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What Makes The Perfect DBA Role?

December 7, 2011 by John Sansom 3 Comments

What is it that makes the perfect role for a Database Administrator? Well I can’t tell you that because you and I may not be looking for the same things in a role. What I can tell you though is what I look for, what it is that makes my ideal DBA role. Last week […]

Filed Under: Professional Development, SQLServerCentral Syndication, SQLServerPedia Syndication

New Year New Job?

November 28, 2011 by John Sansom 2 Comments

Are you 100% satisfied with your current job? Of course not! When given serious consideration most people will agree that there are some things that they would like to be different or change in their current role. The Christmas holiday season is a popular time for self reflection. The gift of time away from the […]

Filed Under: Professional Development, SQLServerCentral Syndication, SQLServerPedia Syndication Tagged With: Database Administrator

Being an Effective DBA Remotely

November 1, 2011 by John Sansom 3 Comments

Do not let the phrase “out of sight, out of mind” apply to you. As Data Professionals a lot of us either have or will have the opportunity to work remotely. It’s a trend that I am convinced is set to increase as technology continues to integrate our working world, making us more accessible and […]

Filed Under: Professional Development, SQLServerCentral Syndication, SQLServerPedia Syndication

Exam 70-432 – My Guide to Passing First Time

September 6, 2011 by John Sansom 41 Comments

MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-432): Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008 Implementation and Maintenance

A reader wrote in to me last weekend regarding the MCTS Exam 70-432 (SQL Server 2008, Implementation and Maintenance). Hi John, I hope you are well. I am planning to take exam 70-432 and I could really use some guidance on how to go about my studies. I would really appreciate your thoughts. Thank you. Certainly […]

Filed Under: Professional Development, SQLServerCentral Syndication, SQLServerPedia Syndication Tagged With: Certification, Exam

Enough of the theme test posts already!

September 5, 2011 by John Sansom 1 Comment

Some of you may have experienced a rather annoying volume of theme test posts in your RSS Reader yesterday. My apologies if that was the case. If you have no idea what I’m even talking about then you can completely ignore this post too :-) Ironically in an effort to improve visitor experience to the blog website, […]

Filed Under: Blogging

Outstanding DBAs Make Relationships a Priority

August 23, 2011 by John Sansom 4 Comments

In our open all hours global working world, do you ever wonder if perhaps the technology that is supposed to be bringing us closer together is inadvertently creating a world that is instead becoming more isolated? As Database Administrators (DBAs) technology enables us to work and meet our responsibilities effectively from almost any location in […]

Filed Under: Professional Development, SQLServerCentral Syndication, SQLServerPedia Syndication Tagged With: Soft Skills

5 Ways to Be a More Effective DBA Today

July 12, 2011 by John Sansom 3 Comments

Regular readers will now that I like to talk (quite a lot) about how we can be more effective as Data Professionals. Often the advice I put out there requires a consistent effort in order to really reap the greater benefits. Take my post series 5 Days To Outstanding DBA Customer Service as an example. […]

Filed Under: Professional Development, SQL Server Community, SQLServerCentral Syndication, SQLServerPedia Syndication Tagged With: Learning, User Groups

Look How Far You Have Come

June 27, 2011 by John Sansom 2 Comments

A reader wrote to me over the weekend, seeking advice on behalf of their friend, who had been feeling deflated and lost on their SQL journey. Hi John, My long time friend ****** is a SQL DBA and he is feeling a bit down at the moment. He is trying to advance himself in the […]

Filed Under: Professional Development, SQL Server Community, SQLServerCentral Syndication, SQLServerPedia Syndication

Start All Your Meetings in Pole Position

June 1, 2011 by John Sansom 2 Comments

Let’s face it, a lot of us don’t enjoy attending meetings and can often find them to be a bit of a struggle. They may even feel like a waste of time and sometimes dare I say it, they actually are! It doesn’t have to be this way though and today I’m going to show […]

Filed Under: Professional Development, SQLServerCentral Syndication, SQLServerPedia Syndication Tagged With: Soft Skills

Your DBA Role is Changing. Are you Ready?

