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kato-coaching.com
Quality in DevOps - check out my newsletter with weekly tips to improve quality in your team, and hear what else I get up to: https://newsletter.kato-coaching.com/
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I was going to tell a joke about picking the right test management tool, but I'm still waiting for it to load. #FridayFun

The best testing tool might be the one you don't buy. Controversial? Maybe. But I've seen too many teams crippled by overcomplicating their tooling. Stay tuned for a fresh perspective on how quality coaches can lead smarter tooling decisions. #SoftwareQuality #TestingCommunity

Ever noticed how every tool claims to 'do it all'? The reality check: Most teams only use 20% of their tool's features - but pay 100% of the cost. #TestAutomation #QualityAssurance

Ever been pressured to pick a testing tool because 'everyone else is using it'? The real kicker? That same tool could be slowly draining your team's productivity right now. Quality coaches can lead tool decisions that actually fit their team's context. #QualityEngineering #TestAutomation

How did the DevOps team finally break down the Wall of Confusion? With a little teamwork and a lot of coffee! #FridayFun #DadJokes #wallOfConfusion #DevOps

Testing what really matters. That's the dream, isn't it? I have put together a collection to help you learn about risk based testing, and reasons why you might want to. Find it here: kato-coaching.com/ri...

'We need better tools' is often code for 'our process is broken.' The painful truth? New tools won't fix broken relationships between QA and dev teams. Quality coaches can turn tool selection into team alignment opportunities. #QualityAssurance #TestingCommunity

Quick question for my QA folks: What's worse - having no automation tools, or having the wrong ones? That pit in your stomach when you realise you've invested months into a tool that doesn't fit? Yeah, I've been there. #TestAutomation #MinistryOfTesting

Whenever anyone laments the state we’re in, they’re met with a chorus of “but what do we do?” As plenty of good options are available, this response might often be wilful impotence*. I invite you all to nominate in this thread the best proposals and practices, around which we should gather. Thanks

From 'No' to 'Not Yet' Next time you're tempted to say 'No, that won't work,' consider saying 'Not yet, let's find a way to make it work.' This small change in language can have a big impact on team morale and innovation.

Admitting I didn’t have all the answers was the best decision I ever made as a quality leader. Vulnerability builds trust. And trust turns gatekeepers into enablers.

Can’t make this shit up. www.forbes.com/sites/dougme...

What did the test coverage say to the bug report on Valentine's Day? 'I've got you covered, sweetheart!'

🧵"So this is how liberty dies..." Trump’s first 3 weeks have been a relentless flood of actions. It's incredibly hard to keep up. I’ve gone through 69 actions & mapped out the pattern - showing how they fall within 5 broad domains consistent with authoritarian states 1/9

The Power of 'What If?' Instead of saying 'That's risky,' try asking 'What if we approach it this way?' This simple shift from criticism to curiosity can encourage innovative thinking. Your Turn: What questions have you started asking that have transformed your team's dynamics?

I am super excited to be opening this years #peerscon25! Come say hi!

Sometimes, the best way to enable quality is to stop talking and start asking. I used to think my role was to have all the answers. But when I started asking questions I saw a shift. Questions invite collaboration. They encourage the team to think critically about quality—without feeling policed.

Empathy isn’t merely a soft skill that’s a ‘nice to have’. Early in my career, I thought my job was to find bugs and enforce standards. But when I started asking, ‘What’s blocking you from delivering quality?’ everything changed.

#Bluesky: We provide medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters or exclusion from healthcare. Independent. Neutral. Impartial. Thank you for sharing and following our account.

Why was the software engineer always at peace? Because they had a handle on all their exceptions! #FridayFunny #DadJokes #HappyWeekender

Instead of saying 'That's risky,' try asking 'What if we approach it this way?' This simple shift from criticism to curiosity can open up new possibilities and encourage innovative thinking. Your Turn: What questions have you started asking that have transformed your team's dynamics?

In my journey from manual tester to Head of Delivery and now as a quality leadership coach, I have learned that small actions can lead to big transformations. One such action is integrating testing into your Definition of Done (DoD).

