then -
Follow your curiosity
I wonder what happens if…
You are responsible for your own
training and craftsmanship.
10. Sources of Information and Ideas!
Web Forums
Blogs
Conferences
Books
Magazines
Print and e-zines!
11. Focus on learning your trade and craft
Seek out ideas new to you
even if you aren’t sure how they
might apply right now
13. Those helpers can become for you,
mentors
Let them help illuminate your way…
14. Take the ideas and techniques you have read
about and been curious about and TRY them!
“Nothing teaches like a burned hand.”
RUBBISH!
“Nothing teaches like doing the
impossible.”
15. It takes courage to stretch and
experiment –
Read about something that might help
your project?
TRY IT!
The results can be Astounding!
16. What if your results are “less than optimal” the
first time you try something?
Don’t let that stop you!
17. People you can be yourself with.
People you can bounce ideas against.
People you can confide in.
People you can trust.
18. You don’t need to be the smartest
person or the one with all the
answers
By being yourself, and with
patience, your network will grow.
19. Your Network may be able to help you
find what you are really good at.
This may be something you like doing.
This may be discovered by doing
something else.
20. The first time may be a little scary.
Keep Experimenting
Keep Learning!
26. But…
I’m not a writer!
Really?
You don’t write anything?
EVER???
27. Share Your Ideas
How?
Try Speaking!
Lunch & Learns
Local Tester Groups
Other Technology Groups
Conferences
28. But…
I’m not a Speaker!
Really?
You don’t speak with people?
EVER???
29. Each level of achievement
opens more opportunities to
learn.
Each level of learning leads to
new achievements.
30. Ask Yourself:
What do you hope to gain?
Do you want to be a leader?
What kind of leader do you
want to be?
31. Weinberg, Gerald M. Becoming a Technical
Leader: An Organic Problem-Solving
Approach. New York, Dorset House, 1986
http://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Technical-Leader-Problem-Solving-
Approach/dp/0932633021#_
Bolton, Michael. Building Your Testing
Reputation. ST&QA Magazine, February,
2011.
http://www.softwaretestpro.com/Item/5083/Building-Your-Testing-
Reputation/Testing
32. Weinberg, Gerald M. Weinberg on Writing:
The Fieldstone Method. New York, Dorset
House, 2006
http://www.amazon.com/Weinberg-Writing-Fieldstone-Gerald-
M/dp/093263365X
Deming, W Edwards. Out of the Crisis.
Cambridge, MA, MIT Press, 2000
http://www.amazon.com/Out-Crisis-W-Edwards-Deming/dp/0262541157
