Yihui's user manual (working style)
Hi! Seems like you're interested in finding out how I work. You're on the right page.
If we match, feel free to connect with me or DM me on Twitter.
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Who am I and what I can do
- MBTI: INFJ (Read my post about debunking myths about introverts)
- Enneagram: Peacemaker, Individualist, Investigator
- Big 5: Openness, Conscientous
- Check out professional work profile (AKA LinkedIn)
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How I like to work
- My own desk space, but I don't mind co-working spaces and occasionally cafes.
- I also love a collaborative space where I can collaborate with my team from time to time.
- I'm more productive doing my work in the morning and mid afternoon (GMT+8). So, ideally no meetings until later in the morning or early afternoon.
- Leaning towards remote work, but I still like to have an option to work from home and from the office. A change of an environment from time to time is always nice.
- Read this amazing thread on working with introverts.
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What's the best way to communicate with me
- Asynchronous — drop me a message or a doc (or a Loom video) with more details. I take time to think through, process and craft responses.
- Weekly catchups are great to see how we're doing and review each other, either on a video call or in-person.
- Video call or meet up in-person if it's urgent and/or important. If not urgent, let's schedule a session instead.
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How I like to receive feedback
I love constructive feedback! It’s how we learn, grow, and do better in our work.
- I prefer 1-1s.
- "Hey Yihui, can I give you some feedback regarding (topic)?".
- Don't be afraid of asking specific questions and questioning my methods/ideas as long as there's a rationale behind it.
- Don't wait until the last minute to let me know if you found something strange about my work.
- Constructive feedback are very much welcomed. Try to be as specific and structured as you can. Examples are great, so I'll definitely appreciate them.
- If you’re blatantly criticising my mistakes without making an effort to understand or without providing help or examples to improve, then I don’t think we will work well together. Don’t mistake “feedback” for “attack”. You’re just making yourself feel better at someone else’s expense.
- If you’d like, I can offer feedback to you as a mutual exchange too.
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What brings me joy and satisfaction at work
- Having organised, structured, good processes — If there isn't one, I'm more than happy to help and create a system to make improvements.
- Collaborating with a team that are like-minded, bond and work well together — within and outside of work.
- Providing psychological safety or a safe space to speak up with ideas, questions, and mistakes without the fear of being humiliated or harshly judged
- Brainstorming sessions.
- Having goals and values that are aligned.
- Giving support when requested.
- Sharing constructive feedback with me about my work (or anything) so I know where I can do better and grow.
What drains my energy at work
- Last minute changes when the deadline is already looming.
- Micromanagement.
- Long meetings with no clear agenda or not respectful of people’s time.
- Lack of clarity around projects and communication. High expectations but low explanations.
- Aimless work. If everything is a priority, then nothing is a priority.
- If I lose sight of the vision or goal of the project, that means I'm overworked and overwhelmed.
- Having to commute long hours to the office every day, just to chat with my team via a chat messaging platform
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