My User Manual
The My User Manual activity fosters understanding and collaboration by having team members create and share personal guides outlining their work styles, communication preferences, and values. This promotes clearer expectations and reduces potential misunderstandings within the team.
Use this method when onboarding new team members, initiating projects requiring close collaboration, or addressing communication challenges within a team to foster a more understanding and productive work environment.
Solves: Misunderstandings arising from differing work styles and communication preferences, leading to conflict and reduced productivity.
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Step 1: (30 min) Before the session, have each team member complete a personal user manual using a provided template or their own format. Encourage them to focus on aspects they're comfortable sharing.
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Step 2: (5 min) Gather the team, either in person or via video conference with screen sharing capabilities. Emphasize the activity's purpose: to support each other's ideal working conditions.
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Step 3: (30-60 min) Each team member shares their user manual, answering questions from the team. Ensure a safe space where members feel comfortable sharing.
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Step 4: (Ongoing) Archive the user manuals in a shared location (e.g., Confluence, shared drive) for easy access by current and future team members.
- Emphasize that participation is voluntary and that team members should only share what they feel comfortable with.
- Encourage team members to personalize their user manuals with their own style and personality.
- For a shorter session, focus on key areas like working hours, communication preferences, and learning styles.
- Incorporate personality assessments (e.g., DiSC, Myers-Briggs) to provide additional insights into team members' working styles.