A WorkStyle manual
Joy in Chaos
I thrive in situations where there is a lot going on and things move quickly. The energy sharpens my focus, clears up my thinking.
B
brian kalma
workstyle.app/briankalma
Ch 01 — How You Work
Communication
Morning time
You want morning Brian. Morning Brian is at his sharpest.
Meeting Agendas
I like meetings to have a purpose and a designed flow. I may decline an invite without an agenda or goal attached to it.
Writing style
I like to write as I talk. I try to be brief and to the point.
outcomes
I really appreciate when people communicate with outcomes in mind.
synchronous communication
I much prefer tools that lend themselves to synchronous communication when it comes to conversing about important topics, but if there is no urgency or if there is a simple non-timely thing that needs to be communicated then a concise slack messaging convo will work.
Energy & Focus
Peak hours
I am sharpest in the morning.
How to recharge me
I need breaks to move my body—walks, pushups, etc. I need healthy dopamine hits.
What drains me fastest
Meetings with no engagement nor agendas drain me.
Ch 02 — Working With You
How to Read Me
When I go quiet
I'm either deep in thought or lacking confidence.
When I get short or terse
I'm stressed, overloaded, or possibly unsure of the goal.
My passion gets misread for abruptness
When I'm enthusiastic and direct, it's passion—not me being curt with you.
My Rough Edges
I microwave fish
I'm working on taming my ADHD and harnessing its power.
What People Misunderstand
They misread me as calm, but I am chaotic inside
People may think I do not care, but I care immensely.
How I Give & Receive Feedback
How I receive it
Feedback as quickly as possible in relation to the context/when. I like face to face, I like it framed as improvement opportunity.
How I give it
I give feedback quickly in relation to the context, face to face, and frame it as an improvement opportunity.
How I Signal I Need Support
I will ask if I need help
They ask directly when they need support, so listen for those requests.
If I am fidgety I have something on my mind
Watch for fidgeting as a sign that something is weighing on them before they verbalize it.
Face to face check-ins work for me
In-person conversations are the most effective way to check in with them.
Ch 03 — What You're Made Of
My Values
Authenticity, no matter what.
I'd never compromise on authenticity.
Simplicity over complexity.
I hate complexity and try to simplify complex things.
Sensitivity (the one that surprises people).
Sensitivity is a core value of mine, and it's the one that tends to surprise people most.
What I'm Proud Of
What I'm proud of
Proud of the time at Zappos that we discovered that if a user had an imperfect first time experience that was our best chance to make them a customer for life.
Why it mattered
It changed how we thought about customer relationships — turning problems into opportunities.
The Compliment That Stuck
"You are the special sauce!"
Best Advice I've Gotten
"Find your next manager, not your next company."
// // Jared Spool, when I was focused on the wrong thing
A Learning Moment
What happened
When an initiative I was passionate about failed, I realized my ideas are not as precious as I once thought.
What I learned
It was humbling.
Ch 04 — The Full You
Who Inspires Me
Who
People who can hear bad news, or get pushback, and remain so optimistic is inspiring.
What draws me
Seeing folks who tear up playbooks and do what feels right and follows the data inspire me, and I like the sense of disruption these folks have.
How I Show Appreciation
How I show it
I will compliment you when I know you did something incredible.
What it looks like
I will compliment you when I know you did something incredible.
All About Me
typeINTPenneagram3w4on repeatThe Doors, Weezer and Opera music
A fact
I cycle between classic rock, alternative, and opera.
Want one of these?
Build your manual →