Rob Weidner User Manual

TL;DR

I created this manual to streamline communication, set expectations, and improve collaboration. Inspired by other leaders, I see it as a tool for better working relationships.

About me

  • Motivated by: Empowering others, continuous self-improvement.
  • Frustrated by: Lack of initiative, bad coffee, flakiness.
  • Impressed by: Genuine care, work-life balance, curiosity.
  • Misunderstood as: Distracted (I look up when thinking), unfocused (my varied experience is adaptability in action).

Working with Rob

  • Working/Online Hours: While I normally am up and awake early, I try to keep my working hours between 9-5 CST M-F.
  • Coaching Style: Needs a clear vision upfront, prefers deep work sessions over micromanagement.
  • Communication: Prefers async (Slack, email, screen recordings, voice notes) but values planned sync meetings (MWF). Acknowledgment matters even with simple šŸ‘ reaction. If you have deadlines, please communicate that early and I will do my best to respect those.
  • After Hours: If emergency, you should be able to reach me, but otherwise, expect replies the following day.
  • Giving Feedback: Thoughtful, celebrates wins, open to adapting to othersā€™ preferences.
  • Receiving Feedback: Prefers written follow-ups for clarity and improvement.

I value transparency, respect, and mutual learning. This document evolves with timeā€”hold me accountable!


Why I Created a Personal User Manual

I've long been intrigued by the concept of crafting a personal user manual. As someone who prioritizes transparency and efficiency, I believe such a manual can streamline communication, set clear expectations, and facilitate smoother collaboration. Encountering diverse individuals has highlighted the uniqueness in our work styles, communication preferences, and thought processes. A personal user manual serves as a valuable tool to foster understanding, build stronger relationships, and enhance teamwork.

This concept isn't novel; numerous leaders and professionals have developed personal user manuals to guide others in collaborating with them effectively. For instance, Michael Lopp, under the pen name "Rands," has shared insights into his working style in his "How to Rands" manual. Similarly, Claire Hughes Johnson, former COO of Stripe, has provided an "Unauthorized Guide" detailing her approach to work. Companies like Atlassian have also created templates to assist teams in adopting this practice.

Additionally, the 37signals Employee Handbook offers a comprehensive example of how organizations can communicate their culture and expectations to employees.

By sharing my own manual, I aim to simplify collaboration with me and inspire others to develop their own.

About Me ā€”

  • What motivates me?
    • Empowering other people.  I believe in giving people the tools they need to do their best work for the good of themselves and others is one of the greatest powers anyone can have.  That might mean a physical tool, a framework or shift in mindset, or just words of encouragement.  I believe this comes from genuine human connection in a way that everyone feels seen, heard, and respected for their true worth.
    • Continually striving to be the best version of myself I can be.
  • What drives me nuts?
    • When people donā€™t take initiative to just start.  Having an item on a todo list, thatā€™s overdue, and stagnant.  I believe it will only hold you back further, if you donā€™t pursue something that is taking up headspace.  
    • Poor tasting coffee.  Cortado FTW.
    • People that leave too soon, or donā€™t show up at all.  We are humans and we need to interact with one another.  If something else comes up, thatā€™s totally fine, acknowledge it, and letā€™s make a plan.
  • How can people really impress me?
    • By proving that they took the time to care.  We are all humans at the end of the day, so just treat each other with respect, and how youā€™d want to be treated.  
    • Showing you have a healthy balance between your personal life and your career.  
  • What qualities do I particularly value in people who work with me?
    • The ability to dive deep, brainstorm, and be present.
    • I want to learn as much as possible, so hereā€™s me asking to be taught.  Iā€™m curious, and I hope you can be as well.
  • What are some things that people might misunderstand about me that I should clarify?
    • I sometimes look up when I am speaking with you, which helps me process our conversation better.  Iā€™m working on keeping eye contact but please know itā€™s a sign of me being interested and pointed, not disrespectful or distracted.
    • Iā€™m willing to work insanely hard to get shit done.  Having said that, I am a firm believer in peak performance only being achieved by balancing stress and rest.  Itā€™s my job to best communicate which area or focus Iā€™m in, but please respect my time and boundaries.  I need to recharge, sharpen my axe, so I can come back into action, more ready than ever.
    • My career of being a freelance cinematographer paired with starting multiple businesses might come across as unfocused.  I believe it shows my ability to adapt, be nimble, see and take advantage of opportunities, and follow the path ahead.  It might come across as flaky, but I promise I am learning (see above) from every moment, and am more valuable than I was yesterday because of it.
  • What are some honest, unfiltered things about me?
    • I love a good cup of coffee.  Itā€™s more than just the coffee though, and in fact I appreciate cortados, flat whites, pour overs, and just plain-old drip coffee, because it warms me and inspires me.  Ideally, Iā€™m sharing that experience with someone else, which makes the coffee that much more symbolic, than just a cup of ā€œmudwaterā€ (how I remember coffee tasted growing up).  If you arenā€™t a fan, be open minded and exploratative, and Iā€™ll do the same.
    • I love to travel and experience new cultures for work and for pleasure.  Iā€™ve spent an extensive amount of time in the midwest, South Africa, the Middle East, West coast, and the South, just to name a few places.  
    • Please be curious.  Ask for help.  Offer to help.  
    • I love local, but live global.  Whether itā€™s a local pizzeria or market, Iā€™d much rather take the risk, than go to a large franchise.  Itā€™s nothing against franchises particularly, I just appreciate the hustle and hospitality that it takes to ā€œrun with the wolvesā€ and start your own restaurant.

