Last updated August 2023
This write up is inspired by Claire Hughes Johnson who popularized the idea first online and I read it in Scaling People. I haven’t shared it with many people in particular… but it feels helpful for self-reflection (to build self awareness), like a good place to synthesize feedback that I receive, and like it will be even more helpful down the road.
What I look for in work.
I like to work on hard problems, the kind that the CEO cares about. I’m also willing (even happy) to be down “in the weeds” — especially when it’s in service to a C-suite type of problem.
I really care about my work feeling like it matters. I have a hard time “faking it” and tend to phone it in when a work project feels “pretend.”
I like to be in the room where it happens (cue Leslie Odom Jr.), in part because that’s where the hardest problems are tackled and another part because I want a comprehensive view of the problem.
I like to see things through to completion. I find it frustrating when there’s a long trail of half-finished decks or documents, initiatives that kicked off but didn’t wrap up, or slack channels full of crickets. I can manage a lot of different projects at once, but sometimes that leads to not seeing things through as much as I would like.
What I’m good at.
I am a generalist — maybe in the best and worst sense. Best in that I am happy to learn something new, confident that I can figure it out, and capable in ambiguity. Worst in that I don’t necessarily fit a clear job description, sometimes I’m overconfident in a new area, and I don’t always stay “in my lane”.
I am really comfortable with numbers (sometimes too comfortable, see bellow). Spreadsheets, charts, analysis, Python and linear regressions. I used to be able to do a lot more heavy math and I definitely miss that.
I can structure a problem or a document quickly (thanks, consulting). I can write a good memo in a matter of days (sometimes hours with enough context pre-loaded).
I can move quickly — the hardest part is often just getting started.
When I’m at my best.
When I’m at my best, multiple people have said I have a calming presence, that I bring a sense of comfort, ease, wisdom, thoughtfulness, and care to work, and that I know when to jump in to steer/guide/correct a conversation.
People experience me as a good listener, someone who is easy to work with and who they can hold confidence in.
“Expansive curiosity.” I am interested in lots of different topics and I like to share articles, books, tweets with people. Someone once said that made me “like an onion” which might be a compliment.
High standards. I want to see excellence and be proud of the work that I do — I’m not usually comfortable with “good enough”. I set a high bar for myself, and at my best I help other people see and reach a high bar too, and to celebrate what we accomplish.
When I’m not at my best.
When I’m not at my best I can be really critical, and sometimes in a way that feels more at a person than at the work.
Not at my best I am not good at receiving feedback, and can take constructive criticism personally instead of as helpful to solve a problem.
Not at my best I tend to go into “do it myself mode” and be unwilling to delegate or share work. I can fall into assumptions that “this can’t be done by so and so.”
My wife could probably say a lot more here!
What I’m working on.
I am trying to identify an authentic communication style that works for me. Specifically I am generally quiet, and my default mode is generally to not speak up or to speak up less — much less than I should or is helpful to my team. People have told me that when I speak up they expect it to be impactful. I don’t want to lose that candor or “oomph” — keeping it authentic — while also communicating a bit more often, authoritatively, and directly. I think this is something necessary if I’m to manage people successfully.
I am also trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. I have really bopped around from maybe wanting to be an economics professor, to working as a management consultant, to working in a think tank, to working in Operations at a nonprofit. I’m sort of learning to code on the side. Sometimes I think I’d like to just work on a farm. Over time some focus will probably be beneficial.
How I like to communicate / work.
A bit more tactical.
I prefer to meet with my manager 1:1 at least weekly if not more often. I like having standing team sessions where everyone can contribute to the agenda or bring a problem to solve.
Feedback. I like it, I want more of it, I want to give feedback to my manager and to my team.
I like having longer blocks of time for focused work, but I can handle getting things done in 15 minutes at a time.
I try to keep my calendar up to date so that it’s easy to find time to meet or to focus on a piece of work.
I prefer Slack or text to email (Gen Z here). Email just takes so much longer. I will Slack or text you back after regular working hours but leave an email til the morning.
We have a dog and I often like to wrap up work as I walk the dog in the evening. I might send a voice message or some extra thoughts around then. I don’t expect responses and mostly I’m trying to clear my head and think ahead.
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