User Manual of Ian Ames

I’ve used Cassie Robinson’s User Manual of me template a number of times when starting projects with new teams, its a great way to quickly introduce a team to how everyone likes to work and to discuss how best to work together. It also works well in remote organisations as a way to quickly learn about colleagues you may not see on a day to day basis.

This is my user manual:

Conditions I like to work in.

  • Light, airy spaces
  • With people to bounce ideas off of
  • With tools that allow me to collaborate easily and shape ideas

The times/hours I like to work

I’m not an early bird, and I usually have the school run to contend with so I’m not in much before 09:00. I dont mind short lunches and working late or in the evening to make up the difference.

I try not to work weekends.

The best way to communicate with me

Openly as possible!

  • Chat/IM
  • Face to face/ Video
  • Phone/ Voice
  • Carrier Pigeon
  • Rock carving
  • E-mail :)

The ways I like to receive feedback

  • Face to face.
  • Honestly, but with suggestions on how I can improve.
  • Give me the opportunity to come back and chat a few days later, feedback can take time to process.

Things I need

  • Enthusiasm
  • Open mindedness
  • The opportunity to understand why
  • If I know what I need to do, space to get on with it (work from home is ideal)
  • If there is uncertainty or I’m starting something new, collaboration is best (office is ideal).
  • Space to think.
  • Coffee!

Things I struggle with

  • Acronyms
  • Ego
  • Double meaning, I struggle with nuance
  • I tend to think tangentally so can take conversations ideas in different directions sometimes, call me out if I’m drifting
  • “We’ve always done it that way” and unnecessary process, if I dont understand why I’m doing something, or can’t see any value in it, I probably won’t do it
  • If I’m not learning I get bored

Things I love

  • Unknowness, I love operating in the space of ideas and opportunities,the art of the possible, and turning them into reality
  • Building great teams, I love the palpable buzz you get from a high performing team
  • Flow, understanding how things get done, and making it better
  • Having fun, I prefer an environment of openness and creativity

Other things to know about me

I’m not normally a fan of tools like Myers-Briggs, but I recently did the Gallup Clifton strength finder and felt seen after doing it.

My strengths were: Developer, Ideation, Restorative, Positivity