Learnings Along the Way

Author: Weiting Bollu

We each have personal experiences that shape who we are. Get to know me a little better by understanding how I approach things.

On the Art of Saying "No"

No one else will prioritize your time except for you. There are a million things you could be doing. Guard your time, say no. Not only do you gain more respect from peers, you hold more respect for yourself. Reread "The Art of Saying No" by Damon Zahariades to remind ourselves we need to prioritize ourselves first.

01.23.2021

On COVID-19 situation

Canada is so fortunate to have universal health care. We're also fortunate to have Trudeau as our Prime Minister. Are there flaws in the responses? Yes. Though, it is one of the best responses for a democratic country as compared to our neighbours. I'm healthy and so is my family. That is a privilege and I'm thankful for it.
04.12.2020


On Interview Hypothesizing 

Hypothesize: what I want the other party/parties to know about me that will make them want to move me forward. Do this before going into the interview. Write down all the great points/themes/experiences I need to drive home.After the interview, reflect and see how you did.
04.12.2020


On Asking for Help 

Asking for help makes us vulnerable. That's the beauty of it. Being vulnerable shows we are human.

03.17.2020


On Commitment 

If I've given you my word that I'll do something. I've committed to it. I will get it done. If I cannot, I will reach out for help. I expect the same from your side. If you can no longer fulfill the commitment, then speak up!
03.17.2020


On School Assignments 

Ask for the rubric. Do exactly as the rubric says. Highlight the headers, bold words, emphasize phrases, and show some charts. Getting good marks isn't just about the content, it's also about the layout. If you overwhelm your reader with a load of text, expect a bad mark. Guide their eyes on the page. User experience = reader experience!
02.25.2020


On Calendar Invites 

The greatest feeling is when you send out calendar invites and people get back to you with an RSVP. That way, you don't have to follow up with them countless times to ask if they'll be there or not.
01.10.2020


On Compliments

When someone says: "you are awesome!!!" so many times without a "because..." and/or "for...", then it sounds extremely insincere.
01.10.2020

On Age vs. Experience 

Being the youngest person in the room does not mean you don't have experience and the know-how to do something. Other people take 10 years to learn what some can learn in 5 years. These individuals who can gather experience and knowledge to perform quality results is what I call beneficial. It doesn't matter how old you are, show me you can do the job. I'll show you I can do mine.

01.10.2020


On the Concept of Time 

Anyone who thinks that being late to a meeting is "OK" without letting the counter-party or counter parties know, is quite an 'asshole'. Unfortunately, that's the truth. There will be times when we're caught off guard and are late. Have the audacity to inform the others so they are aware and not blindly open.
01.10.2020


On 1:1s 

When direct report comes in with an agenda of items to talk about and gives me the heads up, it gives me time to prepare. The more prepared they are, the more prepared I'll be. I will always do my homework.
01.10.2020


On Hiring 

If I truly want someone on my team, I'll make every effort to make sure they know that. For example, inviting them to a morning breakfast meeting to tell them how great they are and why I know they are perfect on my team. Or, another example: I jump onto a call to make a pitch of the fit between them and my team.
01.10.2020


On Presentation Decks 

Beautiful slide decks does make a big difference. Professional and appealing = eye catching.
01.10.2020


On Giving Feedback 

Rephrasing questions away from the "why" question goes a long way. Probe on what the person's thought process is to come off as being less aggressive.
01.10.2020


On Having Tough Conversations 

Honestly, just do it. Spit it out. Do not sandwich it between the good. That ends up being insincere and words might get lost in interpretation.
01.10.2020

On Interviews 

"Do you have any questions for me?" —> always prepare questions. Always.
01.10.2020


On Apologies 

I'd be having a debate with my direct report when she suddenly blurts out "I'm sorry". Hold on, why are you sorry? Are you sorry about having an intelligent debate with me? I force them to take it back.
01.10.2020


On Negotiating Salaries 

A direct report once said to me: "I'll wait until after a year before I bring up any salary or performance discussions." I asked them what their thought process was behind that statement. I thanked them and told them that we should talk about performance on an on-going basis. If we only talk about it once a year, then we're missing out on opportunities to grow together. Forget the time of "1 year" because it's status quo, think about it in better terms of "Did I make an impact?". If yes, let's talk about it.
01.10.2020


On Asking 

If you don't ask, you don't get. Something as basic as having feminine essentials in the washroom should be a necessity. Women have had to leave the workplace because their period came unexpectedly. When we see these problems, I need to try to fix it. So, I asked for a small budget. It worked.

"I will never forget...how much joy I felt with the simply basic human right of having access to female hygiene products. You also gave me confidence to have a voice and take charge when necessary!" 01.10.2020


Thoughts are my own. They may change over time.