Big fan of a user manual to shortcut some of those initial likes / dislikes / preferences within a team. Plus it can be quite fun and start some really great conversations.
I recently discovered this site where you can make your own and share it as a url - https://manual.me/
In the construction industry and dealing with delivery teams on site I find it important to ensure that the individuals know their role and the exact deliverable expected within a given timeframe.
It is imperative for me to understand the skills and knowledge of individuals so tasks can be allocated accordingly. Ensuring that they understand what it is the are trying to do, how long it is expected to take, what problems could occur, do we have the required resources and materials and have we properly assessed and mitigated the associated WHS risks.
The idea of a user manual for individuals for me is an understanding of who is the best person for each unique task and who can get the job done with the least phone calls.
Love that Anthony. I can see how especially important this would be for the construction and other related industries to know exactly who is doing what and when.
I found as a direct report and a people leader this idea of “user manuals / how I work books / quick guide to me” things are the worst. Getting to know people is a journey and it is off to a bad start when it starts with a user manual that exists because your boss said to do it.
It’s a hard no from me to filling out or asking for user manuals for humans.
I agree that getting to know people is a journey, but some people need a map of where to start.
A User Manual shouldn't be an end document that managers tick and box then file away and think the job is done, but often it's a good way to start - and continue - a conversation about how different people like to work in different ways. I have found it useful in the past, but I do appreciate that it's not for everyone.
How do you overcome the inherent problem of working with different people / groups with different styles, and the illusion of choice the profile offers?
People find different things about me surprising, but most of those things don’t overlap between groups I work with.
Text messaging as a communication style works in some instances, but I don’t want to be texting everyone - it doesn’t matter what the preferences are.
Working hours / workout times - that’s why we have calendars.
I implemented user manuals for my team a while ago as a first time manager and they've been invaluable in speeding up the getting to know you phase. I am missing some of these questions from my manual so going to add them in. An exercise i found useful was adding in a team ritual of revisiting our manuals every 3 months and adding new bits of information in. What are your thoughts on OTHERS adding to your manual based on what they've observed about you?
Ah I love the idea of revisiting them every 3 months. I think having other people add to yours could also be interesting, as long as it's contained to a set section and constructive. Are there any topics in your User Manual that aren't in this list?
We added one that's been really useful: "In times of high pressure I tend to act like this....". My event planning/obsessive detail requiring self can come out during high pressure and this question helped my team understand that i was not micromanaging them. I've given them the rule book for what i need from them in that instance.
Another more fun thing we do is we all completed Gretchen Rubin's 4 tendencies quiz and that's helped too
Yes! I used the question ‘when things go wrong I tend to...’ with some teams, which spurred some great ‘ohhhhh that explains xyz...’ follow on conversations. I like your version of the question Perzen about high pressure situations.
Big fan of a user manual to shortcut some of those initial likes / dislikes / preferences within a team. Plus it can be quite fun and start some really great conversations.
I recently discovered this site where you can make your own and share it as a url - https://manual.me/
Ah thanks for this tip Steph, I'm gonna play around with that site today to test it out and will share this in my next email too.
Here's another one too (I think I like the UI of this one a little more: https://my.manualof.me/)
Agree, a lot nicer and cleaner UI.
In the construction industry and dealing with delivery teams on site I find it important to ensure that the individuals know their role and the exact deliverable expected within a given timeframe.
It is imperative for me to understand the skills and knowledge of individuals so tasks can be allocated accordingly. Ensuring that they understand what it is the are trying to do, how long it is expected to take, what problems could occur, do we have the required resources and materials and have we properly assessed and mitigated the associated WHS risks.
The idea of a user manual for individuals for me is an understanding of who is the best person for each unique task and who can get the job done with the least phone calls.
Love that Anthony. I can see how especially important this would be for the construction and other related industries to know exactly who is doing what and when.
Big big big fan of user manuals over here! Thanks for the insight Tim.
Great to hear Kate!
I found as a direct report and a people leader this idea of “user manuals / how I work books / quick guide to me” things are the worst. Getting to know people is a journey and it is off to a bad start when it starts with a user manual that exists because your boss said to do it.
It’s a hard no from me to filling out or asking for user manuals for humans.
I agree that getting to know people is a journey, but some people need a map of where to start.
A User Manual shouldn't be an end document that managers tick and box then file away and think the job is done, but often it's a good way to start - and continue - a conversation about how different people like to work in different ways. I have found it useful in the past, but I do appreciate that it's not for everyone.
How do you overcome the inherent problem of working with different people / groups with different styles, and the illusion of choice the profile offers?
People find different things about me surprising, but most of those things don’t overlap between groups I work with.
Text messaging as a communication style works in some instances, but I don’t want to be texting everyone - it doesn’t matter what the preferences are.
Working hours / workout times - that’s why we have calendars.
Definitely not a vibe.
I implemented user manuals for my team a while ago as a first time manager and they've been invaluable in speeding up the getting to know you phase. I am missing some of these questions from my manual so going to add them in. An exercise i found useful was adding in a team ritual of revisiting our manuals every 3 months and adding new bits of information in. What are your thoughts on OTHERS adding to your manual based on what they've observed about you?
Ah I love the idea of revisiting them every 3 months. I think having other people add to yours could also be interesting, as long as it's contained to a set section and constructive. Are there any topics in your User Manual that aren't in this list?
We added one that's been really useful: "In times of high pressure I tend to act like this....". My event planning/obsessive detail requiring self can come out during high pressure and this question helped my team understand that i was not micromanaging them. I've given them the rule book for what i need from them in that instance.
Another more fun thing we do is we all completed Gretchen Rubin's 4 tendencies quiz and that's helped too
Yes! I used the question ‘when things go wrong I tend to...’ with some teams, which spurred some great ‘ohhhhh that explains xyz...’ follow on conversations. I like your version of the question Perzen about high pressure situations.
The "high pressure" one is a really great addition, thanks for sharing.