My user manual

 

My style

 

I’m a problem solver. “How can we solve or improve this?” is always my first reaction, whether I say it out loud or not. Tell me if you want to discuss an issue, not problem-solve.

I’m comfortable with change and ambiguity, but there must be a clear goal. (The goal can shift over time, but shifts must be communicated.)

I’ll never ask someone to do something that I wouldn’t do. 

I have high expectations of myself and others. I believe in giving people freedom and flexibility, and equipping them with the tools they need to meet their goals and develop their potential. 

I love brainstorming new ideas with people. Helping come up with something innovative, even small, gives me an adrenaline rush.

 
 

What I value

 

Entrepreneurship. That gets into creativity and scrappiness, resourcefulness and proactivity. Be smart, move fast and pivot quickly.

Efficiency, and I expect others to value efficiency too. Before doing something “the way it’s always been done,” look for an easier, cheaper, simpler way. Before starting something from scratch, ask if it’s already been tried and who has insight to share.

Time — both yours and mine. I often value and prioritize your time over my own; I also value work-life alignment for both of us. 

Education. Full support to learn new things and skills, whether that’s tied to your job or not, and to help others learn new skills.

 
 

Things for which I have no patience

 

Bad surprises. If you make an error or something is heading off the rails, tell me before the crash. Without failures, we don’t know success, so I believe that failure is good (as long as you learn from it). But surprises are not. (I’m also quick to move past mistakes.)

I trust easily, but if that trust is broken or cracked, it’s difficult to rebuild. Ways to lose my trust: not following through, withholding important information, avoiding difficult conversations, failure to treat others with respect.

Abject negativity. If you have given up — no hope for a project or situation — and are not willing to hear new ideas or perspectives, I will not waste my time trying to solve it with you. (I may work to solve it without you, which then becomes an issue of trust.)

If I ask someone to do something and they acknowledge they are going to do it, I expect it to be done and not to have to ask about it again in the future. It frustrates me if I have to remind them to do it. (This goes back to bad surprises — just tell me.)

 
 

How to communicate with me

 

If I need to know now: Slack. If I need to know later: Email. (But understand that my inbox is loud and crowded.) If I need to be at a specific place (real or virtual) at a specific time, it has to be on my calendar.

Be clear and crisp in emails. Avoid ambiguity. Subject lines matter; the inverted pyramid is powerful. I like bullet-point structure. 

I value authenticity, honesty and transparency. If I say something you disagree with, tell me. I respect people who have the right blend of confidence and humility to know when to question someone (even the boss!), and when to defer to another's expertise.

 
 

How to help me

 

I move quickly and don’t always stop to think through every detail. I appreciate help making sure those details are covered. Flag me for anything that needs my attention. 

Tell me what I need to know, not what you think I want to hear. 

I love to solve problems, remove barriers and help others move forward. I appreciate it if you come to me not just with the problem, but with a plausible solution(s) and a recommended course of action. 

 
 

Things others may misunderstand

 

I’m in a lot of meetings. But my door’s always open, and I’ll drop everything if help is needed. 

I often speak with conviction, but I’m not set in my thinking. If there’s a better way, I want to hear about it! I make decisions quickly, but if you give me reasoning or data that points in another direction, I’ll happily change course. 

I often work with and through a stack of Post-It Notes. Within that chaos, there is order and prioritization. 

I have a foot in day-to-day operations, but I like to think and plan big. What does digital journalism look like in 5 years? 10? 15? What can we do today to prepare for that?