Work with Me Guide

I want this guide to show you who I am, what I care about, and how I work, so we can do our best work and have fun.

How I see success

As a generalist product designer with a business background, now learning to code, my job is to dissect complex problems and quickly create and test ideas that help our users and our business.

1. If my work doesn't make a user or business impact, I need to do better.
2. I also help the team succeed. If I slow others down, I'm not doing my part well.
3. I care about honest feedback. If I don't speak up for the user, I'm missing the point.
4. Success means learning from mistakes, planning for the worst, trusting the process, and setting bold goals, while enjoying the journey. I love my work, and life is short.
5. Success is something we build as a team.

How I communicate

1. I'm clearer in writing than in live conversations. Sometimes I think out loud, which might seem random.
2. I ask questions, even when the answers seem obvious.
3. When I give feedback, I mean it. If I say something's good, I believe it, and I'll tell you why. If I think something can improve, I'll share my thoughts. If I miss something, let me know.
4. I like open, public communication, using bullet points and reasons.
5. I value a clear story, why we're doing what we're doing, and what makes it exciting.

Things I do that might annoy you

1. I try to be honest, but sometimes I come off as too direct. I'm working on being more thoughtful.
2. I ask "why" a lot. I need things to make sense, since every choice connects to others. Some may find this tiring.
3. I'm comfortable with uncertainty and like exploring ideas as they come. This can bother people who prefer fixed plans.
4. I think long-term and ask many questions to understand the big picture.
5. I'm optimistic and believe tough problems can be solved with effort, which might seem naive.

What builds or breaks my trust

1. You earn my trust by caring about quality and being open about what's working or not. I admire people who know themselves, want to learn, and admit their challenges.
2. I trust people who take charge and use all resources to solve problems. It erodes my trust when people complain but expect others to fix things.
3. I trust those who keep their word and don't make excuses.
4. Drama lowers my trust.
5. I trust you more if you ask genuine questions, give helpful feedback, or thoughtfully challenge my ideas.

My Strengths

1. Clear communication: I say what I mean, and I try to make my ideas easy to follow. I focus on getting everyone on the same page.
2. Taking action: I don't wait around. When I see something that needs doing, I get started and keep things moving forward.
3. Thinking in systems: I look at how things connect. I try to see the bigger picture, so my decisions fit well with everything else.
4. Talking business: I keep our goals in mind. I make sure my work ties back to what matters for the team and the company.
5. Intentional problem solving: I want to understand the problem before I act. I look for context, ask questions, and build a clear reason for every choice I make.

My Growth Areas

1. Thinking faster: I'm working on getting to the core ideas more quickly in live conversations, so I can communicate with clarity.
2. Building technical skills: I'm learning to code and talk in data to foster collaboration and build better product.
3. Getting better at small talk: I tend to jump straight to serious topics. I'm trying to bring more lightness and casual conversation, so my interactions feel warmer and more balanced.