Unconventional Traits of

Extraordinary Testers

Heather TinkhamPrincipal ConsultantObject Partners, Inc.

CAST 2013: August 28, 2013

ex·traor·di·nar·y adjective: very unusual or remarkable

My Story

The 5 TraitsBuilding Bridges Daring to Disagree

Seeing as Forgetting the Names of Things

Being Wrong

Building on Limitations

Building Bridges

Brian Goldman, ER physician, TEDxToronto 2011 http://www.ted.com/talks/brian_goldman_doctors_make_mistakes_can_we_talk_about_that.html

Building Acceptance

Daring to Disagree

Margaret Heffernan, TEDGlobal 2012 http://www.ted.com/talks/margaret_heffernan_dare_to_disagree.html

Willful Blindness @ 85%

Margaret Heffernan, TEDxDanubia (2013) http://www.ted.com/talks/margaret_heffernan_the_dangers_of_willful_blindness.html

For Argument’s Sake

Dan Cohen, philosopher, TEDxColbyCollege http://www.ted.com/talks/daniel_h_cohen_for_argument_s_sake.html

Scott Berkun: How to give and receive criticism

There are four fundamental assumptions bad critics make:• There is one universal and objective measure of how

good and bad anything is.• That the critic is in sole possession of the skill for

making these measurements.• Anyone that doesn’t possess this skill (including the

creator of the work) is an idiot and should be ridiculed.• That valid criticisms can and should always be

resolved.http://scottberkun.com/essays/35-how-to-give-and-receive-criticism/

Scott Berkun: How to give and receive criticism

crit•i•cal (adj.)1. Inclined to judge severely and find fault.2. Characterized by careful, exact evaluation and judgment: a critical reading.

- Before you speak, know the goals- Good and bad != Like and dislike- Talk as much about the positive as the negative- Try the “PNP” sandwich (for sensitive or new

participants)http://scottberkun.com/essays/35-how-to-give-and-receive-criticism/

Being Wrong

Kathryn Shulz, “Wrongologist”, TED2011 http://www.ted.com/talks/kathryn_schulz_on_being_wrong.html

The Chinese Symbol

Journeys of Many Surprises

Seeing in Art

Lawrence Weschler: “Seeing Is Forgetting the Name of the Thing One Sees” - Over Thirty Years of Conversations with Robert Irwin (artist)

Seeing “Like a Child”

“Black” rocks vs. Red or White rock

Diverse Explanations

• Jerry Weinberg / Virgina Satir (via Dale Emery): Rule of Three Interpretations

• Miller’s Law (also from Dale Emery): "To understand what another person is saying, you have to assume that it is true and try to imagine what it might be true of."

http://dhemery.com/articles/untangling_communication/

Melissa Marshall, TEDGlobal2012 http://www.ted.com/talks/melissa_marshall_talk_nerdy_to_me.html

The Single Story

Chimamanda Adichie, Storyteller, TEDGlobal 2009 http://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story.html

Limits = Opportunity

• Asking others for help, being willing to “go into debt”

• Admitting what you don’t know by asking about it

• Building respect, showing confidence• Respecting your unique voice

May the sky be your limit.