User Manual¶

How to work with me effectively. I'm learning to delegate more so I can focus on high-leverage work.

What I Value¶

Constant learning and growth - I'm driven by the need to learn continuously. I expect the same from my team.
Move fast and break things - Execute fast. If you're wrong, we can fix it later. Don't wait for approval.
Asynchronous communication - I prefer async. If you message me, assume I have 5 minutes to process and respond.
Direct communication - Keep it yes/no or number-based. Be brief. Don't bury important information.
Health first - I have a hand injury. I prefer face-to-face or video feedback over typing.
Take ownership - If the task is hard, I probably didn't give enough details. Ask for what you need.
Simplicity - I hate unearned complexity. If I see a flowchart with 12 things, I lose my mind.

Pet Peeves¶

Silence - Not getting updates makes me anxious. "Working on this" or "I'm blocked here" are good messages.
Context switching - Remind me where things are when you update me. Assume I read but don't remember.
Lack of feedback - I need critical feedback regularly. If you're not telling me what could be better, it holds us both back.

How to Communicate¶

Use async first. Slack or text messages work best. Keep it brief with bullet points.

I'm often mobile. Messages should be structured for quick skimming. Put key info at the top.

Ask specific questions. Frame questions so they can be answered with yes/no or numbers. "How can I help?" beats "Do you think I should work on X?"

Prep me for meetings. Send materials before to reset my focus. Follow up with summary and action items.

How to Message Me¶

Message me on Slack. If urgent, text me. Assume I'm opening your message on my Apple Watch. No links, short messages.

Good practices:

Clear subject lines - Make the topic immediately apparent
- Good: "Urgent: Client proposal needs approval by 3pm"
- Bad: "Quick question"
Structure for quick decisions - Present numbered options
- Good: "Logo options: 1. Blue 2. Green 3. Red. Which? Default to #1 if no response by EOD."
- Bad: "What color should we use?"
Flag time-sensitive items - Use [Urgent], [Time-sensitive], or [FYI] prefixes
Use visuals - Screenshots convey information faster than text
- Good: "New dashboard layout: [screenshot]. Thoughts?"
- Bad: Long description of layout changes
End with clear next step - What action do you need from me?
Keep it short - Put the ask at the top with clear call to action
Ask forgiveness, not permission - "I'm going to do this, let me know if wrong" beats "What do you think about this?"

How I Prioritize¶

Client work first - Always be moving things along or waiting for client feedback
Fridays for personal work - If you're full-time, Fridays are good for personal projects
Delegate early - If something isn't clear, ask for clarity now. I'd rather spend time upfront.
Tell people you're blocking - "I'm waiting on you to do X so I can deliver Y by this date, otherwise Z"

Working Together¶

Own your tasks - Don't wait for approval on every detail. Take action, even if mistakes happen.
Give consistent updates - Silence creates stress. Even small updates help. If you get 1% off every day, you'll be completely off by end of week.
Challenge me with feedback - Tell me what's not working. I need feedback to grow.
Follow up after meetings - Clear summary of next steps and anything needing feedback.

My Leadership Approach¶

I'm a new manager. I want to be hands-off. If the team makes a mistake, I shoulder that responsibility as an opportunity to learn how to be a better leader.