The hottest Professional development Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Business Topics

How a Software Engineer went from SW2 to Principal in 4 Years [StoryTime Saturdays]

Technology Made Simple • 39 implied HN points • 13 Jun 22
🕹 Technology Software Engineering Career growth Problem Solving Professional development
  1. Sometimes, in software engineering, it's important to simplify the solution rather than making it overly complex.
  2. In problem-solving, considering economic aspects alongside technical solutions can lead to more efficient and sustainable outcomes.
  3. To excel in software development, it's crucial to broaden your knowledge and decision-making skills beyond just coding.

Why building an authentic personal brand matters more than you think

The Caring Techie Newsletter • 12 implied HN points • 14 Mar 24
💼 Business Personal Branding Career growth Leadership Communication Professional development
  1. Your personal brand is what people know you for, and it's important for career growth and opportunities.
  2. Debunk common myths about personal branding like it being only for selling or less competent individuals.
  3. Having a solid personal brand can help you stand out at work, build trust with stakeholders, and expand your influence.

Corporate Power Plays

Logos • 39 implied HN points • 17 Mar 22
💼 Business Corporate culture Workplace dynamics Employee Relations Professional development
  1. In the corporate world, people often pretend to be collaborative, but it's really very competitive. You need to be aware of these power dynamics to navigate successfully.
  2. Using phrases like 'let's take a step back' can establish you as a thought leader in meetings, but be cautious not to overdo it. Everyone needs to contribute to keep things productive.
  3. Dressing differently, like wearing a suit in a casual workplace, can signal status and create a perception of power. Be strategic about how you present yourself to others.

How to develop an online professional network [StoryTime Saturdays]

Technology Made Simple • 19 implied HN points • 29 May 22
🕹 Technology Professional development Social media Community Engagement
  1. Building an online network can connect you with diverse individuals and open up opportunities for growth and progression.
  2. When building your network, remember to be active and ask questions, while avoiding impatience and neediness to make a good impression.
  3. Finding like-minded individuals in groups, adding value to conversations, and interacting thoughtfully are key steps to effectively developing your online network.
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Feeling overwhelmed by information / TPMs are World Builders / The Right Amount of Slack

Building Rome(s) • 11 implied HN points • 18 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Program Management Time management Technical Skills Professional development
  1. Feeling overwhelmed by information is common for Technical Program Managers, so it's important to focus on what truly matters and develop a system for rapid recall.
  2. TPMs are not just program runners; they are world builders who can shape engineering organizations by influencing decision-making processes, strategy, and more.
  3. Adding the right amount of slack in project plans is crucial for TPMs to build flexibility and account for uncertainties, especially in testing phases.

I Hate My Job And I Want To Cry.

Trying to Understand the World • 5 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-Improvement Professional development Mental health
  1. Indirect approaches can often be more effective than direct attacks in problem-solving.
  2. Designing and running organizations where people are happy is simple: prioritize simplicity, transparency, fairness, and teamwork.
  3. Having some degree of control over your job and work schedule can make work more bearable and fulfilling, even in difficult circumstances.

#11: Productive discomfort

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) • 59 implied HN points • 14 Jan 20
🚌 Education Learning Theory Cognitive Science Professional development Personal Growth
  1. Embracing discomfort can lead to personal growth. Learning new things often feels uncomfortable, but it can help expand your skills and knowledge.
  2. Regularly challenging yourself can make discomfort easier to handle. By gradually exposing yourself to tough situations, you can improve your ability to cope with stress and anxiety.
  3. Curiosity in the face of discomfort leads to valuable insights. Instead of avoiding unpleasant feelings, exploring what makes you uncomfortable can reveal opportunities for learning and innovation.

Leading with Empathy

The Future CEO • 1 HN point • 11 Apr 24
💼 Business Leadership Workplace dynamics Empathy Management Professional development
  1. Understanding how to ask for help and support others in the workplace is crucial to building a positive culture.
  2. There are diverse reasons individuals seek help, from coping with pressures to fostering a sense of belonging and support.
  3. True support extends beyond technical problem-solving; it involves active listening, empathy, and understanding unique perspectives to provide meaningful help.

🚀 Level Up - Becoming A Great Technical Program Manager (Live Cohort Course Coming Soon)

Building Rome(s) • 9 implied HN points • 21 Mar 23
💼 Business Professional development Courses Management Education
  1. The course is designed for people in technical program manager roles looking to advance their career.
  2. The seminar will cover lessons learned, frameworks, and strategies to excel as a TPM.
  3. The course details include a planned schedule, pricing, limited class size, and virtual platform.

