# \#communication **URL:** https://club.ministryoftesting.com/tag/communication/7.md [Latest](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/tags.md) --- ## [What mistakes have you made that were painful at the time, but made you a better person, tester, or leader?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/what-mistakes-have-you-made-that-were-painful-at-the-time-but-made-you-a-better-person-tester-or-leader/86556)
**Author:** [@ghawkes](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/ghawkes)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [27 August 2025 15:18 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/what-mistakes-have-you-made-that-were-painful-at-the-time-but-made-you-a-better-person-tester-or-leader/86556 "2025-08-27T15:18:50Z")
We all make mistakes. Sometimes those mistakes can knock our confidence or change our direction. In my new MoT article, “6 leadership mistakes that made me a better leader,” I share the toughest lessons I’ve learnt and h… --- ## [What’s one of your go-to tips for making a question land well?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/what-s-one-of-your-go-to-tips-for-making-a-question-land-well/86374)
**Author:** [@jmosley5](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/jmosley5)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [15 August 2025 17:16 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/what-s-one-of-your-go-to-tips-for-making-a-question-land-well/86374 "2025-08-15T17:16:42Z")
Check out my latest MoT article, “Wide Open Spaces: Learning How to Ask Questions in Any Community.” Asking questions is hard. Learning how to ask good questions is even harder. The art of asking questions is a skill th… --- ## [Alternatives to the bug word](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/alternatives-to-the-bug-word/85687)
**Author:** [@rosie](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/rosie)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [9 July 2025 16:10 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/alternatives-to-the-bug-word/85687 "2025-07-09T16:10:26Z")
Often we have discussions about problems and we get excited about calling them a bug. But what other names do we use? For example, sometimes I will say: This strange thing happened… or one that I just used today I… --- ## [Have you ever found something surprising while testing and didn’t know how to bring it up?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/have-you-ever-found-something-surprising-while-testing-and-didn-t-know-how-to-bring-it-up/84625)
**Author:** [@scottkenyon](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/scottkenyon)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [30 May 2025 12:34 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/have-you-ever-found-something-surprising-while-testing-and-didn-t-know-how-to-bring-it-up/84625 "2025-05-30T12:34:55Z")
Sometimes in testing, you spot something that’s not exactly a bug, but it doesn’t sit right either. It makes you pause and think “What’s going on here?” These moments are worth sharing, but how you share them can make al… --- ## [What words have you heard or use only in a software engineering context?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/what-words-have-you-heard-or-use-only-in-a-software-engineering-context/84513)
**Author:** [@simon\_tomes](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/simon_tomes)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [5 May 2025 06:50 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/what-words-have-you-heard-or-use-only-in-a-software-engineering-context/84513 "2025-05-05T06:50:45Z")
Words mean a lot in our world. And boy oh boy do we often debate the nuances of words in the testing, QA and quality engineering community. It came up on another thread the other day. I’m curious about what words you ha… --- ## [What tools or techniques do you use when trying to influence decisions at work?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/what-tools-or-techniques-do-you-use-when-trying-to-influence-decisions-at-work/83509)
**Author:** [@jmosley5](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/jmosley5)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [13 March 2025 13:56 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/what-tools-or-techniques-do-you-use-when-trying-to-influence-decisions-at-work/83509 "2025-03-13T13:56:22Z")
Check out my MoT article, “Want some CANDY? Creating a culture of fabulous feedback,” to gain an understanding of the CANDY heuristic and how it can be used to promote fabulous feedback. No matter where in your testing … --- ## [How do you manage stakeholder pressure while balancing quality and timelines?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/how-do-you-manage-stakeholder-pressure-while-balancing-quality-and-timelines/81987)
**Author:** [@parwalrahul](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/parwalrahul)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [24 January 2025 18:55 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/how-do-you-manage-stakeholder-pressure-while-balancing-quality-and-timelines/81987 "2025-01-24T18:55:38Z")
In real-world projects, there is often a disconnect between business stakeholders and the development/testing team. External customer commitments (outside the development team’s scope) create pressure to release quickl… --- ## [What are the many ways you categorise bugs?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/what-are-the-many-ways-you-categorise-bugs/82013)
