It’s a good question… Why testing peers? I probably have to go back before the initial ask to answer that.

I met Chris at the EuroSTAR 2018 pub quiz in The Hague before helping out at the `Test Clinic` at the conference whilst Chris supported the `Test Huddle`. He seemed a decent guy and we hit it off talking testing, leadership and about our responsibilities being track chairs etc.

When Chris approached me wanting to try something just after the conference in 2018, I was game to give it a go without reading any more, my mind was awash with new ideas and positivity buoyed meeting all the testers and people at EuroSTAR. I preach experimentation to my teams and here was my chance to try something new myself, so I was game before I even read the full idea.

When I actually read a bit more of Chris’ idea it actually struck a chord, the first line hooked me it put into words what I felt but couldn’t articulate…

I believe that testers in our position, can often be quite isolated and find peer support lacking.

I can’t really share some things with my team, as they report to me, and I can’t always share so easily with my manager as a) he’s a dev and b) I report to him. Professional conflict etc.

It requires a degree of honesty and vulnerability, so therefore trust and buy-in. But, essentially, I’m looking for people who will be authorised/empowered to check-in/challenge me where I know I need it.

I’d found it fun to talk testing to a leader outside of where I worked in, The Hauge; the perspective was refreshing. Where I work there were other test managers in other depts. but we rarely talk or meet as we worked in different domains and within separate organisational structures.

The idea of getting together other like-minded people to talk about ideas, problems, solutions and to check or challenge me and for me to also give back to them seems like a really good idea.

It started off as a Google Sheet, which didn’t really work other than to collate some data, then moved WhatsApp and finally Slack.

I found the group a great sounding board, to talk testing, blogs, talks, books, but also to rant and to give/receive advice to/from others, I felt listened to, empowered. It stuck.

It’s not a pat on the back club, we do challenge and give each other useful advice and constructive criticism. It’s really helped me with my bias, self-belief and limiting cognitive distortions that I fear creep into things without peer feedback. Thus, I kept participating and kept getting value and it’s been great fun working with the peers.

Now we’re moving on to look into a podcast which is new to me, I’m looking forward to where our rambling might take us….