# Working with me A practical template for clearer collaboration. Write in first person. Use concrete examples, share with colleagues and review the guide together. Replace the bracketed prompts with your answers. **Name:** [Your name] **Role / team:** [Your role and team] **Updated:** [YYYY-MM-DD] **Next review:** [YYYY-MM-DD] ## 1. My role and contribution **The outcomes I am responsible for:** [What do you own? How will others recognise a good result?] **Where I can help:** [Your strengths, experience and useful context.] **What I need from colleagues:** [Inputs, access, decisions or support that help you deliver.] ## 2. Communication channels and urgency | Situation | Best channel | Expected response | | --- | --- | --- | | Routine updates | [Channel] | [Time window] | | A decision or detailed discussion | [Channel and useful context] | [Time window] | | Urgent issue | [Channel and escalation route] | [Time window] | **Urgent means:** [Describe the impact and time limit that justify interrupting you.] **Include in a request:** [Outcome needed, relevant context, owner and deadline.] ## 3. Focus and availability **Usual working hours and time zone:** [Hours / time zone] **Focus time and meeting preferences:** [Protected time, suitable meeting windows and preparation.] **When I am unavailable:** [Where your availability is visible and who can help.] ## 4. Decision rights **I decide:** [Decisions you own and the limits of your authority.] **I consult:** [Who needs to contribute before you decide.] **Approval comes from:** [Decision owner and matters requiring approval.] **Escalate when:** [The risk, cost, timing or other threshold that triggers escalation.] ## 5. How to bring me a problem Use **1 problem, 3 options, 1 recommendation + why**. Include the evidence, the decision needed and its deadline. **1 problem:** [What is happening? Who is affected? What outcome do we need?] **Option 1:** [Approach, benefit and trade-off.] **Option 2:** [Approach, benefit and trade-off.] **Option 3:** [Approach, benefit and trade-off.] **1 recommendation + why:** [Your preferred option and the evidence or reasoning behind it.] **Decision needed from / by:** [Owner / YYYY-MM-DD, time and time zone] For an urgent issue, raise it immediately and add options as information becomes available. ## 6. Feedback and disagreement **How I prefer to receive feedback:** [Channel, timing and level of detail.] **How to challenge my view:** [How colleagues can raise concerns, share evidence and resolve a disagreement.] ## 7. Confirm understanding **Encode -> Interpret -> Confirm -> clarify and repeat** - **Encode:** The sender puts the intended meaning into words, examples or a diagram. - **Interpret:** The receiver makes sense of the message using their context. - **Confirm:** The receiver summarises the intended outcome and next action; the sender checks and clarifies. Experience, roles and current circumstances shape how a message is interpreted. **Our check-back phrase:** [For example: "My understanding is that I will deliver X by Y. Is that right?"] **Where we record the agreed action, owner and date:** [Shared place] ## 8. Review this guide **Next review:** [YYYY-MM-DD] **What we should check together:** [What is working? What causes friction? What should change?] --- # Fictional completed example **FICTIONAL EXAMPLE. All names, responsibilities and preferences below are invented.** **Name:** Avery Taylor **Role / team:** Community events coordinator **Updated:** 2026-09-19 **Next review:** 2026-12-19 ## 1. My role and contribution I coordinate a small community events programme. I own the schedule, venue arrangements and attendee information. I need confirmed numbers and decisions by the agreed planning dates. ## 2. Communication channels and urgency Email works for routine updates; I respond within one working day. Put a decision request and its deadline at the top. Call me for an issue that could stop an event within 48 hours; if I am unavailable, contact the programme lead. ## 3. Focus and availability I work 09:00-17:00, Europe/London. I reserve 09:00-11:00 on Tuesdays and Thursdays for planning. My calendar shows availability; the programme lead covers urgent decisions during leave. ## 4. Decision rights I decide event logistics within the agreed plan. I consult the venue coordinator on access and capacity. The programme lead approves new spending and date changes. I escalate as soon as the agreed budget or event date is at risk. ## 5. How to bring me a problem **Problem:** Rain is forecast for Saturday's outdoor event. **Three options:** Use the indoor room with lower capacity; hire a covered space at extra cost; or reschedule and risk losing attendees. **Recommendation + why:** Use the indoor room. It is available and holds all confirmed attendees. The programme lead should approve the location change by 2026-09-24 at 12:00, Europe/London. ## 6. Feedback and disagreement Give me feedback privately and soon after the event, with an example and its impact. Challenge my plan with your concern and evidence. If we remain divided, record the options and ask the programme lead to decide. ## 7. Confirm understanding I use: "My understanding is that I will confirm the room and email attendees by Thursday. Is that right?" We record the agreed action, owner and date in the shared event plan. ## 8. Review On 2026-12-19, review response times, decision boundaries and event handovers together.