Thought-provoking Things Worth Sharing - Issue #197
As we approach ILTACON - an important reminder for speakers
I read this, and it sounded very familiar:
I’m going to be speaking on the first day of ILTACON this year, which is a little different. Previously, I’ve spoken later in the week, and I’ve been somewhat guilty of assuming that after I spoke, I’d meet people who wanted to talk about the panel or demo I had given.
That was true, but it hardly filled up my plans for the week.
Welcome to this week’s collection of thought-provoking things. Each issue covers careers and workplace culture, workplace mental health, talent development, and key insights into privacy, security, and legal technology.
You can learn more about me here: Mike McBride Online.
As I’ve approached this year's conference, I’ve found myself busy and not planning it from a networking point of view very well. I’m an introvert, and knowing this about myself, I know that if I just show up to the conference without much of a plan, it’s very likely I’ll spend most of the week going to sessions and then standing around by myself and going back to my room.
While I’m not someone who will be out all hours of the night every night, I do acknowledge that the networking is important.
Important enough not to leave to chance, especially when you’re not someone likely to start up conversations with strangers. So, if you’re speaking at ILTACON this year, keep the article above in mind, and if you’re going to be there, feel free to look me up and say hello. We’ll call it networking. ;-)
Careers and the Workplace
How Many Managers Can’t Give Feedback?
Far too many managers are promoted, but still doing their old job. They're really just team leads but expected to act as managers without the resources to do so. When you're in a situation where you're drowning like that, talent development is the last thing on your mind, and in the case of more than half of the workers surveyed, it shows.
Seriously, I think we’ve all thought some version of this before. - The Performance Review: An Annual Festival of Things You Could Have Told Me in March
Here’s an interesting statistic - Providing Paid Parental Leave Typically Costs Employers Less Than Replacing Workers Who Quit
Artificial Intelligence
Even with AI, the attackers are way ahead - More than half of AI-generated patches are broken
There is a lot to unpack here, but for me the key thing is that you better not get caught using AI and claiming you’re not. Even when you explain how you use it, some people are going to be suspicious of you. - YouTuber Hank Green Never Let ChatGPT Write a Word, but His Audience Turned on Him Anyway. It’s a Warning For Founders
As we inch closer and closer to the Dead Internet Theory:
A16Z Brags That Its AI Is Great for Poisoning the Internet With Fake Tech History
Training and Development
This is important work:
To Spot AI Fakes, a Little Training Goes a Long Way
Mental Health in the Workplace
It’s not just a way to be human; it’s also good for business. But you should want to do it because it’s human. - 5 Reasons Exceptional Leaders Invest in Mental Health
Also, because the workplace causes mental health issues in many cases, let's stop telling people to get better at self-care - Beyond Self-Care: Workplace Approaches to Mental Health
Privacy, Security, and Legal Tech
Worth Reading - AI Note-Taking Apps Are Violating User Privacy
Honestly, the first time I saw an ad for Granola, I immediately thought, "This seems illegal and is going to get someone in a lot of trouble":
Does Anyone Believe Meta Will Do This Well?
This is the same company that has been accused of serving beauty ads to young women after it detected that they had deleted a selfie from their phones, and also of selling that to advertisers as a business model.
The same company that refuses to take down obviously dangerous and false information in the interest of “free speech absolutism” wants us to believe that it will protect people from online harassment now, when it’s content created with their glasses specifically to stalk and harass them?
Sorry, Adam, you don’t get that kind of benefit of the doubt.
I think I wrote about this a few years ago, but it’s always a good reminder: If your external drive is always plugged in, it isn’t a backup
That’s all, folks. If you found something interesting in this week’s newsletter, please share it with your friends. It’s the best way to help support the effort I put into sharing this with you each week.