**Author:** [@simon\_tomes](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/simon_tomes)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [10 January 2025 10:51 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/what-are-the-many-ways-you-categorise-bugs/82013 "2025-01-10T10:51:23Z")
Categorising bugs can often be more complicated than we think. I once set up a Jira instance and got in a right old muddle trying to cater for everyone’s needs across the product development team. The bug issue type had… --- ## [How do you document and communicate risks?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/how-do-you-document-and-communicate-risks/80717)
**Author:** [@simon\_tomes](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/simon_tomes)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [8 November 2024 15:39 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/how-do-you-document-and-communicate-risks/80717 "2024-11-08T15:39:10Z")
Is it a risky business to document risks? :sweat\_smile: I’d like to hear your anecdotes and stories. How do you document and communicate risks? How do you tailor risks to the appropriate audience? What forms of docume… --- ## [How often do you hear/read "That'll never happen!"?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/how-often-do-you-hear-read-thatll-never-happen/77042)
**Author:** [@simon\_tomes](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/simon_tomes)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [7 June 2024 10:43 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/how-often-do-you-hear-read-thatll-never-happen/77042 "2024-06-07T10:43:35Z")
How often do you hear/read “That’ll never happen!”? :wink: poll Inspired by a Slack convo with @ajwilson. :smiley: --- ## [What celebratory error messages would you like to read?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/what-celebratory-error-messages-would-you-like-to-read/76099)
**Author:** [@simon\_tomes](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/simon_tomes)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [26 April 2024 09:36 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/what-celebratory-error-messages-would-you-like-to-read/76099 "2024-04-26T09:36:32Z")
Inspired by a comment from @dancaseley over on the MoT Slack, I thought, how about us testers start receiving special error messages when we discover bugs in public apps? :sweat\_smile: Playback has been unpaused beca… --- ## [Are software testers Linzi's favourite people?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/are-software-testers-linzis-favourite-people/76059)
**Author:** [@simon\_tomes](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/simon_tomes)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [24 April 2024 14:13 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/are-software-testers-linzis-favourite-people/76059 "2024-04-24T14:13:42Z")
I enjoyed Linzi Carlin’s talk at Leeds Testing Atelier. It was lighthearted, fun and full of helpful advice and reflections about the relationships between developers and testers. Linzi’s a developer so it was cool to ge… --- ## [S.O.S Refactors and lack of communication between different teams (that break each other's features)](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/s-o-s-refactors-and-lack-of-communication-between-different-teams-that-break-each-others-features/75772)
**Author:** [@antonella](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/antonella)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [16 April 2024 08:39 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/s-o-s-refactors-and-lack-of-communication-between-different-teams-that-break-each-others-features/75772 "2024-04-16T08:39:18Z")
Hi there! I’m not very active here but right now I feel like the community can help me come up with ideas because I very much need them blush. Our product is a C2C and B2C solution (kinda like Vinted ) and we’re organi… --- ## [What are 10 things you should never say to a junior tester/QA?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/what-are-10-things-you-should-never-say-to-a-junior-tester-qa/74284)
**Author:** [@simon\_tomes](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/simon_tomes)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [7 March 2024 13:31 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/what-are-10-things-you-should-never-say-to-a-junior-tester-qa/74284 "2024-03-07T13:31:59Z")
This is an interesting post so I thought we could come up with 10 of our own as a testing community. We can come up with more than 10 if you like. :wink: 10 Things You Should Never Say to Junior Developers Thinking abo… --- ## [What are your three typical go-to techniques for discussing and exploring risks?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/what-are-your-three-typical-go-to-techniques-for-discussing-and-exploring-risks/74176)
**Author:** [@simon\_tomes](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/simon_tomes)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [19 February 2024 12:44 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/what-are-your-three-typical-go-to-techniques-for-discussing-and-exploring-risks/74176 "2024-02-19T12:44:00Z")
We talk a lot about risks. There are some handy definitions of risk in this Club post. I imagine there are typical approaches in your current context that help you and your colleagues discuss risks and then explore them… --- ## [How to write a good Accessibility Conformance Report?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/how-to-write-a-good-accessibility-conformance-report/73565)
