My User Guide

Name: Danielle

Pronouns: She/her/hers

Astrological sign: Aries

Favorite food: Tacos

Favorite song: Q.U.E.E.N. by Janelle Monáe

List your top 3 strengths:

Deliberative, Individualization, Restorative.

What I value

Empathy, curiosity, and consideration. A clear prioritization of everyone’s best interests. A successful working partnership takes into account our humanity and that we might be in disparate emotional places at the start of an interaction. I value community and try to make sure people feel a foundational level of safety in whatever space we’re in together.

What I need to be successful

Transparency, a clear picture of our goal. Alone time to understand the material/task at hand in my own way, coupled with voice-to-voice collaboration to clarify issues or solve stubborn problems together.

The best way to motivate me to do something

Talking about how the end goal benefits the user’s life. Giving advance notice, clearly communicating the goal and the acceptance criteria.

How to best communicate with me

I like direct feedback in voice-to-voice conversation ideally. For simple matters, I prefer Slack messages, and for matters where clarifying questions are likely, calls. I prefer that people approach me with the acknowledgement that we are humans first, before our job titles. Everyone is worth the same, and that knowledge should color all interactions.

What people misunderstand about me

I’ve been told that I can seem aloof or uninterested upon first meeting, because I’m not quick to speak. It takes a lot for me to speak up in unfamiliar settings, with new people, and in large group settings. I can if absolutely necessary, but am most comfortable in small group settings and with a substantial period of shared proximity before speaking at length to or with anyone.