"Costs of the Cult of Expertise" by Jessica Rose Experts, senior developers, thought leaders – software development is obsessed with the idea of expertise. As individuals we aim to present ourselves as experts while companies fight to employ visible experts and present their brand as most knowledgeable. This talk will examine the costs of our expert obsession, looking at how individual performance, experimentation and diversity within the industry are impacted. We’ll look at practical ways to succeed in the expertise race alongside subtle, useful ways to subvert the dynamic.

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Costs of the Cult of
Expertise
Codemotion Rome, 19/3/2016
Jessica Rose

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🍎

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Developer Wanted
• 3 Years ASP.NET MVC Experience
• 2 Yers with C#
• Acomplished Graphic Designer
• High level HTML/CSS/Javascript
• SQL,Microsoft Azure,Knockout,Angular,
Ember,Agile Experience (scrummaster?)

6. @jesslynnrose
Developer Wanted
• 3 Years ASP.NET MVC Experience
• 2 Yers with C#
• Acomplished Graphic Designer
• High level HTML/CSS/Javascript
• SQL,Microsoft Azure,Knockout,Angular,
Ember,Agile Experience (scrummaster?)

7. @jesslynnrose
Developer Wanted
• 3 Years ASP.NET MVC Experience
• 2 Years with C#
• Acomplished Graphic Designer
• High level HTML/CSS/Javascript
• SQL,Microsoft Azure,Knockout,Angular,
Ember,Agile Experience (scrummaster?)

8. @jesslynnrose
Developer Wanted
• 3 Years ASP.NET MVC Experience
• 2 Years with C#
• Accomplished Graphic Designer
• High level HTML/CSS/Javascript
• SQL,Microsoft Azure,Knockout,Angular,
Ember,Agile Experience (scrummaster?)

9. @jesslynnrose
Developer Wanted
• 3 Years ASP.NET MVC Experience
• 2 Years with C#
• Accomplished Graphic Designer
• High level HTML/CSS/Javascript
• SQL,Microsoft Azure,Knockout,Angular,
Ember,Agile Experience (scrummaster?)

10. @jesslynnrose
Developer Wanted
• 3 Years ASP.NET MVC Experience
• 2 Years with C#
• Accomplished Graphic Designer
• High level HTML/CSS/Javascript
• SQL,Microsoft Azure,Knockout,Angular,
Ember,Agile Experience (scrum master?)

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Junior Developer Wanted
• 3 Years ASP.NET MVC Experience
• 2 Years with C#
• Accomplished Graphic Designer
• High level HTML/CSS/Javascript
• SQL,Microsoft Azure,Knockout,Angular,
Ember,Agile Experience (scrum master?)

12. @jesslynnrose

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On Checklists:
“Men are confident about their ability at 60%,but
women don't feel confident till they've checked off each
item on the list”
forbes.com/sites/womensmedia/2014/04/28/act-now-to-shrink-the-confidence-gap/

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This comes from:
In tracking internal applications,HP found men appled
for promotion when they met 60% of requirements.
Women applied when they met 100% of requirements.

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😒

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‼

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How do we define
expertise?

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Are we valuing skills
properly?

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Expertise vs Skill

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Self Promotion is a Skill
Is it the skill you need?

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Self Promotion is a Skill
Is it the skill you need?

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Who is identifying
skill for us?

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Those who see themselves as the
most fit,may not be.

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Percentile%
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3rd
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Actual Test Score

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Percentile%
0
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Bottom
Quartile
2nd
Quartile
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Top
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Percieved Ability
Actual Test Score

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TeamsandExpertise

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When seeking talent,think
about what you REALLY need

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Skilled non-traditional talent
will often carry additional value

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Look for the process as well
as the results

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Unrewarded talent will leave

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🔧🔨🔩

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Ask to see skills instead of
asking about skills

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Test for the skills you
*really*need

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💻 <—> 💻

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Call in the professionals

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Communitiesand
Expertise

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Our communities need to
better support a diverse
range of talent and
experiences

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We deserve better heroes
😍To

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Unrewarded talent will leave

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🔧🔨🔩

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Be suspicious of self-styled
experts

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Look for where value is
coming from in your
community

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Highlight incredible people
and projects

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IndividualsandExpertise

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You need to understand
your own skill and value

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Zone of Proximal Development
Too
Difficult
Too
Easy
zpd

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Getting what you deserve

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Right now,someone who is less
skilled than you is being paid more.

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🔧🔨🔩

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Self promotion is a skill

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Unrewarded talent?
You might need to leave.

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Unrewarded talent?
You might need to leave.

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Thank you.