**Author:** [@scoutb](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/scoutb)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [24 January 2024 10:17 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/how-to-write-a-good-accessibility-conformance-report/73565 "2024-01-24T10:17:21Z")
This is kind of a broad question (intentionally) but there is also a specific example in there to get us going. I am increasingly required to fill in VPATs to report on our products’ accessibility. We use WCAG 2.1 and 2… --- ## [How do you give developers the confidence to carry out testing activities?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/how-do-you-give-developers-the-confidence-to-carry-out-testing-activities/71364)
**Author:** [@simon\_tomes](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/simon_tomes)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [19 January 2024 10:19 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/how-do-you-give-developers-the-confidence-to-carry-out-testing-activities/71364 "2024-01-19T10:19:50Z")
Ben Dowen (@fullsnacktester) made a good point last week. He talked about how testing/quality professionals can give confidence to those who aren’t testers. There’s an opportunity to help developers learn fundamental te… --- ## [What are we not talking about enough?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/what-are-we-not-talking-about-enough/73064)
**Author:** [@simon\_tomes](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/simon_tomes)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [16 January 2024 10:10 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/what-are-we-not-talking-about-enough/73064 "2024-01-16T10:10:53Z")
There are plenty of hot topics in testing for 2024. It’s super exciting! Here’s just a quick selection. We can easily see how long that list could get. Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and Large Lan… --- ## [How do you build credibility when raising an issue?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/how-do-you-build-credibility-when-raising-an-issue/73280)
**Author:** [@simon\_tomes](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/simon_tomes)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [13 January 2024 11:05 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/how-do-you-build-credibility-when-raising-an-issue/73280 "2024-01-13T11:05:27Z")
Great advice on how to build credibility when raising issues from Vernon Richards (@testerfromleic). It’s an excellent approach and I think it relies on three things: Patience Openness Humility How about you, what c… --- ## [How as a junior tester do you get involved in conversations related to system architecture?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/how-as-a-junior-tester-do-you-get-involved-in-conversations-related-to-system-architecture/72369)
**Author:** [@simon\_tomes](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/simon_tomes)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [6 December 2023 16:08 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/how-as-a-junior-tester-do-you-get-involved-in-conversations-related-to-system-architecture/72369 "2023-12-06T16:08:42Z")
A couple of questions during Ben Dowen’s (@fullsnacktester) masterclass webinar – Teamwork Makes the Full-Stack Testing, Dream Work – were focused on how to be comfortable not being involved in all architecture discussio… --- ## [What advice can you share for someone who is struggling to build the confidence to join or initiate a collaborative testing session?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/what-advice-can-you-share-for-someone-who-is-struggling-to-build-the-confidence-to-join-or-initiate-a-collaborative-testing-session/72365)
**Author:** [@simon\_tomes](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/simon_tomes)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [5 December 2023 19:28 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/what-advice-can-you-share-for-someone-who-is-struggling-to-build-the-confidence-to-join-or-initiate-a-collaborative-testing-session/72365 "2023-12-05T19:28:52Z")
Lisi Hocke (@lisihocke) asked this important question during Ben Dowen’s (@fullsnacktester) Masterclass webinar – Teamwork Makes the Full-Stack Testing, Dream Work. You’ve shared the option of collaborative testing … --- ## [What's been a blocker to running a collaborative testing session? How did you overcome it?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/whats-been-a-blocker-to-running-a-collaborative-testing-session-how-did-you-overcome-it/72357)
**Author:** [@simon\_tomes](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/simon_tomes)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [4 December 2023 11:45 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/whats-been-a-blocker-to-running-a-collaborative-testing-session-how-did-you-overcome-it/72357 "2023-12-04T11:45:30Z")
During Ben Dowen’s (@fullsnacktester) Masterclass webinar – Teamwork Makes the Full-Stack Testing, Dream Work – I asked: What’s been a blocker to running a collaborative testing session? How did you overcome it? Ben … --- ## [How can you lead a long-standing team with a 'people-first' approach without disrupting their existing system?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/how-can-you-lead-a-long-standing-team-with-a-people-first-approach-without-disrupting-their-existing-system/71732)
