Author Archive: kwiefling

Scrappy Design Thinking – Simple Rules, Practical Tools

In another article I rambled on about how design thinking’s powerful combination of tools and techniques produces outcomes beyond the predictable. Here I’ll share an approach that integrates key elements of design thinking with a Scrappy Project Management© style. Using this approach will generate new possibilities that you’d never discover using traditional problem-centric approaches. 

Scrappy Design Thinking Overview. Both design thinking and Scrappy Project Management© share an obsession with “the customer”. And both start by “thinking from the future” rather than getting stuck in the current situation, hampered by self-limiting beliefs about what’s possible. Rather than using the classic design thinking model of Empathize – Define – Ideate – Prototype – Test, let’s use a cycle that’s a bit easier to remember: Why? – Who? – What? – How?

  • Rather than instinctively jumping to HOW to solve a “problem”, start with WHY – Why is this project important? Why work on this? 
  • Next explore WHO – who cares, who’s impacted, who’s involved, and who’s judging the success of your project? 
  • Then move on to WHAT – what outcomes would go beyond “solving a problem” to surprise and delight your stakeholders? 
  • Then, and only then, design and prototype HOW to achieve these outcomes and delight these stakeholders. 
  • Go through the entire cycle again, expanding, revising, and refining your prototypes repeatedly, until you collapse in an exhausted heap, worn out, but with a self-satisfied smile on your barrier-shattering face. Hmmm . . . perhaps I overpromise. Let’s see what happens.

Continue reading→

How To Be A Compassionate Hybrid Leader

Although it’s not a particularly new concept, hybrid work setups have become a growing trend in industries across the world. In fact, because most offices have resumed normal operations, up to 74% of companies have said they’re either already using or planning to adopt hybrid setups. This comes as no real surprise considering that studies prove that organized hybrid work is beneficial to output and creativity. These comprehensive studies were based on a diverse range of industries and business scales, which further underscores how hybrid work is the happy medium for both companies and workers.

That said, hybrid work is not without its challenges. For most office leaders, one of the top concerns they have with this model is the lack of access between themselves and their teams. This has led some bosses to worry that their team culture may suffer or their employees will feel isolated. Conversely, 77% of surveyed company leaders have found that compassion can benefit both people and profits. Therefore, while hybrid does reduce face-to-face interactions, leaders can (and should) still exercise compassion through this particular medium. And here’s how:

Image ref: Pexels

Show your employees you appreciate them

While you shouldn’t just toss out empty praises for the sake of it, you shouldn’t hold back on showing your employees appreciation either. This shows employees that you value them and recognize the adversity they’ve overcome so that it empowers your hybrid team no matter how challenging the transition may be. That said, to underscore the sincerity of your appreciation back up your words with actions. This is especially impactful for teams that work mostly remotely as it shows that you appreciate everyone fairly.

To show employees appreciation virtually, say “thank you” through meaningful gestures. This can include sending decorations for home offices, planning a virtual hangout to unwind, or gifting food delivery cards. Through such well-thought-out executions, you show that your appreciation comes from a place of compassion which is inspiring for many workers. In fact, surveys reveal that while 46% of employees left jobs because they felt under-appreciated, 79% said feeling appreciated gave them a boost professionally and personally.Continue reading→

3 Leadership Lessons I’ve Learned From Making All The Mistakes: Lesson 1 – Complete Communication

Guest post in our leadership series. I met Paul Pickard, CTO for Korrus, a few months ago, and am so impressed by his appreciation of the human aspects of leading technical teams. Enjoy! – Kimberly

I’ve been meeting people on LunchClub for the past year or so, and it’s given me the opportunity to connect with people with diverse interests and backgrounds from different locations around the country and world.  I was recently speaking with an early career software engineer who was mulling over an opportunity to move into a position where she managed people.  She asked me for my “top of mind” things to I’ve learned about managing people in my career.  After explaining that anything I could relate would come from having made all the mistakes – some of them repeatedly – I came up with three core intentions that I’ve adopted over the years and passed them along.  I say intentions because I don’t always exhibit these behaviors, but it is certainly my aspiration to do so.  This post covers the first intention.  I’ll follow up with the other two in subsequent posts.

