There are a few things I tell anyone who reports to me.

They are not values written for a wall. They are the operating agreement. They explain what you can expect from me, what I expect from you, and what happens when something goes wrong.

Mistakes

  1. There is no mistake you can make that I haven't made myself.
  2. Some of my mistakes have been epic. I've learned how to fix them. I will teach you.
  3. If you make a mistake, tell me. I will never be mad.
  4. I will be mad if I have to hear from someone else that you've made the mistake.
  5. I will be doubly mad if I have to hear it from a client or customer.

Mistakes are part of the work. Surprises are what make them dangerous. Tell me early and we can solve the problem together. Hide it and the problem grows while our options shrink.

Ownership

  1. Your work is yours to complete as you see fit.
  2. If you think there is a better way to do it, try it. If it works, teach others.
  3. Sometimes I will let you crash. It is often the fastest way to learn. I've got your back.

I care about the outcome, not whether you followed my preferred route to get there. I hired you to think. Use your judgment. Improve the process. Leave behind a better way for the next person.

Delegation and deadlines

  1. If you delegate, make sure the person knows they are responsible. Give them a thorough description of the task, make clear what complete looks like, and give them a due date.
  2. Always meet your deadlines.
  3. If you are not going to make a deadline, tell me in advance so I can manage expectations. See point three.

A deadline missed without warning is a management failure. A deadline renegotiated early is just new information. The work can change. The commitment to communicate cannot.

Questions and feedback

  1. If you don't understand something, I haven't explained it properly. That's on me. Keep asking until you understand. I won't get mad.
  2. I'm going to give you responsibility I think you can handle. Don't doubt yourself.
  3. I'll give you feedback in the moment.
  4. Try to think of the solution yourself first. Come to me with ideas.

You do not need to arrive with the answer. You do need to have thought about the question. Bring me your best attempt and we will work from there.

Communication

  1. Use email as little as possible. It is a time suck.
  2. Try to write emails so they can be answered with a simple yes or no.

Good communication makes the next action obvious. If a message creates more work than it resolves, it probably needs another edit.

The part that matters most

  1. Work takes up a lot of your time. Make sure you're having fun.
  2. Good tools and processes create free time.
  3. Don't let work intrude on your personal life. It is just a job.
  4. Be good to your colleagues.
  5. If this isn't the right place for you, leave before you poison the water for others.

Work matters. It is not everything.

Do good work. Help the people around you do good work. Be honest when something has gone wrong. Then close the laptop and go live the rest of your life.