The tldr version of how my mind works, at work
I appreciate and consistently seek out constructive feedback. I prefer and benefit from scheduled feedback sessions (eg. monthly, quarterly performance reviews) that are structured 20% on what I did well (I do like reassurance that I’m on the right track), and 80% on what I could have done better along with suggestions for actionable goals to get there.
I like to take time to really understand how something works, or why something is the way it is. This means that I will ask a lot of questions, questions that often lead to more questions. It also means that I can sometimes get lost in the details as I am also a reflective learner who needs time on my own to digest what I’ve learned.
Concrete examples with details help me better understand abstract concepts. I am both a visual and verbal learner, but have found that I skew towards verbal most of the time. A well phrased explanation often helps things click for me, and I enjoy hearing other people explain things in their own way. Oftentimes, explaining a concept to others also helps me learn. Visuals & developing mental models also work wonders.
I appreciate direct communication and overcommunication. An extra “I’ll take a look later”, or “thanks, received” never hurts. It helps me feel more connected in a fully remote work environment.
I tend to have more of a “democratic/participative” leadership style. This means that I like to involve various people on the team and hear the ideas they have before coming to a conclusion. I am not yet (or not as) comfortable with making decisions independently/ authoritatively and prefer to encourage team members to work independently rather than micromanage.
I’m very detail oriented and like to weigh the pros and cons of various solutions. I’m not as much of a perfectionist as before, but I try to be very thorough with my work. My DiSC type is C - conscientiousness which means that I like to work to ensure quality and accuracy. However, this also means that I may not be as great at making quick decisions when there’s not a lot of information or data to go off of.
I work best with a manager who is open-minded and is willing to consider my input. It is important to me that I feel like my opinion is listened to, even if disagreed with, rather than just dismissed. I appreciate when there are clear goals to meet, but the process/ implementation is more open & flexible which allows me to be creative and independent.
I prefer to maintain peace and harmony within the team. Generally, I dislike conflict and will usually want to work out/resolve issues as soon as possible. It can be difficult for me to be direct/straightforward and assertive in conversations, even when sometimes needed. This is something that I am working on.