# Ryan Ore's Manager Readme

**Senior Engineering Manager at Forager**

# Hi, I'm Ryan

If you're reading this, that probably means I'm joining your team or you've just joined mine, so that's great news! This document is like any README file, in that it's meant to provide a little insight into what you're about to crack open (me). 

It takes time to get to know someone, which I look forward to doing, but I'm hoping this "Manager README" gives you a head start into getting to know me, what you should expect from me, and what I'll be expecting from you. 

# My role

I am here to make sure our team is successful, happy, and working on the things that are most important to improve our product, and contribute to a better organization. These are the areas of responsibility through which my success will be gauged:

1. **You**** :  **I am here to make sure you feel fulfilled and challenged. It's important to me that you have a path in your career,  and that you have guidance and support you need to be successful.  
  
2. **The Team:  ** I am here to make sure that our team's goals are aligned with the organization's, and that we are getting the support and information that we need to be successful.  I'll be removing blockers and helping to make sure we are working on the right things.   
 
3. **The Code: ** I am here to ensure that we are upholding the organization's standards of quality and best practices, which means I'll be reviewing and occasionally writing along side you.  My goal though, is to empower engineers to make smart decisions, not to tell you how to do things.  
  
4. **The Organization:  ** I  am also here to think beyond our team's day-to-day and how it fits the the greater organization.  With your input, I will be constantly involved in seeking to improve culture, communication, and process across the org.  

These are in approximate order of importance. If you are not successful and happy, our team is not successful (or happy). If our team is struggling, company initiatives might not be my top priority.

I am here to remove roadblocks, provide context and priorities, and work to help you accomplish your goals. In other words, I'm here to empower you,  not to tell you exactly what to do or how to do it. 

# 

# What you can expect from me

- **Build a healthy team culture**  - I believe that all successful teams grow from a culture of [psychological safety](https://rework.withgoogle.com/guides/understanding-team-effectiveness/steps/foster-psychological-safety/) and support. I will foster an environment that allows for mistakes without blame and encourages curiosity and learning. 
- **Provide perspective**  - I will do my best to make sure you understand the value of your contributions, and how it's impacting the business.  At the same time to make sure you understand the decisions the business is making, and how they impact you.
- **Challenge and support ** - I will challenge you to do things you haven't before and push you to achieve your goals. I want to see you grow but not without feeling supported.   
- **Firefight and support**  - If you need help, I will give you a hand. If you made a mistake, I will help you fix it. But I am not a mind-reader, so it's on you to tell me the support you need.
- **Feedback and guidance - ** Honest feedback is critical to learning and growing.  I'll be giving you feedback as the need arises.  I won't wait till a performance meeting; I may not even wait till a 1:1.  I think the quicker the turnaround on feedback the more valuable.  
  

# What I expect of you

- **You cannot over communicate**  - Writing, talking, documenting, and realistic deadlines - all of these provide myself and the larger team with the information we need to operate effectively. 
- **You want to grow - ** I want you to [be content, but never complacent.](https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=ALeKk02DyYCsC4ZUGU2GilVAfXHmZc8LHw%3A1591219641695&ei=uRXYXriCKs2QtAbIi5WIBw&q=content+vs+compacant&oq=content+vs+compacant&gs_lcp=CgZwc3ktYWIQAzIECAAQRzIECAAQRzIECAAQRzIECAAQRzIECAAQRzIECAAQRzIECAAQRzIECAAQRzoHCCMQ6gIQJ1DTEFjhHmCaK2gBcAR4AIABAIgBAJIBAJgBAKABAaABAqoBB2d3cy13aXqwAQo&sclient=psy-ab&ved=0ahUKEwj4woKMy-bpAhVNCM0KHchFBXEQ4dUDCAw&uact=5)
- **You own your team - ** This is your team and these are you teammates.  When something is wrong with the code, let's fix or refactor it. If one of your teammates is struggling let's help them through it.
- **Feedback and guidance - ** The door swings both ways and I need you to fill me in on what I can do better. How can I serve you better as your manager? Is there something the team could benefit from that I am not seeing?

# 

# How we'll work together

## 1:1s

- **We will have a scheduled 1:1 every week, ** but my time is not limited to this. If you need to discuss something I'll make time.
- **This is not a status meeting. ** If you need to discuss your current work then by all means, but the goal of this meeting is to provide a space for us to talk about your professional development, what's bugging you, or where I can help you with context, guidance, or space.
- **When the 1:1 feels over, but there is still time on the clock** , I'll have some topics or questions in my back pocket for us to discuss. There is a method to the madness, and it is all in service of building a working relationship and understanding each other.  
- **Don't be surprised if I want to get to know you.  ** Getting to know you is one of my first priorities. I am already excited to know what is most important in your life.

## Other communication

- **Performance Meetings ** are not 1:1s.  They will come around whenever the company's cadence is and will not take the place of a 1:1.
- **Random checkins** are just that.  I may check in occasionally via slack just to see how you’re doing. I’m genuinely interested in your well being.

## My availability

- My core working hours are from 8am central to 5pm central. I am occasionally online in the evening or weekends to catch up or get ahead on things. I might queue up emails for the next day, or ask a question after hours -  **this does not mean I require or expect an immediate response ** (unless I say it's urgent in the subject/message).
- Depending on the urgency, certain communication methods work better than others.
  - **High** : Call me
  - **Medium-High** : Text me
  - **Medium (default)**: Slack me
  - **Low** : Email me

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