# Xavier Forns's Manager Readme

**Tech Lead at Zoku**

# Motivation for this document

This **README **  aims at becoming an easy-to-go reference that explains in a concise way who I am, what I do, what are my expectations of you and what you can (and shall) expect of me. I do hope that this _README_ helps clarify personality-wise work related traits of myself which will help our relationship, and whenever you are in doubt you can consult it.

# About me

I am a techie and since a very young age (probably like you) I have loved fiddling with code. I am currently the Tech Lead at [Zoku](https://livezoku.com/), wherein I help implement the digital strategy across all departments, managing the roadmap, helping define the architecture and being heavily involved in change management. I also help in standardizing multiple procedures to help Zoku scale to multiple locations. Many days I suffer from impostor syndrome, but some say I am essential. No matter what, I keep doing my best.

I believe in healthy environments. I will not ask you to stay overnight, instead I will make sure to provide an environment where you can do your best and make sure to correct whatever is impeding you from giving your best and feel fulfilled at work. It's fair to say though that if we are going to miss a release and you committed to it, we will incur in extra time if we all agree that business-wise this can't be deferred to later. But we will learn from it, we will be transparent and we will discuss. And it should definitely be an outlier.

I also believe each one of us have different views on what work is and what it means. Each one of us have different motivations for work and it's crucial that I understand what your motivation is both in life and work, so I can have the best version of yourself, as well as prepare together with you a growth path that you and me agree is the one that makes the most sense for you - and for the company.

Last but not least I hold a few core values. **Honesty**  goes a long way, no matter what. If you ever think I went too far, I am being unfair or disrespectful, say it, don't hold on to it. **Respect**  is also very important: we can be honest and blunt, but never lose respect. **Empathy** is a third value I find as core: understanding of others and not judging based on our own preconceived thoughts is hard but paves the way for stronger relations and that positively impacts the team. **Appreciation** for others is yet another one. I take credit for mistakes, but push recognition to others when it's about success, and I like people around me who do the same. Add to it **responsibility** , **accountability**  and **ownership**. If you can't own what you do, if you can't be accountable for your work and if you are not given the space to be responsible, your work will be dysfunctional. **Trust** is a central piece of it all. I don't want to micromanage, you neither. Trusting your decisions, your work and trusting your colleagues. That is how big things happen, no matter how small they are.

# What and how do I measure?

We evaluate personal development through **OKR** s, which are discussed and negotiated between my manager and myself and take into account business strategy, yearly goals, team needs and individual contribution. I expect to apply the same approach with you!

As per team work I keep an eye on the following KPIs. If you think they should be changed or reflect other realities, let's discuss!

- Cumulative workflow and cycle time for our daily work
- Features missing scheduled release trains (_choo-choo_!)
- Amount of escaped defects and defect density
- Release confidence (qualitative measure you give about how confident you are about the next release to be shipped)
- Mean time between failures
- Predictability (can we have a sound mid-to-long term roadmap?)
- Business value contribution
- Technical debt

And most importantly I evaluate how **happy**  and **involved**  you are with your work, your teammates and the company. If something is not feeling right I will be proactive in knowing and helping you find a solution or improve whatever you feel is not right. That is why 1:1s are very important and I want to make them a success for you. This is work, but we are humans first and foremost.

# My weaknesses

At times I can be very **blunt**  and **direct** (part of my dutch heritage probably), which can come across too rude. So please, if you think I'm being mean or disrespectful, say it so. I might be influenced by other factors that have nothing to do with you, and that is unfair. In any case, speak out.

I can also be too **impulsive** , overseeing a rational thinking process in favour of my gut feeling. Tell me so, remind me to follow the right approach, even if the gut feeling might end up being the best option.

Whenever you see I am being too **bland**  or nice in situations where I should be tougher, set me aside and make me aware of it.

# What you and others can expect from me

Besides the values which I try to fill my life with, such as trust, honesty, empathy.. You should make me accountable and remind me when something of the following is not really working:

- **Poo stopper** : anything happening outside the team should not reach you. I will make sure that you are not disturbed by any events that have nothing to do with you
- **Solid planning and strategy** : I will do my best in making sure that we have set clear goals, a roadmap that makes sense, that you know what you build, for whom and why 
- **Get out of the way** : Things will work if we trust each other and we trust in the capabilities of each one of us. I will get out of the way, and will hate micromanaging you. If that happens, please tell me
- **Enable and s**** erve you**: I'm here for you. Which translates into providing you with the best tools, environment, frameworks, team, growth and time for yourself whenever you need it

# My expectations

At the very minimum I will expect from you:

- **Reliability, responsibility and ownership** : if you commit to something, if you say you are going to do something, I will expect you to do it. I do not want to find out later that you didn't do it, or keep checking whether you have done it or not or simply be your snooze function. I want to trust you, not micromanage you.
- **No-negativity-nor-toxicity** : I will not ask you to be happy when you do not feel like it, but I will not tolerate toxic, behind-the-back behaviour or politics in the team. If you have an agenda fine, everyone has one, but it better be for the goodness of the team and the company, not for your own glory which you are projecting in the long-term. No jerks is part of our inner rules.
- **Empathetic and open to feedback** : I hope you understand others motivations and decisions and engage in constructive discussions with them or myself. I also expect you to be open to feedback and criticism. That is the only way forward for self-improvement, and please remind me if I'm not!
- **Vocal** : anything, absolutely anything that bothers you, I'm here for you. I want to think I'm a good listener, which means.. not talk, let you talk. And also means not giving my own preconceived opinion, but instead offer comfort, support and think of a solution and way forward whenever it's possible or needed. I'm not your therapist, but almost. Feel free to grab me any time, if I can't set aside time I will, promise (besides our regular 1:1s).
- **Be y**** ourself**: I want you to be you. How joyful is it to build a team where each member has a distinct personality and their own quirky things. I want to laugh at your bad jokes, face-palm if you broke again your cup of tea or complain about obsessive fiddling by tapping against the table. It's about the little things

# 1:1s

We will plan **1:1** s every 3 weeks. Everything goes in, but the most important take is that you lead and own them. I expect the following:

- You prepare the topics you want to talk about in advance and share them to me (with enough time for me to prepare!). One day before shall suffice
- Focus is both on an emotional and work level. Personal issues or anything else you deem necessary to discuss with me is also appropriate. Discussing about weather or football results is not the goal though (unless they _really_ affect you emotionally or your performance)
- I will add a couple topics (and share with you in advance) if I think there are things we should discuss on top of your own points
- Specially important is that I will ask you for feedback about me, about how good or bad I'm doing my work. I will not accept _'all is good boss'_-like answers!
- A few hints for topics you could think of:
  - Motivation, progress, OKRs..
  - Career progression and plan
  - What's on your mind this week, what bothers you, anything that scares you or makes you excited
  - What is motivating you? What is demotivating you?

- For every discussed topic we will create action points together, set dates and owners, and we will follow-up on them

# Personality quirks

I love learning new things. I want to learn from you, and I want you to teach me. I am probably mediocre at best at everything, which is exciting because I have a long learning path in front of me. So teach me, show me the way.

In meetings you will usually see me as a reserved and shy guy. I rather listen than talk: I talk if I feel I am really contributing. I tend to think that meetings are useless unless: they have clear goals, you have come prepared, people do not use them for politics or show-offs, everyone (every single one) comes on time (coffee making _before_ starting) and it has a set max time.

Possibly like you, I am not happy when someone interrupts me by coming physically to my desk. I do it to others, I reckon. But it's something I'm working on. Let's be aware of others needs and how we could be disrupting their task at hand.