Working with Others ā€”

  • How do I like to be coached?
    • Show or tell me the dream so I can ā€œbuild the castleā€ in my head first.  
    • Be patient and persistent, but let me focus and flow.  
    • Iā€™d instead work with people to build something great than fly solo by myself.  
  • Whatā€™s the best way (medium and style) to communicate with me?
    • I prefer asynchronous for work specifics using tools like Slack, PM/collaboration tools, or email.  Ideally, we there is context around the communication, so if it's about a specific project, task, email, message, please try and communicate as close to the source as possible.
      • With AI tools, this is even easier than ever.  Take the time and articulate your thought, write it out, send me a video/voice note, and Iā€™ll address it when I can.  This also allows me to go back, replay, pause, skip ahead, etc on my own time, and most likely we will be able to come to more of a mutual understanding and resolution of the conversation because of it.
      • Quick caveat to this, there are times where synchronous can be valuable, especially if planned ahead of time, with an agenda/plan.  
      • Additionally, acknowledgement goes a long way, so if I send you a thoughtful message, please let me know youā€™ve at least received it. In the best-case scenario, let me know when you think you might be able to address it.  
    • I am available for meetings on MWF and I dedicate Tuesdays + Thursdays for deep, focused, client work or work on personal projects.
    • I to try and keep my inbox available for thoughtful communication.
    • In an emergency situation, feel free to call or text me.  If I donā€™t get back to you immediately, please leave me a message.
  • How do I like to give feedback?
    • Iā€™m still working on this šŸ™‚
    • Please let me know the best way you receive feedback, and Iā€™ll do my best to align with that request.
    • Iā€™ll diligently try to collect all of my thoughts on the feedback first.  
    • I try and decipher whatā€™s important, opinions, and observations.
    • I love to celebrate šŸŽ‰ so I'll try and give you as many high fives and praise as I can. I know how hard we all work, and how hard it is when no one sees the hard work. So, if you are okay with it, let me sing your praises from time to time.
      • Quick note here, if I ever over-step, please let me know and I will do my best to remedy anything that needs to be, or refrain from doing it again. It comes from a place of love and support, and I want you to feel that way. If it isn't being received well, I will 100% respect that, I just need to know šŸ˜„
  • How do I like to receive feedback?
    • I'm pretty confident we can work through feedback, especially if we can address it early and often.
    • I have to admit, as much as I love sitting on the phone or on a video call working through things, it is tough to remember everything, especially decisions that were made, or topics that were worked through. Therefore, I'd appreciate written "follow-up" that is more concrete with what the feedback for me actually is, and somewhere I can refer back to, in order to improve upon that feedback.

This is a working document and I'll go back and "sharpen the axe" as many times as I feel it deserves to be relooked at. There might be ways of working with me, that are specific to certain circumstances, and for those matters, they are most likely not something I feel comfortable publishing to the internet. I air on the side of being open and transparent, and that's what I've taken the time to write this manual, and publicize it. Hold me accountable šŸ˜„

Sincerely,

Rob Weidner