The Abstraction Gap

Is it possible to talk about techniques for making technical writing easier AND make the listener laugh while doing so? You be the judge. Also, an explanation of why episode release has shifted into unpredictable intermittent mode.

Dealing with problem people is a form of what I call headwind - an issue that arises outside of you that can act to slow you down. But it can also inspire a particular flavor of drag - an issue that arise from within that can slow you down even further. The Change Your Truth technique is a tool to counter that added drag.

Part 2 in a three part series in how to deal with problem people. In this episode we focus on the technique that can sometimes work, but is more a roll of the dice in whether it will cause more problems that it solves. We talk through the nuances of this, and offer some knobs that can be turned to reduce the stakes of the gamble.

How does one deal with a collaborator that doesn't follow through, or treats you in a disrespectful way? In this episode I cover a technique that strives to improve not only the situation, but the relationship as well.

One of any person's responsibilities is self-care. As important as brushing one's teeth and getting enough sleep is managing one's thoughts so that they are self-empowering rather than self-impeding. When setbacks happen there is an opportunity for choice that many people do not see. In this episode we shine the spotlight on that opportunity to learn the powerful technique of reframing.

Procrastinators resist diving into challenging problems, and slow their progress by simply not getting the work done. The opposite problem can happen as well - doing a tremendous amount of work, but being so focused on the details that we lose track of the big picture. We can wind up doing the wrong work, or wasting time on unimportant details. We miss opportunities for key course adjustments that are only informed by asking big picture questions. Visiting with the big picture as a daily ritual can mean all the difference in your productivity.

Relationships are a key to happiness and satisfaction in life. The pandemic makes having certain relationships more challenging. In this episode, we pull in some of the concepts we're covered to understand some hidden forces that help relationships fall apart. It turns out the same forces play out at society scale, and can help explain the insane polarization we experience today in our politics. I bring you - The Dance Of Demonization.

Communication can break down in a lot of different ways. We pick a nice, juicy metaphor to map out this landscape. This helps us understand which specific skills might need work. Plus, I ask you to endure one more neuroscience poem, but scapegoat my friend, Troy, for this self-indulgence.

Confidence - with the right amount of confidence, you can start any conversation, ask any question, advocate for yourself - all things that are important in the grad student journey. If you lack confidence, these actions are more difficult. Is it possible to become more confident just by changing your thinking? Plus, Jed faces more challenges to his core beliefs!

Blunt interpersonal styles affect collaborations differently. It can undermine a collaboration or shut it down completely. Sometimes, it works just fine. If the collaboration is suffering because of it, what are the conversations that can regain collaborative footing? Certain environments require bluntness - how do they make it work?