Recently, I’ve been feeling tired, really tired. The kind of tiredness that isn’t fixed by a good night’s sleep. On a drive home the other day, my mind was buzzing with thoughts of work until it landed on something different – my new hobby, scuba diving. Not long ago, my eldest son and I completed our PADI Open Water scuba certification. In our training, we learned about ‘safety stops’ - a planned 3-minute pause during the ascent from a dive.

As someone who hires for DevOps roles, I’ve learned that asking questions is a key indicator of curiosity and intelligence. In fact, I purposely include new and challenging elements in the technical challenge portion of my hiring process to see how candidates react. Those who are willing to ask questions and seek help are the ones who stand out to me as great team players and innovators. Let me share an example of how we approach technical challenges during the hiring process.

As human beings, we crave a sense of belonging. We want to feel accepted, supported, and valued for who we are. And this is where the power of community comes into play. The Benefits of Community Joining a community, whether it’s a local meetup group, an online forum, or a professional network, can have a positive impact on your personal and professional life. Here are just a few of the benefits:

In a world dominated by assertive and vocal leaders, it’s easy to overlook the importance of empathy and active listening in leadership. Empathy enables leaders to better understand and support their team members, fostering an environment where everyone can thrive. In this article, we’ll explore the crucial role of empathy and active listening in leadership, discuss its connection to psychology, and illustrate its impact on preventing burnout and dissatisfaction through a fictional story.