Real talk: Found myself about to say 'That won't work' in standup today. Caught myself and asked 'How can we help to make this successful?' instead. The conversation that followed was great. #QualityEngineering #Leadership

Great idea. Just like the solar road was. 8 years on, still none in this country. Provide an idea which doesn't require resurfacing every inch of every road in the country. Because we can't even do the potholes... www.theguardian.com/science/2025...

As a QA engineer who transitioned from manual testing to leading delivery teams, I have seen firsthand how our role can evolve from being gatekeepers to enablers of quality. One small but powerful action you can take is to discuss testing during refinement.

Friday joke for my quality folks: How does a quality coach handle a production bug? They don't just point at the fire, they teach the team how to juggle hot issues! *puts on fireproof quality gloves*

Want to stop being the 'quality police' and start enabling your team to build better software? It starts in refinement sessions. Use refinement sessions to collaborate on testability. Instead of just reviewing requirements, ask good questions.

I’m excited to be part of the action at CTO Craft Con: London, 10th-11th March! Quick heads-up: Early Bird tickets are only available until this Friday! Check it out here - https://conference.ctocraft.com/london-2025/ticket-types/ #CTOCraftCon

Early in my career, I thought automation was the ultimate gatekeeper. Then I learned to ask better questions. What scenarios really need coverage? How can automation provide fast feedback without becoming a bottleneck? What metrics will help us improve, not just police?

Pro tip: Replace 'You should' with 'Have you considered?' in code reviews. Once I started doing this the quality of technical discussions improved dramatically. Simple change, powerful impact. #CodeReview #EngineeringCulture

Sometimes I sew, and tonight I jazzed up my ironing board with a new cover.

We can't release yet' ❌ 'Here's what we need to feel confident about this release' ✅ Small language shifts, massive impact on team morale. What communication changes have you made that transformed your team dynamics? #QualityEngineering #TechnicalLeadership

Jess and Jersey, coats nice and shiny for this weekend’s #adoption fairs, looking forward to meeting their new family and going to their forever homes. Wish us luck Bluesky and don’t forget to give us a #repost #boost. #cats #BlueskyCats #caturday Check the Alt text for application details!

Testing what really matters. That's the dream, isn't it? I have put together a collection to help you learn about risk based testing, and reasons why you might want to. Find it here: https://kato-coaching.com/risk-based-testing-ebook

Friday joke for my quality folks: What's a quality coach's favourite sport? 🤔 Cross-functional training! They used to be the referee, but now they're the team captain! *flexes quality muscles*

Every 'no' is a missed opportunity for 'let's figure this out together.' Try changing your conversations from pointing out issues to discussing learning opportunities. The difference in engagement is remarkable. #QualityAssurance #TeamDevelopment

Spotted a potential issue in code review? Instead of flagging it as a blocker, try this: Share your concerns as observations and ask thoughtful questions. Watch how it transforms the conversation from confrontation to collaboration. #CodeReview #Engineering

Once I watched a junior QA solve a complex problem because I resisted the urge to jump in with solutions. Sometimes the best quality coaching happens when we create space for others to grow. What's your favourite coaching moment? #QualityCoaching #SoftwareDevelopment

Quality isn't about saying 'no' – it's about asking 'how can we?' Changed my approach from gatekeeper to enabler, and my team's innovation took off. What mindset shift transformed your quality coaching style? #QualityEngineering #EngineeringLeadership

What I do on the weekends: knitting. A blanket started in 2017, finally assembled and only four borders away from being finished.

Friday joke for my quality folks: Why did the quality engineer get kicked out of the pirate ship? They kept saying 'BLOCKER' every time someone mentioned shipping! *adjusts quality eyepatch*

WTH Adobe - when your software embeds so deeply into the system that you need to provide a tool to allow ex-users to remove it. Not impressed, but finally rid of the core sync. I hope.

Real question: Why do we accept that tension between QA and dev teams as "normal"? Spoiler: It's not. And it's definitely not helping anyone build better software. #QualityEngineering #TestingCommunity

Testing what really matters. That's the dream, isn't it? I have put together a collection to help you learn about risk based testing, and reasons why you might want to. Find it here: https://kato-coaching.com/risk-based-testing-ebook