#1: Communicate Completely

Continue reading→

Doing proper technical analysis in Singapore FX trading

Guest post in our financial series. Enjoy! – Kimberly

When it comes to trading, technical analysis is one of the essential tools you can use. By studying charts and indicators, you can better understand what’s happening and make more informed trading decisions.

What is technical analysis?

Technical analysis studies price action to find patterns and indicators that give traders an edge in predicting future market movements. Technical analysts are when all publicly available information is already factored into a security’s current price, so they look at charts and indicators to determine where the market might be heading next.

However, not all technical analysis is created equal. To be successful when trading FX online in Singapore, you need to use proper technical analysis techniques. Tips to get you started:

Use candlesticks

Candlesticks are popular ways to analyse charts. They offer a significant amount of information and can be used to identify patterns and trends. When analysing candlesticks, it’s essential to look at the body and the shadows. The body is the section of the candlestick that’s not the wick, and it tells you whether the market closed higher/lower than it opened. The shadows show the high and low points for the day.Continue reading→

Why Hire a Design + Build Firm for Your Kitchen Remodel

Contributed article in our home office design series. Enjoy working from home! – Kimberly

For homeowners who wish to move with the times and see the hottest design trends come to life in their personal space, embarking on a kitchen remodeling project is a special and exciting time. It is an eagerly anticipated event because every detail has been carefully planned, and they want the project to be executed with the same attention to insta-worthy detail.

They want to ensure that everything goes smoothly from start to finish. From the financial perspective, they want to know they are getting the best possible value. From the technical side of things, they want to hire a contractor who will honor their wishes and follow their exact specifications.

Map Ref: The Kitchen Studio of Glen Ellyn

A kitchen remodeling project is a serious endeavor, but when carried out by a team of professionals, it is well worth the wait and effort. And that is where the design-build concept comes into play. Design-build firms offer a comprehensive service, taking care of both the design and the construction phase of a project. 

So why are design-build firms the preferred choice, especially in the high-end market? What do they have to offer that makes them a cut above the rest?Continue reading→

Shocking Ways Personal Brands Will Make You a Better Leader

Guest post in our leadership series. Enjoy! – Kimberly

Shocking Ways Personal Brands Will Make You a Better Leader creates a thoughtful perspective on the future of leadership development.

After decades worth of studying leadership development and career advancement, there is a powerful truth that presents itself. Anyone in a leadership role that wants to be a better leader should understand this basic principle. Shocking ways personal brands will make you a better leader is the easiest way to command attention from a team regardless of how many people you lead.

Let’s look at leadership from two main perspectives. The first perspective is the individual perspective. This is otherwise known as a personal brand. The second perspective is the collective or team where each individual contributor adds to the greater whole. Somewhere in the middle is where it seems to go off the rails. Good leaders can get distracted when they need to keep it simple. The shocking truth is that being a better leader is easier when you focus on personal brands. Here’s how we do it!

The basic objective in leadership is to get the individual contributors to effectively and productively work toward the common goal with less effort. Turning this complicated task into a simple solution is easy. The right approach leads to simplicity. Let’s consider the shocking ways personal brands will make you a better leader by focusing on personal brands.

Shockingly Simple Ways to Use a Personal Brand to Lead

Anyone in a leadership position may already know the difficulty that comes when leading teams of individual contributors. The bigger the team, the more difficult the task. Using a simple approach repeatedly makes you a better leader.Continue reading→

What You Need to Know About Lighting in the Home

Contributed article in our office design series. Enjoy! – Kimberly

When designing a room that meets your requirements and desires, lighting is the last touch that makes all the difference. A perfectly arranged piece of furniture falls short if it is not properly illuminated. In order to achieve a sense of warmth and coziness in your home, you must create the right atmosphere in every room. 

I wanted to experiment with something original and creative. I contacted LF Illumination, who provided some useful tips on how to successfully use the magic of light to enhance my home.

Map Ref: LF Illumination 

I learned the following:

Make sure to use natural light whenever possible

You’re best off using natural light. Consider allowing natural light as much as possible into your home to enrich the space, without investing heavily in artificial sources that, in reality, can never completely replace nature. 

Continue reading→