Everything is awesome: the LEGOⓇ approach to being an awesome coworker

A presentation at PHP UK Conference in February 2019 in London, UK by Jayne Mast

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Everything is Awesome The LEGOⓇ approach to being an awesome coworker Paul Verbeek-Mast (@paul_v_m) Senior Software Engineer @ Confrere noti.st/paul

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“ The great enemy of communication, we find, is the illusion of it. – William H. Whyte

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“ We have talked enough; but we have not listened. – William H. Whyte

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“ (…) many leaders assume they are better at valuing diversity than they actually are (…) – Havard Business Review – Leaders Aren’t Great at Judging How Inclusive They Are https://hbr.org/2017/10/leaders-arent-great-at-judging-how-inclusive-they-are

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“ The great enemy of inclusivity, we find, is the illusion of it. – Paul Verbeek-Mast

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The early days of tech

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The early days of tech ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer)

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The early days of tech

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The early days of tech

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The early days of tech

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The rise of men

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The rise of men In 1967 alone, 700,000 people took the IBM Aptitude test

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The rise of men Of this 1378, only 187 were women

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“ [Programmers] dislike activities involving close personal interaction. A vocational interest scale for computer programmers - William M. Cannon & Dallis K. Perry

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The rise of men • Antisocial personality disorder favours men • • by 3:1 ratio; Autism and Asperger’s is seen as high as 7:1; Antisocial women are seen as “not liking people”, while men are seen as a “lone wolf”

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“ [The] industry selected for antisocial, mathematically inclined males, and therefore antisocial and mathematically inclined males were overrepresented in the programmer population. The Computer Boys Take over - Nathan Ensmenger

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“ This in turn reinforced the popular perception that programmers ought to be antisocial and mathematically inclined (and therefore male). The Computer Boys Take over - Nathan Ensmenger

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The rise of men

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The bro culture

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The bro culture Joe Liamandt — Founder of Trilogy Software

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“ We’re elite talent; and it’s potential and talent, not experience, that has merit.

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The bro culture • How many piano tuners are there in the • • world?; How many golf balls fit in a standard double decker bus?; How much would you charge to wash all the windows in San Francisco?

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The bro culture Work hard, play hard.

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The bro culture Insane work hours, drinking, gambling and Vegas.

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The bro culture

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The bro culture • Women; • People of colour; • LGBTGIA+; • People with a disability; • People in economic or social hardships.

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Make everyone feel welcome and included

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Make everyone feel welcome and included Reach out to new colleagues

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Make everyone feel welcome and included On-boarding buddy

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Make everyone feel welcome and included Your whole team changes

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Make everyone feel welcome and included Don’t assume that they will eventually learn

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Make everyone feel welcome and included Use inclusive language

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Make everyone feel welcome and included Use inclusive language • Put people first;

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Make everyone feel welcome and included Use inclusive language • Put people first; • Avoid jargons and abbreviations;

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Make everyone feel welcome and included Use inclusive language • Put people first; • Avoid jargons and abbreviations; • “Guys” is not gender neutral;

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Make everyone feel welcome and included Use inclusive language • Put people first; • Avoid jargons and abbreviations; • “Guys” is not gender neutral; • Don’t underplay the impact of mental disabilities;

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Make everyone feel welcome and included Use inclusive language • Put people first; • Avoid jargons and abbreviations; • “Guys” is not gender neutral; • Don’t underplay the impact of mental • disabilities; Coding is also communication;

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Be humble

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Be humble Accept your limitations

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Be humble Listen

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Be humble How many times do you bring your phone or laptop to a meeting?

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Be humble Talk less, listen more

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Be humble Let people be heard

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“ When you have a contribution to make in a meeting, how often are you able to do so?

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Be humble Let people be heard • Introverts;

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Be humble Let people be heard • Introverts; • Remote workers;

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Be humble Let people be heard • Introverts; • Remote workers; • Women;

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Be humble Let people be heard • Introverts; • Remote workers; • Women; • People of colour.

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Be humble Let people be heard • Share the purpose of the meeting; • Include remote workers; • No talking over each other; • Keep it central; • Email a summary.

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You are awesome too!

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Be humble Find people who believe in you

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Be humble Stand up for what you believe in

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Be humble Be yourself

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Be humble A little bit of kindness goes a long way

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Thank you! Paul Verbeek-Mast Senior Software Engineer confrere.com @paul_v_m | noti.st/paul