My README
Thursday, August 24th, 2023
For my thoughts on README cultures and description of this format, go to README cultures.
Questions I often ask myself entering conversations
This varies based on the existing relationship and context, of course, but I found myself running through these often. Not that they are all good mindsets (and I am working on addressing those areas of improvement). But here's to honesty:
- What exactly does the person want from me?
- Am I able to actually be helpful?
- Will the ask put me overcapacity or will it align with my existing mission and goals?
My most joyful types of communication
What are some common attributes of conversations where I leave and think, "That rocked"?
- An idea or problem has been defined and we are flowing collaboratively and creatively
- Through our conversation, new approaches or insights are discovered together
- I am able to apply my "Socratic inquiry" in a way that is helpful and supportive
My known areas of improvement
What are areas I know I want to improve in communication style:
- Lean into the relationship even more, even if time is short, before digging into facts and logistics
- Preface reason before I start asking questions to understand or even challenge
- Understand the other person's current emotional state and needs as part of the conversation first
My typical style
Here are common attributes of my communication style. The next section
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Default question asking myself entering conversations | How will this conversation most efficiently help both of us do cool things? |
| Most joyful types of communications | An idea or problem has been defined and we are flowing collaboratively and creatively |
| My areas of improvement | Shift to lower index on efficiency and higher index on kindness; focus on person over information while being efficient. |
| Overall preferred medium (protocol generalized) | As a general protocol, I prefer in-person, but this is a very expensive medium and I guard it sparingly but push for it if it warrants |
| Context: Complex or Early Stage | Complexity needs clarity: my preference is whoever owns it writes something and we meet in person to build context |
| Context: Information Exchange / Updates | Information exchange NOT through messaging. If recurring, through time-stamped shared doc; if one-off, email. |
| Comfort level with async and modality | I prefer async leading up to in-person: succinct documents that I can comment on (or receive comments on) |
| Self-description of style (content type) | Describe in as realistic and honest approach to your own style |
| Misperceptions (error handling) | How might your approach been misunderstood in the past AND what it really means |
| Mis matched inputs (client side errors - 400) | What common ways your shadow side gets brought out by others |
| Ways inputs escalate to conflict (conflict - 409) | Common patterns that put you into the red zone |
| SLAs - inbound | What your likely turnaround time will be and how to escalate |
| SLAs - outbound | What your expected SLA is and hopefully it's aligned with your own! |