Terry Horner : User Manual
Strengths
Futuristic - Restorative - Learner - Achiever - Strategic
These aren't made up. Find your strengths.
What are some honest, unfiltered things about you?
- I come across as being pretty laid back and that's intentional, but I'm really an emotional being when it comes down to it. Chances are good you won't see much raw emotion from me unless I want you to see it.
- I'm single threaded which makes context switching exhausting. On the flip side, when I'm focused on something, you know I'm focused on it and only it.
- I sometimes have difficulty staying in the present because I enjoy thinking about what's ahead.
- I love stories. One of my favorite things is experiencing a story for the first time.
- I'm a jack of all trades, not because I can't master one, but because learning excites me.
- I like to work, and when I'm not working I like to think about work. Unless I'm thinking about beer. If I'm drinking beer or thinking about beer, I'm only drinking beer and thinking about beer.
- I hate disappointing people.
- I often say yes when I should say no.
- I sometimes trust too easily.
- I'm not that great at self-care.
- I change my mind, a lot, particularly when situations and/or information change.
- I'm not afraid to be wrong and will admit when I am.
- I need time to prepare for what I say before I'm going to say it.
- I lead from the trenches.
- I do what I say I'm going to do.
What drives you nuts?
- Being forced to keep bad secrets.
- People who don't make time for others.
- People who criticize others publicly without first having a conversation with the person they're criticizing.
- People who complain about problems but don't want to help fix them.
- People who don't pay attention when being spoken to.
- Perpetual tardiness.
- Broken promises.
- Wasting time.
- Agenda-less meetings.
- Bit rot.
What are your quirks?
- I dislike being rushed.
- I prefer time to digest information before making decisions.
- I get anxious if I'm late to anything, even if it's only a minute or two.
- I can be stubborn when I'm tired.
- I enjoy shielding others from distractions.
- I am helpful to a fault.
- I like to laugh at my own stupidity.
- I sometimes struggle to communicate my ideas.
- I prefer not to sugarcoat.
- I oddly enjoy firefighting.
- I don't like the spotlight.
- I am terrible at celebrating.
- I don't like cheese, mushrooms, or anything that came from a pond/river/lake/ocean.
- I like to purge things.
How can people earn an extra gold star with you?
- By chipping in to help others without being asked.
- By putting others before themselves.
- By going out of their way to communicate effectively, even if it means over-communicating.
- By asking questions. Lots of questions.
- By getting shit done.
- By updating documentation when they create/change a thing.
What qualities do you particularly value in people who work with you?
- Empathy
- Honesty
- Selflessness
- Humility
- Dedication
- Curiosity
- Humor
What are some things that people might misunderstand about you that you should clarify?
- Just because you don't see me take a position on a certain thing doesn't mean I don't have an opinion about that thing. It just means my opinion is weakly held or not yet fully formed.
- You'll hear me say that I dislike meetings, and you'll probably hear it a lot. What that really means is I dislike meetings that don't add value. Either we make a meeting valuable or we get rid of the meeting.
- I will often avoid getting in the weeds. I do this because I trust the people who are in the weeds to handle the details and surface what's important rather than getting in the weeds myself.
How do you coach people to do their best work and develop their talents?
- By listening.
- By establishing a relationship based on empathy and trust.
- By showing them I give a damn about them personally.
- By challenging them to continually step outside their comfort zone.
- By having difficult conversations.
- By holding them accountable.
- By helping them be the best human they can be.
What's the best way to communicate with you?
- Nuanced/difficult conversations
- Face-to-face (in-person or video conference)
- Audio (audio or phone conference)
- Everything else
- Slack
- Text/Email
What's the best way to convince you to do something?
- Have a compelling "why", and tell me a story about it. Convince me it's the most important thing we/I can be doing right now and give me the information to backup your thesis.
How do you like to give feedback?
- Praise in public, criticize one-on-one in private.
How do you like to get feedback?
- Immediately and directly, preferably face-to-face (in-person or video conference).