hardik's user manual for work (v2)

intro

this document helps you understand me (my quirks, values, etc.), and how to best engage with me in a work context.

disclaimers:

i don't have perfect self-awareness, so this limits how much i can guide you.
i am—and aim to always be—a work-in-progress, so the information here will always lag the present (but i'll try to keep it as fresh as i can).

email / slack for communications that can tolerate a few hours of delay (to 1 day)—text for higher responsiveness.
i use "do not disturb" mode aggressively on my phones and communication apps, so calling me usually doesn't get a faster response.
i'm usually available from 9 am to 9 pm each day (weekend availability is more spotty).

i accept meetings as a necessary evil in modern work culture, as long as they satisfy these criteria: 1) possess clear target or agenda, 2) the topic necessitates synchronous communication, i.e. multiple turns with high-bandwidth and low-latency (negative example: sharing/ingesting summarized state (e.g. project status)—can be accomplished via email, positive examples: debating to reach a mutual understanding (even if people disagree with each other), or freestyle brainstorming), 3) contents of the meeting are well-documented.
meetings are NOT a good place to make decisions. if something contentious needs a decision, it's best to use a meeting to exchange perspectives, discuss trade-offs, and agree on a timeframe for reaching a decision.
prefer meetings to be scheduled in advance, i chafe against spontaneous meetings.

exhibit intellectual honesty by showing you've explored alternatives, understood the trade-offs, and arrived at an opinion with an honest accounting of the risks involved (e.g. one-way vs two-way doors), and/or limits of what you know.
presenting data is great, but not always available (and sometimes a crutch), so can be substituted with a plan to quickly gather data to justify or reverse a decision.
i prefer solitude to think through options, and resist making decisions in the "heat of the moment".

to show engagement in conversations and presentations, i often smile and nod along to what a speaker is saying, but it doesn't mean i agree with what is being said.
i often express my thoughts out loud, in real-time, which may appear as rambling or incoherent. so if my point isn't clear, ask me to clarify.
i use debate as an indispensable tool to build a robust understanding of points and ideas expressed by others. i'm not an opinionated person but if you see me challenging an idea or presenting a different side, it doesn't mean i agree or i'm being negative.
i push myself and others towards record-keeping (of plans, processes, decisions, meetings, spec's, etc.) through execellent documentation. the net effect of this rigor helps with organizational velocity by facilitating feedback, improving alignment, and shining a light on assumptions and limits of our knowledge.

complaining without construction, i.e. an intention to problem-solve.
i get pig headed when people tell me what to do, or arrogantly assert they know best.
communications with filler/fluff, i.e. using more words when fewer would do.
uninvited disruptions to my individual focus time.
waiting for late arrivals to a meeting. (at the same time, i'm not a punctual human being. it's hypocritical, but please respect my time and don't be late to our meeting. i will sincerely try to do the same.)
areas or projects with unclear or multiple owners / decision-makers.

i tend to trust people by default to know what they are doing and follow-through. i do not like to intervene or micromanage—unless asked for help.
i seek to deeply understand a problem and its context before taking next steps.
i place a lot of value on having clear narratives and being able to to speak to the meaning behind work, which makes me a good story teller.

i have no shortage of new ideas, which can lead me to chase short-term distractions, harming long-term focus.
i'm the overly optimistic type who tends to overcommit to more than can be reasonably done.
i'm not the most detail-oriented person.