Finding Your Footing in Wonderland
In a world that feels like Alice's Wonderland, where chaos reigns, and the ground seems ever-shifting, learn to dance on the embers of change.
"It’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then."
Like Alice, we may not have chosen this journey, but we can choose the next step the moment we become aware of the option to choose.
Truly — optionality is Pandora's Box.
If given agency, none of us would choose to ignore our calling.
For example, we can look at the dialogue around remote work. Remote work was my norm long before COVID shut the world down. Code is the bridge upon which software engineers build trust. If you have been in the trenches of a deployment weekend or an emergency rollback of a major feature, you know. The bond you wish your team could have is the loyalty and trust earned and given in moments of intense pressure. If level heads and calm voices are maintained despite sweaty brows — all the better.
The teams that swim when the sea is stormy come in many forms. No size fits all. Adding some less frequently commentated ideas to the argument on remote work:
As a female, I have felt more empowered and equal in high-functioning remote teams. The playing field is level in this case. Given the baseline of high working standards, respect among the team, and defined structures for documents and communication are in place—remote is neutral territory.