Mentoring in the Work of Quality

I was recently reading about the life of Marcus Aurelius, an Emperor of Rome and student of philosophy. Markus had a man named Junius Rusticos, who greatly influenced his life. Junius Rusticos believed knowledge came through modeling how to live life and mentoring from years of wisdom.

As I read about this incredible influence on Marcus Aurelius's life, I drew a logical parallel to our work as Quality Craftsmen, a term I use to describe dedicated professionals in the field of Quality Assurance and Testing. Our field is overflowing with those claiming to be Test and Automation Engineers. We have endless individuals at the helm of quality organizations, yet many need more experience performing quality work.

Imagine for a moment that you are part of an army. You have been given your unique rank and role yet have received little to no training. Now imagine your commanding officer has never fought in battle but aspired to dress in a uniform and oversee others one day. How would the battle turn out? It would likely be a disaster with unnecessary casualties.

If you are serious about quality work and the craft of risk assessment, then it's paramount that you have the following in your life and career: bringing direction and influence into your work.

Modeling

When we speak of modeling, I mean you have someone to follow as an example. The one you follow should be chosen carefully, and while it may be your manager, it will more likely be a coworker who does outstanding work and is respected by others in the same field. If you work for someone you can model your skills after, consider yourself very fortunate, especially in Quality Assurance work. Our trade is watered down with half-hearted efforts passing for work done well. This issue is what I've previously referred to as 'Quality Veneer' in my article on this topic, where I discuss the prevalence of superficial quality practices in our field. It would be worth the read if you have not seen my 'Quality Veneer' article on this topic.

When you identify someone you can model in your testing efforts, ensure you pay attention to the tiny details of their efforts. Excellent Test Engineering comes in the details. The best test engineers I've known have expertise in meticulously breaking things into logical groups. If it's an application, they will see it through the lens of its functionality. They will identify correlations between two data points if it's data and analysis. Become a student of the details all around you. Defects are everywhere and like a detective investigating a clue, a great Test Engineer identifies the traces of a defect well before most even recognize it exists.

Mentor

A Mentor has been modeling their skills for years and likely decades. You don't just become a mentor because you like influencing others. You become a mentor because you've lived the battle and likely have the scares to show for it from endless excursions in the world of quality.

A key factor when looking for a mentor is acknowledging the relationship; it will make a difference. I've mentored countless individuals; this is typically a significant investment for both mentor and mentee. Take your time observing the person you would like to ask to be your mentor and ensure they are the real thing. Look for humility in their character and the ability to share their mistakes and learnings. For instance, a good mentor is someone who is open to feedback, is willing to admit when they don't know something, and is committed to their own professional development. I once worked with a QA Manager who discouraged a passionate QA Engineer from sharing their learnings and missteps. This manager lacked the skills to lead his team well and was consumed with what others thought about him. This is not the type of person you want to have mentor you, let alone lead a QA team. As I said, observe those you might want to be your mentor to ensure their character matches the authenticity you are looking for.

When I mentor Test Engineers, I usually begin by letting them know they will need to own their growth. I don't plan to chase after them to teach them; they need to want to pursue growth, which usually begins with the times we meet. When looking for a mentor, be ready to put effort and sacrifice into seeking the knowledge and insights your mentor will offer you. By all means, come prepared to take notes. Students who cannot record and reflect on their learning are only students for a short time.

I mentor individuals through a process of incremental growth that can take years. During our time together, I look for a few things in the mentee.

1) Are they serious about putting the time and work in?

2) Do they have the drive to stick it out when inconvenient?

3) Are they humble enough to grow through trial and error?

4) Do they listen and reflect on the discussion?

5) Will they be a good steward of their learnings and likely pass it on to another someday?

For the mentor, it's essential to recognize that some people are simply seeking friendship and someone to talk to. This is a legitimate need in all of us; a genuine mentoring relationship will have these dynamics. Still, it's also essential to understand if this is the fundamental need being sought out. You may decide this is an excellent reason to befriend someone; this is honorable and important, but it might differ from a mentoring relationship. Try to understand the dynamics of another's request for a mentor so you will invest your time according to your convictions. A balance of both of these is smart and healthy. The opportunity to mentor someone with your craft and learnings is a great privilege, so treat it that way. The relationship dynamics will be one of student-teacher more than a friend-to-friend.

As we wrap up this article, consider your work as a Quality Engineer. If you are passionate about becoming exceptional at this craft of testing, begin to find someone you can model your work after. Begin the search for a mentor and carefully consider the commitment and rewards that can come from such a life-changing engagement.

Pursuing the Craft of Quality with you.

Greg Paskal