#14: A time and place for everything

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) • 19 implied HN points • 05 Feb 20
💼 Business Conferences Networking Professional development
  1. Conferences should have a balance of structured time for talks and unstructured time for networking. This way, attendees can connect with new and old friends.
  2. The real value of a conference comes from the informal conversations and connections made during breaks or between sessions. These moments often lead to the best ideas.
  3. Leaving room for spontaneity and unexpected meetings can make a conference more enjoyable and productive. It allows participants to discover shared interests in a relaxed setting.

GRANTED: Your stress probably isn't burnout and your professional decline probably isn't imminent

Granted • 19 implied HN points • 02 Jul 19
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Professional development Mindfulness Company Culture Strengths
  1. Burnout is not the same as stress. Feeling overwhelmed can be healthy but burnout is persistent emotional exhaustion.
  2. Your professional peak relies more on acquired wisdom than innate intelligence. Investing in the next generation is valuable.
  3. Empathy in company culture is crucial. Developing empathy is a soft skill that can be learned through genuine care and effort.

How to find a mentor and build a rewarding relationship

The Skip • 1 implied HN point • 19 Nov 23
💼 Business Mentorship Networking Coaching Career Guidance Professional development
  1. Finding a mentor goes beyond just relying on your manager and company for guidance in your career.
  2. Networking to find mentors involves connecting with former managers, dotted-line managers, peers, and professional friends.
  3. Consider investing in paid resources like executive coaching or therapy to guide your career, especially for senior leaders.

GRANTED: Bouncing back from failure and the problem with hiring ninjas

Granted • 19 implied HN points • 06 May 17
💼 Business Professional development Company Culture Resilience Communication
  1. Character is revealed by how you treat those with less power, not how many powerful people you impress
  2. Face-to-face requests are more successful than emails; asking 6 people in person can be as effective as emailing 200
  3. Resilience after failure often comes from understanding that failures are often due to the situation, not individual shortcomings

Chuye^.n gia^'u nghe^`

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 19 implied HN points • 17 Jul 07
💼 Business Work dynamics Knowledge sharing Professional development Team Management Ethics
  1. Some individuals may choose to hoard knowledge, fearing competition or loss of job security, but sharing knowledge can lead to mutual growth and understanding.
  2. People with strong technical knowledge are often generous in sharing, potentially because their expertise is broad and well-established.
  3. Sharing knowledge not only enhances one's own understanding but also helps others learn and grow, creating a collaborative environment for progress.

Getting Promoted in Your Rookie Year as a PM (Without Becoming the Office Coffee Runner)

Pragmatism • 0 implied HN points • 04 Apr 23
💼 Business Career growth Management Professional development Workplace dynamics
  1. Execution and excellence are key to earning trust and credibility as a product manager.
  2. Deliver impactful results by setting clear goals and celebrating wins along the way.
  3. Demonstrate readiness for promotion by taking on more responsibilities and building influential relationships.

All white collar workers should/should not use an LLM to partially do their job

Hazy Bridge • 0 implied HN points • 13 Jul 23
🚌 Education Professional development Specialization Diversity Continuous Learning
  1. An LLM can broaden a white-collar worker's knowledge base, enhancing their understanding of legal principles and improving job performance.
  2. Studying for an LLM can develop problem-solving skills, enabling professionals to tackle complex issues with creativity and precision.
  3. Having an LLM can give white-collar workers a competitive edge, showcasing specialized expertise and making them more appealing to employers.

Siddharth Venkatesh (Product Management Lead at Anyscale)

The Takeoff • 0 implied HN points • 24 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Product Management Open Source Community Engagement Professional development Tech Culture
  1. Building customer empathy involves engaging various team members early on in the customer engagement process.
  2. Great product managers are informed by data, not attached to their ideas, and blend qualitative and quantitative inputs.
  3. In an open-core company, interacting with a passionate community of developers is essential for product management.

Antilibrary: The Secret of the Humble Manager

TeamCraft • 0 implied HN points • 31 Jul 23
🚌 Education Professional development Critical Thinking Reading habits
  1. Managers in tech often fear being seen as frauds, leading to a lack of humility.
  2. Building an antilibrary can help foster humility and curiosity by seeking out books outside your expertise and challenging viewpoints.
  3. Utilize your antilibrary as an intuition pump by exploring unread books and letting your imagination create diverse meanings and messages.