How to work with me

A manual for the people I work with, so you do not have to spend three months working me out. Always evolving.

Hours

Mornings.I am online from 7am, usually blocked for catching up, crits and reviews. I try to stop taking meetings around 3 or 4pm.
Lunch.I block it, or I forget to eat. Dog goes out, messages get caught up on.
Meetings.I schedule them five past the hour so there is a gap. Nothing breeds burnout like back to back all day. I make coffee the slow way.
Evenings.I may log back in to review work, write, or prep. If you see me online, message me. I will flag when I am unavailable.
Heads down.I have ADHD and I am easily distracted. When I need uninterrupted focus I set Slack to away, turn off notifications, and block the calendar with Heads Down Time (HDT).

Slack first.I am in a lot of meetings, so Slack carries most of it, both real time and delayed. I read messages as they arrive to work out whether they need a fast answer. If you need one by a certain time, say so. Otherwise I will reply as I can, normally by end of day.
Huddles.I would rather hop on a quick call than go back and forth in writing. Even if my calendar looks full, I will make time.
In the room.During one to ones, design reviews and team syncs I try to stay present and off Slack.
Debate is a love language.My debating style can come across as aggressive. I apologise. I do not know what is best, and I use opinions to build on a conversation. They are loosely held and sometimes firmly delivered.
Interruptions.I interrupt people. I apologise, and I am working on it. My real fear is missing a good idea because I or someone else loud did not leave room. Speak up, especially in the minority view.

Curiosity first.I thrive on discovery and I will ask a lot of questions, some of them hard, to get the full context of a problem.
Empathy underneath.Trust and confidence matter to me. I want people building relationships across teams, in an environment where contributing feels safe.
Collaboration.The good ideas come out of it. Bring other perspectives in, show your process, make the thing together.
Feedback loops.I ask for feedback often and build reflection into my month. Tell me how my style lands on you. Mine will be direct, will usually open with a question rather than a trap, and will focus on why.
No gatekeeping.I try to be open about the work and my intentions. You should have the information you need.

Clarity of purpose.Clear, impactful solutions that meet a real need.
High craft.Detail and quality in execution are non negotiable.
A clear why.A great outcome gets you half the credit. If you cannot explain why it worked, we cannot do it again.
Empowered teams.I succeed when the team is thriving, autonomous and shipping with confidence.
Slipstreams.Our job is to make it easier for the people behind us. If you get traction, pay it back so others can stand on your shoulders.
Aligned partnerships.Strong relationships across functions, on shared goals.

Be direct.Candour is welcome. Concerns, ideas, feedback, all of it.
Work out loud.I know it is hard against a high bar. Share early anyway.
Be prepared.Bring the context behind the idea.
Bring your perspective.I trust your expertise. Argue for your view even when it cuts against mine.
Stay focused.Prioritise the high impact work. I will try to do the same.
Ask.If something feels off, lead with curiosity rather than assumption.

Big picture.I will connect dots across projects, teams and goals.
Empowerment.I will trust your judgement. You own your day to day.
Support.Feedback, guidance, or a sounding board. I do not micromanage. Ask and I will weigh in. If you do not speak up, I will assume you are clear.
Feedback.Give me at least one piece of constructive feedback a month. You will not hurt my feelings, and hard feedback improves the partnership.
Vision.A clear direction, set inside the wider team and company goals.
Adaptability.If it is not working, I am happy to change course.

Family.Married, three grown kids and a dog.
Incense.I am building a brand made the old way, no synthetic fragrance, native ingredients.
A Strangely Isolated Place.I help run the record label. Go buy the vinyl.
DJing.Ambient, trip hop, techno, jazz, when I can.
Otherwise.Hiking, digging through crates in a record shop, family things, and playing Delta Green, Mothership and Mork Borg.

He/him. I am sweary. Not much of a hugger.
What I value most is curiosity.
What motivates me is the best work of my life, the most creative and genuinely unseen work.
What discourages me is lying and inauthenticity.