Why testing is hard, estimating impossible, and we all feel like frauds sometimes
Who am I?
I've failed
What are the
emotions
estimating brings up?
And testing?
Think of problems first as emotional, then technical
All code is compromise
What are emotions?
dispositional representations
Every emotion evolved to direct you to action that protects you from danger, or guides you to opportunity
All emotions have reasons
Your mind is a community
We're not great at:
- noticing conflicting emotions
- negotiating with parts
- talking about emotions
Why notice conflicting emotions?
How to identify conflicting emotions?
connection
power
autonomy
challenge
safety
novelty
Why negotiate with parts?
How to negotiate with parts?
Give yourself time
Name parts and why they exist
Why talk about emotions?
What's wrong with avoiding conflict?
What's wrong with sticking to the facts?
More feelings
=
Long meetings?
How to talk about emotions safely?
CRAVO
- Clarify feelings with questions
- Repeat feelings to confirm
- Acknowledge good intentions
- Validate what you can
- Own your feelings and role
Case study
The fanatic stack-changer
vs
The launch date
- Clarify feelings with questions
- Repeat feelings to confirm
- Acknowledge good intentions
- Validate what you can
- Own your feelings and role
Case study
The deadline
vs
The test
- Clarify feelings with questions
- Repeat feelings to confirm
- Acknowledge good intentions
- Validate what you can
- Own your feelings and role
Case study
The annoyed project manager
vs
The paralyzed devs
- Clarify feelings with questions
- Repeat feelings to confirm
- Acknowledge good intentions
- Validate what you can
- Own your feelings and role
Case study
The idealist
vs
Good enough for now, safe enough to try
- Clarify feelings with questions
- Repeat feelings to confirm
- Acknowledge good intentions
- Validate what you can
- Own your feelings and role
Case study
The incomprehensible monster legacy code
vs
The attempt to test
- Clarify feelings with questions
- Repeat feelings to confirm
- Acknowledge good intentions
- Validate what you can
- Own your feelings and role
Case study
Feeling valued
vs
Feeling cared for
- Clarify feelings with questions
- Repeat feelings to confirm
- Acknowledge good intentions
- Validate what you can
- Own your feelings and role
Summary
- notice conflicting emotions
- negotiate with parts
- talk about emotions
Questions?
slides.com/chrisvfritz/emotions
chrisvfritz@gmail.com
subject: Emotions