# Matt Payne's Manager Readme **SVP, Innovation at Thinkific Labs, Inc** # Motivation for this document I decided to write this because I think it's helpful for those that work with me to know a little about me - how I like to work, how I interact with others and  my general approach to life. I want people to read this so that they know what to expect from me and what I expect from them so that we can work together with a shared understanding. # My role I'm the SVP of Innovation at Thinkific. I'm in the role in some ways by default because I'm a co-founder and also the first developer. In other ways, I'm in the role because I enjoy it and am apparently reasonably good at it. I believe that the most important parts of my role are 1. Ensuring that we build, retain, grow and support our world class team 2. Helping the business make intelligent, informed decisions - specifically as they relate to technology, but more generally as well 3. Helping to bring new and exciting technology to our customers so that they can better serve their own customers. # My Background I am a software engineer at heart. I love to play with new technologies, find ways to relate them to Thinkific's business and look for ways to improve our customers' experience.  I have a degree in Natural Science as well as English and went to the University of Calgary to obtain a diploma in Object Oriented Programming.  I came to programming later in life than most, as my educational background will attest. I also spent a number of years selling industrial coatings to customers in the Oil and Gas industry in Calgary, AB.  I always had a love-affair with computers and eventually started teaching myself to write code. When I realised it was my passion, I went back to school and changed my career. I spent time working in the television broadasting space (Corus Custom Networks - a division of Shaw) as well as working as a contractor for various large Oil and Gas companies. Eventually, I felt the pull of the start-up life and worked for a few unsuccessful start-ups. Then I found Thinkific and saw what it meant to be a part of a successful start-up. # What do I value most? 1. **People** - to me, the most important part of our organisation. Happy, supported people write amazing code, which translates to happy customers 2. **Direct communication** - I'd rather hear things honestly and openly without any bullshit. If you want to talk to me, please just do. If you want to ask a question, feel free. 3. **Delivery on comittments** - I believe that a commitment made should be honored. The easiest way to lose my trust is to not deliver on your promises. Naturally, I understand if you have good reasons. 4. **People who act like leaders** - even if they are not formally called leaders, anyone can be a leader if they inspire and motivate others 5. **Actions over words** - Anyone can talk. I value people who can turn talk into action.  6. **Contribution over consumption** - I value those who are willing to help versus those that expect things to be done for them. Things don't happen magically in an organisation - they take the work of everyone. 7. **Self-learning** - I believe that you are the master of your own destiny and people that push themselves to figure things out are more interesting to me than those that expect to be spoon fed. # My Weaknesses Sometimes I can be too nice and struggle with giving critical feedback. I really do try, though. If you feel like I'm not giving you enough critical feedback, let me know and I'll try harder. In situations where there is conflict, I usually can see both sides and empathise with both sides. This in the past had led me to situations in which I was was unable to make a decision or take action. I'm working on this, but it still sometimes occurs. # My Expectations 1. I expect that you're amazing at your job and require very little management. You wouldn't be in your role if you weren't. Sometimes I'll ask clarifying questions - don't take this as micro-management or as me questioning your abilities. Usually, I'm just trying to understand. 2. I expect that if you're facing challenges or having trouble doing your job that you will ask me for help as soon as possible. Sometimes I might notice and ask you, but generally, you're the best judge of whether you need help or not, so I expect that you will likely raise any issues first. 3. I expect that if I'm not doing my job and supporting you that you'll let me know as soon as possible. One of my primary reasons to be in my role is to make sure that you have what you need to do your job. 4. I expect that we will default to trusting one another. We're on the same team, after all. 5. I expect you to act like an adult, and I will to.  # How I can help you? **Context** - ** ** Most of my day is spent collecting, filtering and sharing context/information from across projects within the company. I'll try to push information to you as much as i can but feel free to ask about anything else. **Perspective ** - I probably won't be working on your project day to day but will be close enough to have informed thoughts. **Celebrate** - I will celebrate your successes. Please share with me when things go well, something makes you proud etc. **Firefight** - I am here to help and have no issue jumping in where I can to assist. I wrote a lot of the code here and still remember quite a bit of it. # How can you help me? **Be a good teammate** - Celebrate each others successes, be open and honest with each other, we will all be better for it. **Do Amazing Work** - This is the expectation. Let me know if there is something keeping you from accomplishing this. **Disagree with me ** - Good solutions come from healthy debate, we need to be comfortable separating ideas and egos. **Tell me if I screw up ** - I'm not perfect, nor do I think I am. Did I screw up and not notice? Tell me. # 1:1s I normally do 1:1s once every 2 weeks for a 1/2 an hour, however I'm open to other arrangements if you need something different. I like to go for coffee versus booking a room in the office, but if that's your preference, I'm ok with it. I expect that you come **prepared** to discuss the things that are on your mind. What's going well? What are your current challenges? How can I help? 1:1s are for you - not for me. You get out of them what you put in. I  **always** read your notes in advance, as long as your write them. This helps me think about what you have to say before we meet. If you haven't prepared, I'll understand, but expect to have a pretty random conversation ;) # Your Career I'll do my best to provide growth and learning opportunities, we will review career progress regularily. It's up to you to take action and seize the opportunities. **Your career is yours.** **You set your goals.** **You set your priorities.** **You manage your work.** **You manage your time.** # Personality quirks Sometimes I make stupid jokes. Occasionally I say inappropriate things. If these offend you, I apologize in advance and am open to your feedback, however self-censorship is not one ofmy strong points. I am working on it. I like to get to work early - usually before 8:00am and I like to get out by 5:00pm. Work/life balance is important to me, especially after our early startup years when I was less stuctured with my time. I really like coffee and drink a lot of it. I also like craft beer. I'm obsessed with bikes (bicycles, that is) and frequently day dream about long rides in far away places. At least once a year, I make this a reality. I'm also pretty into flyfishing and sometimes combine biking with fishing #bikefishing!