# Katie Finnegan's Manager Readme

**CEO at RealSure**

## **Motivation for this document**

I created this to share what I value and how I like to work.  My goal is to take the  guesswork out of working with and for me and to be upfront about my values, expectations and personality quirks (we all have them!).

This is not only a document to hold my team accountable, but for you to hold me accountable, and to foster a collegial and safe environment where hard conversations can take place.  Please see this as an invitation to have a conversation with me about you and how you work best. 

I am a direct communicator that prefers straight forward dialogue (no matter how uncomfortable). I want our relationship to be focused on mutual growth and respect  and we can only do that if we create an open, honest environment where we build off and understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses.  In this spirit, I am a believer in continuous and constructive feedback and that leadership is a journey we are on together. 

## **How I work and what I value most**

I value focus and fast-paced action balanced with accuracy of data and proof points. I don’t need to see every detail, especially when working on a fast-paced hyper-growth focused business, but I do want to understand and trust that the information we are using to make decisions is (directionally) accurate.  

I thrive in an environment where I can flex my intellectual dexterity and balance short-term and long-term decisions seamlessly (I will bounce from strategy to day-to-day optimization, call me out if I move too fast).  I have a learning orientation andenter conversations with curiosity and clarifying questions. 

I value conversations that are direct, decisive, and candid but also conversational, collegial and led with positive intent and my style reflects this.   

I am a non-hierarchical leader and believe that everyone on the team is important, impactful and has a voice. 

When I am stressed, I can withdraw.  But it takes a lot for me to get stressed and it’s often triggered by not feeling trust in a situation or concern over meeting our goals.  

I am a believer that mistakes happen, and I don’t dwell on them.  Let’s focus on the root cause, fix it, and move forward.  We can’t beat ourselves up, as long as we are learning from it and growing.

## **My Expectations of Who I Work With and Myself**

I trust you will get your work done the way that works best for you because you have shown that you care about the work and you hold yourself to a high standard. However, I do expect you to keep your calendar up to date so if we see you are available and send you a meeting request, you are there.   I don’t need to know when you are stepping away from your desk, I don’t need to know that you have pilates class in the middle of the day (which I encourage, especially in today’s world), 

If you need me, I am always there (day or night),  This trust means I am extremely loyal to my team. Please know I want what is best for you as a person, first and foremost.  

I work best in a mission driven environment, all anchored on the same North Star, with a collaborative and approachable culture.  Call me out if you believe I have lost focus or haven’t considered key facts.  I want and expect that from you.

I hate meetings for meetings sake, but love collaboration when there is a clear agenda and goal(s) set forth. I don’t need check-ins for the sake of check-ins so I expect when we meet we will dig into things.  While I strongly dislike process for process’ sake, I do expect that a meeting has a clear purpose, agenda, and the requisite prep work was done to ensure it is the best use of everyone’s time.

I live and breathe by my calendar and place a high degree of value on my ability to own my own calendar (if I want to squeeze a workout in mid-day, I will. I just block my calendar accordingly).  As such, I really REALLY don’t like unnecessary fire drills.  I am a strong planner and expect the same of my team.  If we need something approved in 3 weeks’ time, let’s work backwards now to the checkpoints we need to have, so that everyone is clear of what is needed of them and when. However, when a real fire drill happens (which they do), I expect us to work as a team to get it fixed ASAP…. but to me a fire drill is something that is business critical and could not have been proactively prepared for.  

Lastly, I see myself as a change-maker.  My inquisitive nature has me always asking why, and trying to find a new, better way to do things.  I expect the same from those around me.  

## **1:1s**

While I don’t have a strong hard rule on 1:1s, I do like them, especially working remote as a way to keep in touch and foster connection. However, if they are weekly or 2x a month, they need to have an agenda, which I would expect you to set.  This is your time – but if anything is really eating you up or time sensitive, just text.  We can hop on the phone right then and there.

## **More info on me**

1. What is your SUPERPOWER? At work my superpower is setting strategy and vision. Thinking big, disrupting, and innovating. In life, Sleep. I sleep 10+ hours a night.  
2. What is your ACHILLES HEEL? I move fast, sometimes too fast.  I am conscious of my need to slow down, at times, to bring people along.  I invite you to call me out on this.  I need your help as I continue to develop as a leader.
3. Pet Peeves:  Office politics and not having trust within a team.  I am very non-hierarchical and want to focus on building the business and an amazing customer experience.  Office politics take away from that. My other pet peeve is fidgeting.  Luckily with remote that’s less of an issue. 
4. What is something people don’t see at first?  I have been told I come off as a bold, optimistic, hard charging, and a go-getter.  My passion sometimes overshadows the why behind my drive.  It is very easy, initially and especially in a remote environment, to make assumptions.  My passion does not mean I do not also have a soft side, which shows up over time in the support and undying commitment I have towards my team.

## **Additional questions people have asked me:**

**Things I really enjoy doing are:**

1. Developing creative solutions to problems.  There is always a way!
2. Thinking about the 100 tiny touchpoints that move something from being good to magical
3. Working with smart, fast thinking people who keep me on my toes.

**I would be ecstatic if I never had to:**

1. Pull an all-nighter (I value sleep VERY much)
2. Deal with office politics

## **When you need my attention/assistance:**

**Please do:**

1. If it’s truly urgent just call or text, anytime (but I do not expect this of you unless you tell me it’s ok)
2. Send me the exec summary.  I hate long emails.  I trust you have the data to back it up, I don’t need to see it and if I do, I will ask for it

**Please don’t:**

1. Assume I can miss a meeting or drop what I am doing—If I am available I will pick up.  If not, I will call you right back when I get the first free minute.  (Similar expectation I have for you-- I don't expect you to drop everything if I am calling- I trust you)

**I feel disrespected/it is rude when:**

1. My time isn’t valued

I despise unnecessary fire drills. When you need my support/commitment:

**The information I need/trust is:**

1. Context
2. Directional data points presented in an executive format (not detailed spreadsheets)

**Assume positive intent when I:**

1. Answer you directly:  I do best when people are clear and explicit with me, and I do the same with them.  I have a learning orientation, so I will ask a lot of questions.  If I jump in, that means I am excited, but please let me know if you haven’t finished your thought. 

**I collaborate best when**

1. We work together as equals, you push me and I push you.  There is a foundation of mutual trust

**My HOT button is**

1. Over engineering a solution // analysis paralysis

**Anything else?**

1. I love a quick chat on Gormley (Gorms), my 5 year old (Cavalier) and my new puppy Wincoma (Winnie), my Australian Mountain Doodle.