A short guide to help team understand 'How to work with Gitesh' and what is expected of you.
Work style
Big Picture — This is absolutely the guiding principle. Nothing matters if we are not collectively progressing to the higher goal that we have set. So always ask how your work is aligned to that.
I give a lot of importance in taking small decisions fast and not waiting. This require more data points for me to act on. Hence, I expect team to come prepared with data/numbers/figures/presentation to ensure quick decisions can be made.
FOLLOW UP: This is super super important. Please do take notes. If there is some action point, I want you to come back to me with progress on it. Having to follow up a day before or after the deadline is not at all welcome.
Communication:
I am a fast talker and a fast listener, which means often I jump from one topic to another rather quickly. If you did not understand what I said or meant, kindly ASK to repeat. Will be happy to explain again.
My way of getting an instant feel on my team is by asking impromptu questions. Don’t get rattled if you don’t have an immediate answer, it is perfectly ok. But do get back to me with a response soon.
I prefer Whatsapp/Slack/Email over Phone calls.
Phone call over a meeting. Pls keep that order.
E-mail:
Am an email ninja. I read every email I get in a day. I can’t and don’t respond to all. But will respond if there is a direct question and I have an immediate answer.
If you need a response within 24 hours and if I didn’t till next day morning 8am, then please resend or ping me.
I use Labels, Schedule option liberally so priority items are mostly always on top. Some of our colleagues do schedule a reminder email to me few days before deadline. It works well.
FYI (for your info) emails are welcome. Keep me in the loop if there is something interesting happening within your team or work. FYI = No response required.
liberally and important emails that need a response to xxx.xxx@axiobio.com
Meetings
If it is not on my Google calendar, that meeting doesn't exist.
My current calendar schedule for team meetings for every week are as follows: Manager's +BD+ HR meetings on Monday, Marketing team on Tuesday, R&D on wed, Quality+Regulatory, Overseas on Thursday, Finance+Operations on Friday.
I prefer to have 1:1 with every reportee once each quarter at least. These are scheduled between 3–6pm and I keep them open. Feel free to get into my calendar. Just ping me.
If you need a response, please be direct about it. Else, I’d assume you just want me to make a note of and not act on it.
My feedback: Can be direct and blunt. Am working on making it less so. It is a WIP. Bear with me.
Taking feedback: E-mail works well and try to give as much context as possible to fully convey it. For anonymous feedback, pls use this link
You are helping me and Axio with your feedback. So keep them coming.
Conflict resolution tips:
As a manager, you are expected to take many micro-decisions without me. So after you settle in, I won’t get involved in micro-decisions unless for the following reasons:
Know for a fact that the project is not progressing.
Project is going in different direction and can cause delay/cost or both
We've an upcoming meeting (often board/investors/partners) and need info in a short time period.
Team issues that am aware of and has to be acted upon.
If you have concerns with another Manager or their reportee, I suggest to have a clear conversation with that manager first. Assuming we are adults here, I expect you to ensure these are sorted as a team. Escalate to me if it doesn’t work. Don’t assume that am in the loop. Most of the times, am not. Happy to intervene, if you want me to.
Trust is earned, not given. More I see you taking responsibilities, is when you start getting more authority.
Last but not the least, I want us to be competitive and aggressive as a team. All decisions WILL NOT be unanimous. We must disagree, argue and finally once a decision has been made, everyone must commit to that. Zero tolerance for straying out post this commitment.
How am I outside of work ?
Movies, Food, Sports, Travel. — Axio is my family and I’d love to be part of any of these with my team.
Thank you,
Leo
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