Rob Farley

Rob Rob Farley has been consulting in IT since completing a Computer Science degree with first class honours in 1997. Before moving to Adelaide, he worked in consultancies in Melbourne and London. He runs the development department in one of Australia's leading IT firms, as well as doing database application consultancy and training. He heads up the Adelaide SQL Server User Group, and holds several Microsoft certifications.

Rob has been involved with Microsoft technologies for most of his career, but has also done significant work with Oracle and Unix systems. His preferred database is SQL Server and his preferred language is C#. Recently he has been involved with Microsoft Learning in the US, creating and reviewing new content for the next generation of Microsoft exams.

Over the years, Rob's clients have included BP Oil, OneLink Transit, Accenture, Avanade, Australian Electorial Commission, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, the Royal Borough of Kingston, Help The Aged, Unisys, Department of Treasury and Finance (Vic), National Mutual, the Bible Society and others.

Did you mean to come here? My blog is now at http://msmvps.com/blogs/robfarley



04 October 2006

To be colleagued

I think there needs to be a new word in the dictionary, to describe those times when a colleague comes over to your desk and takes time from you. Actually, it might not be a colleague, and they might just take time from you in some other way, like via the telephone or an Instant Messaging system.

Obviously when someone colleagues you, it's urgent to them, and you have to treat it urgently too. It stops what you're doing for a few moments. It's not a bad thing - sometimes it can be just what you need to get a fresh perspective on the work you're doing, but it's definitely something which I think needs a verb. "Interrupted" doesn't describe well, because it has negative connotations. And besides, you could get colleagued for a long period if someone drags you into a meeting.