8 highlights
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In your “Managerial User’s Manual,” you can describe your preferences, your style, what makes you apoplectic.
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A user’s manual is a clear and concise document that communicates to others one’s motivations, work style, management and delegation style, communication and feedback style, learning and decision-making style, values, personal style, and any other information that can help reduce misunderstandings, accelerate mutual understanding and facilitate better collaboration with your team.
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The benefit of a user’s manual is that it provides a basis for accelerating the “getting to know you” process.
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For example, a client of mine wrote a user’s manual in which he let his team know that just because he asks many questions, it doesn’t mean that he is skeptical about their capabilities. It’s simply his modus operandi.
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In order to create a User’s Manual, you can review past performance reviews and/or 360 degree feedback, consult trusted current or past colleagues, mentors or coaches for input
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For example, another client wrote in his user’s manual that he was a morning person, and he requested that his new team approach him with issues in the morning rather than in the afternoon.
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With many people in career transition these days due to the challenging economy, writing a user’s manual can be a good use of time, not just because when one finds one’s next job the user’s manual can be a useful tool, but also because even in the interviewing process, taking time to reflect on one’s style and preferences can make it easier to prepare for interviews in which prospective employers may assess self awareness and potential leadership skills.
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A user’s manual should be an evolving, living document; managers and executives should solicit ongoing feedback from staff and colleagues about how accurate and useful their user’s manual is, and should update it as they progress in their careers.