User guide: Working with Saul

Last updated: 10/05/2017

Communication

 If you need my input on something, I’d like it if you’d contact me by:

o HipChat
o In-person
o Email <THIS ONE>
o Phone call
o Phone text
 If inside normal business hours and critical, I’d prefer that you: <PHONE CALL>
 If outside normal business hours and critical, I’d prefer that you: <PHONE CALL>
 If outside normal business hours and not critical, I’d prefer that you: <EMAIL>
 If I am out of office or on vacation, I’d prefer that you: <EMAIL>

Scheduling

Location
 San Fran
o Typically in SF 2nd and 4th week of the month
o Standard flights/days have him in SF office by noon on Monday through Thursday (fly
back Fridays)
 NYC
o Typically in NYC 1st and 3rd week of the month
o M-F in the office from 9:30am - 7pm
 AZ (and other markets) from time to time
o Covering MA team when Lauren is out on maternity leave

Hours
 Works same hours in SF and NYC → 6:30am -7pm PST/9:30am-10pm EST
 Always happy to take calls

Calendar
 If open, grab it
 Open to moving meetings/opening up time when needed, just ask
o 30 minute meetings are likely real; over 30 are often time blocked for self and can be
flexible

Energy & Boundary-setting

 The top 2-3 work activities I find most energizing are: 1) Problem Solving discussions. I'm a social
problem solver. 2) Reviewing data for insight
 The top 2-3 work activities I find most energy-draining are: 1) Reviewing or making powerpoint
slides (There is almost never a need for powerpoint, unless it's for training, board decks or very
large attendance meetings) 2) Reading long emails. If you can't figure how to say it in 5 lines, we
should probably chat 3) Meetings where I'm added just so that I'm aware (I could just be emailed
instead) 4) Meetings without an agenda or outcomes/next steps
 The must-have thing that keeps me grounded and sane during the week is: (e.g., getting home at
a certain time, taking lunch, working out, no-interruption working time, getting outside at some
point in the day): Not having back to back meetings for 12 hours straight.
 You can help me honor that by: None. I'm relaxed about owning my own balance
Emotion
 I feel very comfortable with discussing feelings in a work setting, although I’m not one to hug or
things like that
 You can tell I’m engaged a meeting when I'm looking at the speaker
 For me, the following make an engaging/productive meeting experience: Agenda, action items,
clear outcomes, a small group of people who can add value (not just "cc" people)
 You can tell I’m disengaged or stressed in a meeting when I verbalize that I am or when I start to
check my phone (bored) or when I start to really question what the reason/outcome of the
meeting is, or when I challenge verbal assumptions of meeting participants strongly
 For me, the following are triggers for stress in a work setting or meeting: Lack of focus on the
largest business impact. Arguing over trivial changes that don't affect large outcomes is
frustrating. Work output with low attention to detail
 When I am stressed, I prefer that you do whatever works for you :-)

Feedback

 Feedback has these associations for me: The most important tool for me to improve and help
others improve
 The most important thing to keep in mind when giving me feedback is: I'm going to react at first,
then sleep on it and then thank you. I'll always appreciate it, especially if it is blunt
 The most important thing to keep in mind when asking for my feedback is: You're going to get
blunt feedback, but that means I care.

Growth

 One thing I’m working on right now to develop/strengthen my working style is: Modulate my
approach to given audience sets
 You can help support me and hold me accountable to that by: Giving me feedback