May 24, 2011 by John Sansom 6 Comments

Where do you see yourself in the future? Are you working at the same company, are you working in a similar role, does your current role even exist? “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” – Mohandas K. Gandhi Change has always been a close companion of the technology world. Technology is […]

Filed Under: Professional Development, SQLServerCentral Syndication, SQLServerPedia Syndication

Stop Asking and Start Making Decisions Today

April 26, 2011 by John Sansom 4 Comments

Ever have one of those days where no matter how hard you try you just can’t seem to make any progress with your work? Sure you have. We all have days and moments like that. Sometimes it can feel impossible to get any real work done, with every task in your schedule requiring feedback from […]

Filed Under: Professional Development, SQLServerCentral Syndication, SQLServerPedia Syndication Tagged With: Database Administrator, Leadership, Time Management

7 Essential Habits of Successful DBAs

April 19, 2011 by John Sansom 5 Comments

There are many different paths you can travel on the journey to success. There is no precise route that everyone can or should follow. The environments we manage are different, our customers are different, we are each different. There are many different ways of performing our art. It’s one of the most enjoyable and rewarding […]

Filed Under: Administration, Professional Development, SQLServerCentral Syndication, SQLServerPedia Syndication Tagged With: Database Administrator

Taking It To The Next Level

April 1, 2011 by John Sansom 5 Comments

Raising the bar of your customer service

Have you set the bar high enough to ensure your success? You’re reading Taking It To The Next Level, day 5 of 5 Days to Outstanding DBA Customer Service. What prompted this journey into exploring what is Outstanding Customer Service for the Data Professional?  Good Question.  You can find exactly why in day 1 here. This week […]

Filed Under: Customer Service, SQLServerCentral Syndication, SQLServerPedia Syndication Tagged With: Database Administrator

The DBAs Guide to Expectation Management

March 31, 2011 by John Sansom 2 Comments

Juggling expectations

Your customers expectations are their primary measure of your success. How well are you managing them? You’re reading The DBAs Guide to Expectation Management, day 4 of 5 Days to Outstanding DBA Customer Service. What prompted this journey into exploring what is Outstanding Customer Service for the Data Professional?  Good Question.  You can find exactly why […]

Filed Under: Customer Service, SQLServerCentral Syndication, SQLServerPedia Syndication Tagged With: Expectation Management

How To Really Listen

March 30, 2011 by John Sansom 4 Comments

How to Really Listen to Your Customers

One of the most undervalued skills that an individual can possess is the ability to listen. Are you really hearing your customers? You’re reading How To Really Listen, day 3 of 5 Days to Outstanding DBA Customer Service. What prompted this journey into exploring what is Outstanding Customer Service for the Data Professional?  Good Question. […]

Filed Under: Customer Service, SQLServerCentral Syndication, SQLServerPedia Syndication Tagged With: Listening

Think Like a Customer

March 29, 2011 by John Sansom 6 Comments

"Monkey Thinking"

This is the most important and essential first step for a DBA on the journey to providing outstanding customer service. Make sure you too are headed in the right direction. You’re reading Think Like a Customer, day 2 of 5 Days to Outstanding DBA Customer Service. What prompted this journey into exploring what is Outstanding […]

Filed Under: Customer Service, SQLServerCentral Syndication, SQLServerPedia Syndication Tagged With: Database Administrator

5 Days to Outstanding DBA Customer Service

March 28, 2011 by John Sansom 25 Comments

Outstanding Customer Service in 5 days

Your success as a Data Professional is directly dependant to the quality of service you provide your customers. Are you confident you’re doing enough? Here’s What Not to Do Recently I had what I can only describe politely as a very poor customer experience. This was not merely the result of a single conversation or […]

Filed Under: Customer Service, Professional Development, SQLServerCentral Syndication, SQLServerPedia Syndication

How to Raise Your Game by Doing Nothing

March 8, 2011 by John Sansom 6 Comments

A hammock in the sunset

What if I told you that you could become a more effective Database Administrator by doing nothing? That’s right, in this post I’m going to tell you why doing nothing could be best thing that you have done for your career and performance for some time. In my post The DBA Ultimate Fitness Workout Plan […]

Filed Under: Professional Development, SQLServerCentral Syndication, SQLServerPedia Syndication Tagged With: Database Administrator, Database Developer

The DBA Ultimate Fitness Workout Plan

February 15, 2011 by John Sansom 8 Comments

If you plan to stay on top of your DBA game then you have to workout regularly. Those of you that know me well know that I like to hit the gym on average 4 times a week and to go running 2-3 times a week. The primary goal of course being to impress the […]

Filed Under: Administration, Professional Development, SQLServerCentral Syndication, SQLServerPedia Syndication

Your Lack of Documentation is Costing You More Than You Think

February 1, 2011 by John Sansom 14 Comments

You’ve got a mountain of work to get done and not enough time to do it in. There’s simply just not enough time for you to worry about documentation right now but that’s ok though because you plan to come back to it later. Let me guess, you’re still working on that part. The task itself […]

Filed Under: Administration, Professional Development, SQLServerCentral Syndication, SQLServerPedia Syndication

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