# Alejandro Isaza's Manager Readme

**Manager, Software Development at Apple**

# Motivation for this document

This is mainly for people that report to me, but may be useful to others too. It's an introduction to me and my style of management. You can think of it as Al's instruction manual.

This is a living document, please provide feedback.

# My role

My role is to make you and the team successful. This includes helping you, the individual, be part of the team, achieve your goals, grow your skills and advance your career. It also includes setting team goals, helping with communication, and making sure the team is the best it can be.

My style is hands-off. I won't tell you how to manage your time or how to do your job. But I will give you feedback and work with you on things that we both identify could be better.

# What do I value most?

- I value honest and direct feedback. Be kind but don't hold back. Our one-on-ones are a great time to give me feedback but any time works.
- Drive to become a better version of yourself. I want to help you be better so it helps if you also want that. You get to decide what to improve and how. I will help where I can.

- Teamwork. We are not a group of individuals seeking independent glory, we are a team with common goals. Work with your teammates and recognize the value of the team.

# My Expectations

- If there is conflict be respectful and communicate your point of view. Try to understand other people's reasoning.
- Be responsive. During work days check your email at least once a day, set filters and manage your subscriptions so that important messages don't get lost. During work days check Slack at least a few times a day, mute channels and configure notifications so that important messages get to you.
- Put the team's success over your own. Work together. Help your teammates if you can.
- Be honest. Some examples of this: you make a mistake, you don't feel like working today, you don't like the career path you are on, you don't like me, you don't like someone in the team. It's best to talk about these things up front, even when there may not be anything I can do about it.

# 1:1s

We will have weekly one-on-ones, unless you prefer a different cadence. The one-on-one is mainly for you, bring questions and concerns. This is a great opportunity to give me feedback and talk about issues that are better discussed in person. I will regularly bring up your personal objectives.

I prefer not to use the one-on-one time for status updates or technical topics. But it's your time, if that is what you want to talk about I won't stop you. Alternatively, feel free to schedule time with me to talk about these topics.

I like to do walking one-on-ones but you can always opt-out of that.

# Personality quirks

- I don't remember what I had for breakfast. I try my best to compensate for my lack of short-term memory by using technology but if I miss something it is not because I don't care. Call me out on it.
- I can be hard to read. I think everything through before I talk. Feel free to ask me how I feel or what's in my mind.