Biggest fuck up?
During my work experience, I distinctly remember almost making a grave mistake. I was on the verge of deleting years’ worth of critical data without properly understanding the implications of my actions. Thankfully, we managed to reverse the process and restore everything.
The incident left me feeling disoriented and concerned about breaking the trust my boss had placed in me. Despite the initial panic, I remained determined to find a solution and rectify the problem. Fortunately, we succeeded in doing so.
This experience taught me a valuable lesson in being more cautious and attentive to the potential consequences of my actions.
I learned the importance of thoroughly checking and verifying tasks before proceeding, and I now make a point of conducting trial runs in non-critical systems, such as a developer environment, to avoid such mistakes in the future.
Rant
Lack of ethics.
In my industry, it seems that some individuals are always seeking ways to achieve their goals without considering ethical implications. I am referring to advertising practices and GDPR policies.
Clients often inquire about ways to circumvent the issues instead of prioritising compliance and what is right.
This aspect of the industry troubles me, and I sincerely hope that in the future, there will be a greater focus on understanding and meeting the wants and needs of users rather than solely focusing on our own interests and exploiting their data.
Useful advice
Avoid trying to “problem solve everything,” especially if you are a people leader.
Allow individuals to find their own solutions, even if they differ from yours. Encouraging autonomy and independent thinking is crucial for growth and development. So, refrain from imposing your solutions on people, as this can hinder their ability to work independently.
When someone seeks your advice or assistance in solving a problem, try to provide open-ended questions and responses. Encourage them to think critically and explore different angles by asking a series of 5W+H questions (Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How). By doing so, you empower individuals to think for themselves and foster a culture of self-reliance and problem-solving skills. Remember, it’s not about appearing smart; it’s about empowering others to develop their capabilities.
And actually, this last piece of advice is what I’m still trying to do myself, and I find it quite difficult to achieve sometimes!