**Author:** [@simon\_tomes](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/simon_tomes)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [6 November 2023 09:39 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/how-can-you-lead-a-long-standing-team-with-a-people-first-approach-without-disrupting-their-existing-system/71732 "2023-11-06T09:39:01Z")
Lynn Kaschula (@lynnk) asked this question during @shwetaneelsharma’s masterclass webinar: How To Build a Thriving QA/Testing Team With People-First Leadership. How can you lead a long-standing team with a ‘people-firs… --- ## [How might someone start practising active listening?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/how-might-someone-start-practising-active-listening/71740)
**Author:** [@simon\_tomes](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/simon_tomes)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [20 November 2023 08:29 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/how-might-someone-start-practising-active-listening/71740 "2023-11-20T08:29:03Z")
I asked the following question during @shwetaneelsharma’s masterclass webinar: How To Build a Thriving QA/Testing Team With People-First Leadership. How might someone start practising active listening? I’m curious ab… --- ## [How do you inspire growth and innovation in team members who are happy where they are?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/how-do-you-inspire-growth-and-innovation-in-team-members-who-are-happy-where-they-are/71730)
**Author:** [@simon\_tomes](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/simon_tomes)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [6 November 2023 10:53 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/how-do-you-inspire-growth-and-innovation-in-team-members-who-are-happy-where-they-are/71730 "2023-11-06T10:53:59Z")
This was an excellent question asked by Ann Tang during @shwetaneelsharma’s masterclass webinar: How To Build a Thriving QA/Testing Team With People-First Leadership. What experiences have you had with this situation? H… --- ## [ReTestBash 2023 Challenges on Communication](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/retestbash-2023-challenges-on-communication/71348)
**Author:** [@sarahdeery](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/sarahdeery)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [19 October 2023 07:00 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/retestbash-2023-challenges-on-communication/71348 "2023-10-19T07:00:02Z")
Given the insightful talks at TestBash UK 2023 on communication, particularly focusing on leadership, mentorship, and team dynamics, we are excited to present this week’s themed communication challenges. These challenge… --- ## [How do you sell testing into a project team?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/how-do-you-sell-testing-into-a-project-team/71023)
**Author:** [@simon\_tomes](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/simon_tomes)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [5 October 2023 07:41 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/how-do-you-sell-testing-into-a-project-team/71023 "2023-10-05T07:41:29Z")
@cakehurstryan ran a brilliant Masterclass Webinar. Thanks, Callum! :raised\_hands:t2: Selling Testing Into Project Teams: A Guide to Convincing Teams To Test If you missed it then the recording will be available soon… --- ## [Ask Me Anything: Talking Testing With Stakeholders](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/ask-me-anything-talking-testing-with-stakeholders/70999)
**Author:** [@sarahdeery](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/sarahdeery)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [2 October 2023 19:19 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/ask-me-anything-talking-testing-with-stakeholders/70999 "2023-10-02T19:19:07Z")
Last Thursday, we were joined by @nicolalindgren for a useful and practical Ask Me Anything session all about talking to stakeholders. If you missed the live session, a recording will be available on the Ministry of Tes… --- ## [Do you add code documentation to your automated checks?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/do-you-add-code-documentation-to-your-automated-checks/69720)
**Author:** [@mwinteringham](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/mwinteringham)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [18 September 2023 09:07 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/do-you-add-code-documentation-to-your-automated-checks/69720 "2023-09-18T09:07:39Z")
We have a new article out from @yaniqued in which she shares her thoughts on the value of code documentation: I really liked the points @yaniqued made in this article and it made me think more about the value of code… --- ## [How do you share with others what you've learnt about a product in your testing?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/how-do-you-share-with-others-what-youve-learnt-about-a-product-in-your-testing/70329)
**Author:** [@mwinteringham](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/mwinteringham)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [4 September 2023 21:06 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/how-do-you-share-with-others-what-youve-learnt-about-a-product-in-your-testing/70329 "2023-09-04T21:06:08Z")
Have you ever had that moment where you’ve dived deep into testing a product and then thought, “Okay, now how do I tell everyone about this?” It’s not just about what we find but how we share it. Let’s chat about the fun… [Next page](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/tag/communication/7.md?match_all_tags=true&page=1&tags%5B%5D=communication)