The Vinny User Guide

A guide for working effectively with me — and enjoying the ride along the way.

1. How I Work

  • Business-first lensI start with the 'why.' If we're doing something, it needs a clear link to business outcomes or strategic priorities.
  • Clarity beats clevernessI prefer simple, direct communication over jargon or buzzwords. If you can say it in one sentence, do it.
  • Iterate to excellenceI'm a big believer in drafts, feedback, and refinement. Perfect is the enemy of shipped, but shipped should still be excellent.
  • Bias toward actionProgress > perfection paralysis. If we're 80% sure, let's test, learn, and adapt.
  • Few patterns, done wellI'd rather have one great, well-understood process than five 'creative' ones that cause confusion.

2. How to Best Communicate with Me

  • Be concise, but completeI love brevity, but not at the expense of leaving out key facts.
  • Context mattersTell me why this matters before diving into the details.
  • Written firstI process information well in writing, whether that's Slack, email, or a doc. Bonus points for structure and bullet points.
  • Tell me the decision neededIf you're presenting options, make your recommendation. If you need my approval, say so up front.
  • Visuals workA good diagram, table, or one-pager beats a 20-slide deck of bullet soup.

3. How I Make Decisions

  • Data + judgementI want to see facts, but I'll also weigh experience, risk, and timing.
  • Trade-off awareEvery choice costs something; I expect us to acknowledge what we're giving up.
  • Listen first, decide onceI'll ask questions, seek multiple perspectives, and then stick with the decision so we can move forward.
  • Speed vs. accuracyI'll push for speed when the risk is low, and slow down for high-impact or irreversible decisions.

4. My Expectations of the Team

  • Own itTake accountability end-to-end. If it's yours, drive it without being chased.
  • Think like a product ownerWhether it's infrastructure, code, or process, know your 'customers' and deliver value.
  • Raise risks earlyI'd rather hear about a brewing problem when it's a drizzle, not a hurricane.
  • Default to transparencyShare progress, blockers, and wins openly.
  • Focus on outcomesActivity is not the same as impact.

5. How to Earn My Trust

  • Deliver on commitmentsDo what you say, when you say.
  • Be candidTell me the good, the bad, and the ugly. I value honesty over optics.
  • Bring solutions, not just problemsEven if it's not the perfect fix, show you've thought about next steps.
  • Show curiosityStay curious about the 'why' behind our work and the 'how' of getting better.

6. How to Disagree with Me

  • Do itI value constructive pushback. If you think I'm wrong, say so (politely).
  • Come with reasoningBring data, examples, or logic, not just feelings.
  • We debate the idea, not the personKeep it respectful and focused on outcomes.
  • Once we decide, we alignHealthy debate ends in unified execution.

7. Things I Value

  • SimplicityThe best solutions are often the simplest ones.
  • Learning mindsetEvery win or miss is a chance to improve.
  • Cross-team partnershipsWe're strongest when we break silos.
  • Celebrating winsRecognition is fuel for high-performing teams.
  • A little humorWork is serious, but we don't have to be serious all the time.

8. Things That Drive Me Nuts

  • Endless meetings with no decisions.
  • Surprises in critical deliverables.
  • Over-engineering a simple problem.
  • Hiding bad news until it's too late.
  • Vague requests that lack context.

9. My Commitments to You

  • I will listenYour ideas and feedback matter.
  • I will clear roadblocksMy role is to make your work easier, not harder.
  • I will advocate for youWith peers, leadership, and partners.
  • I will share credit and own blameWins belong to the team; losses are on me.
  • I will keep learningI'm committed to growing alongside you.

Final Thought: Working with me should feel like we're on the same side of the table, tackling the problem together. We'll move fast, stay focused on what matters, and celebrate along the way.