My User Manual in action
A team member shares her user manual in Confluence over Zoom.
Sample elements of a My User Manual document include work setup and communication preferences.
This team gathers to share their user manuals in person and on video chat.
What you'll need
Remote
Video conferencing with screen sharing
User manuals (see templates)
In-Person
Meeting space
Large screen projector
User manuals (see templates)
Optional templates
Atlassian Templates
Other Templates
Instructions for running this Play
1. Prep 30 MIN
Before the meeting, have each team member complete a user manual using one of the templates provided if you’d like or by creating one of your own. Let them know they can choose to complete whichever prompts they feel comfortable sharing. Here are some thought starters:
Work
- What is your work and life set up?
- Where do you typically work from?
- What work hours do you keep?
Communicate
- What are the best ways to communicate with you?
- What are the worst ways to communicate with you?
- What communication channels do you prefer?
Feedback
- How do you like to receive feedback?
- What formats for feedback work for you?
Values
- What are your top 3 values in life?
Achieve
- What is your proudest achievement ever?
Tip: OWN IT
We’ve provided prompts in the template but we encourage you to make it your own with bold colors, plentiful memes, and random factoids.
2. Set the stage 5 MIN
Let your team know the following at the start of the meeting:
- This activity is designed for team members to understand how to support each other’s ideal conditions for getting their best work done.
- No one will be pressured to share anything they’re not comfortable sharing.
- This meeting is a safe space. Nothing they share will be used against them.
Tip: NEW HIRES
When new hires start, add creating and presenting their user manual as a task for their first 90 days.
Tip: KICK OFF
Create and share user manuals when kicking off a new project.
3. Share 55 MIN
Each team member shares their user manual with the team and answers any questions teammates have on the content.
EXAMPLE: COMMUNICATION
Here’s what the “How I like to communicate” section of a user manual might look like
Follow-up
Save it
Keep your team’s user manuals archived in your team's Confluence space or other file-sharing space so future teammates can get up to speed quickly.
Variations
Test the waters
For a shorter meeting, try limiting the template to questions around working hours, ideal environment, communication preferences, and learning styles before diving into anything longer and deeper.
Add some personality
Have team members complete a personality test or training together, such as DiSC, Strengths Finder, or Myers-Briggs. Share and discuss the results as a team.
From our team, to yours
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