A few years ago, I joined a large company with about 200 to 500 employees, one that had relied on traditional ways of working for decades. Everything in their operations was manual, from inventory management to finance. Their primary tools were a handful of Excel and Google Sheets files, along with an old DOS-based warehouse […]

In formal meetings, introducing yourself is often seen as a simple step, yet it plays a crucial role in shaping the first impression others have of you. Those opening sentences provide an opportunity to demonstrate professionalism and confidence, and to explain why your presence in the meeting matters. Experience shows that people form their initial […]

In workplaces, we often focus on productivity, innovation, and collaboration, but an essential aspect of employee well-being is sometimes overlooked: respect for physical boundaries and personal space. Each person can be imagined as being inside an invisible eggshell. This is what we refer to as the eggshell space. It represents the personal zone that everyone […]

A few years ago, I had a colleague who often interrupted others during conversations. They probably did not realize it, but this habit disrupted meetings and made people feel unheard. Instead of telling them directly that it was wrong, I tried to show the importance of active listening in my own interactions. I would listen […]

A while ago, a colleague came to me looking quite frustrated. He said, “Every time my manager gives me negative feedback, I lose all my energy. I feel like my work has no value. For days, I cannot focus. I really do not know how to handle it.” I told him: “I understand. That feeling […]

A while ago, during one of my online work meetings, I realized I had turned off my camera and was only heard in the conversation. In that moment, I felt that a part of my presence was missing. It was like sitting at the back of a room in an in-person meeting, just listening without […]

When you want to contact someone, it is essential to consider the circumstances to ensure both respect for the other person’s time and a meaningful, clear interaction. If you do not have the person’s number, a sudden call can come as a surprise or even be uncomfortable, so it is better to reach out first […]

A few weeks ago, during an important project, I was waiting for a response from a colleague, something I had encountered many times before and knew how to handle. Instead of rushing or putting pressure on myself, I chose to approach the situation with clarity and professionalism. I set a clear deadline for the response […]

Imagine being 12 years old. “Aynaz آیناز”, a girl from an underprivileged area, decides to buy her first phone with the savings she has carefully collected in her piggy bank. For her, this phone is not just a gadget for fun; it is a gateway to learning and opportunities. The question is how she can […]

A while ago, I was in a team meeting where a few people kept talking constantly, interrupting each other, and throwing out idea after idea. At first, I thought this meant they were being active and engaged. But the more I observed, the more I felt something was off. The meeting was full of noise, […]

I have seen it many times: someone is handed a task outside their job description. They don’t know how to say “no,” so they take it on. No agreement, just silent pressure. It may look harmless in the short term, but over time, it creates exhaustion and resentment. Learning to politely but firmly say, “This […]

A while ago, I was sending an email to my team, and I put an emoji in the middle of the message 😅 I thought it would make things feel friendly, but when I reread it, I wondered if it looked unprofessional. Have you ever felt that way? Using emojis at work can be tricky. […]

Last week, we wrapped up our very first introductory Python class at the Arts Unit of Jihad University, JDHonar. The class pictured here has 7 of the 12 outstanding students who joined. The others preferred privacy, which we fully respected. Seeing this small group brought back memories of my very first programming class in November […]

A few days ago, I was exploring YouTube, searching for videos with fewer than 1,000 views. I wanted to see what was happening in the hidden corners of the platform, the videos that rarely get noticed. It felt like walking through a content graveyard. Videos that never got the chance to be seen. Some were […]

When we talk about businesses where the payer and the user are not the same person, an interesting dynamic emerges. Take children’s education as an example: parents pay, children learn. Here’s the catch: satisfaction often belongs to the one who pays. Parents evaluate the “value,” but the learners (the children) are the ones truly experiencing […]

We’ve all been there. You’re in the middle of deep work, and suddenly… A chatty teammate starts telling you a long story while you’re trying to concentrate. A junior colleague asks you 10 small questions throughout the day instead of just one focused session. Someone in the office takes loud phone calls or constantly creates […]

Over the years, I’ve worked as a software engineer and later as a technical lead in different companies. One recurring question I’ve seen in almost every team is this: Should we use personal messengers like Telegram or WhatsApp for team communication? At first glance, the advantages are apparent. These apps are everywhere, they’re cross-platform, and […]

In many Eastern cultures where I have worked, age often comes with a title of respect. For example, in Persian, we use the term “Rish Sefid,” which literally means “white beard.” It refers to older, more experienced people who are traditionally treated with special respect. This cultural value is beautiful and integral to our identity. […]

A few days ago, during my beginner Python class, something interesting happened. We usually share files and communicate through WhatsApp. One of my students told me he couldn’t open the class files. I asked why. His answer surprised me: he doesn’t trust WhatsApp enough to install it on his computer. That moment made me pause […]

One of the greatest privileges of working in technology today is that many of us, developers, engineers, and designers, don’t need to be tied to a single physical location. But to really take advantage of this freedom, we need to make a few intentional changes to how we work. The first step is learning to […]

The first time I stepped into a Technical Lead role, I was the only person on the team. I had to hire teammates one by one while racing against the deadlines of an MVP. At that stage, we chose Next.js for the frontend and Django for the backend. It was a solid choice, but the […]

When you want to contact someone, it is essential to consider the circumstances to ensure both respect for the other person’s time and a meaningful, clear interaction. If you do not have the person’s number, a sudden call can come as a surprise or even be uncomfortable, so it is better to reach out first […]

Let’s be honest. We all miss emails sometimes. Deadlines, back-to-back meetings, or simply an overwhelming inbox can delay our replies. What really matters is how we handle it. Over time, I’ve found that a few small habits make a huge difference in turning a late reply into a professional one. Here are five practical tips […]

Imagine an ambitious employee working on an important project who reaches a point where they need the guidance of a senior manager. Asking for help can feel delicate because they do not want to appear bothersome or weak. Here are some key tips recommended by professionals: Be clear and specific: Instead of saying “Can you […]