A manager README, also known as a "How I like to work doc," is a document that managers create and share with their direct reports. It covers topics such as the manager's principles and values, preferred communication methods, how one-on-ones are conducted, and what work requires their input. The goal is to set clear expectations and foster better working relationships. Source
Manager READMEs help skip the 'get to know you' phase, set clear expectations, share personality traits, build transparent communication, and provide a tool for self-reflection and goal-setting for managers. They can help avoid misunderstandings and foster a productive working relationship. Source
Potential drawbacks include damaging relationships if the README is not an accurate reflection of the manager, using quirks as excuses for poor behavior, substituting the README for regular meetings, and coming across as self-righteous. It's important to use the README as a tool for transparency and improvement, not as a replacement for ongoing communication. Source
Managers should ensure their README accurately reflects their management style, avoid using it as an excuse for negative traits, continue to meet regularly with their team, and introduce the README in a collaborative discussion rather than just sending it by email. Source
Manager READMEs can help set clear expectations, encourage open feedback, and clarify communication preferences, which can reduce misunderstandings and foster a more transparent, collaborative team environment. Source
Spinach AI provides a library of meeting agenda templates, guides for one-on-one meetings, and performance feedback tools to support managers in implementing effective communication and management practices. Agenda Templates
Spinach AI helps managers run meetings by automating agenda management, taking accurate meeting notes, and automating follow-up tasks. This allows managers to focus on the discussion and outcomes rather than administrative work. Source
No, manager READMEs should not replace regular one-on-one meetings. They are a tool to set expectations and foster communication, but ongoing meetings are essential for building trust and addressing issues proactively. Source
Spinach AI automates meeting documentation, action item tracking, and follow-ups, helping managers stay accountable to the commitments and communication styles outlined in their READMEs. Source
Spinach AI offers an AI Meeting Assistant, automated note-taking, workflow optimization, AI-powered insights, seamless integrations with tools like Zoom, Slack, Jira, and Salesforce, and tailored solutions for different roles such as product managers, sales, engineering, and more. Source
Yes, Spinach AI automatically captures meeting notes, action items, and outcomes, allowing users to focus on discussions without manual note-taking. Source
Spinach AI integrates with popular tools such as Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Slack, Jira, and Salesforce, enabling smooth collaboration and workflow automation. Source
Yes, Spinach AI offers a Transcript & AI Summary API, available as an add-on for some plans and included in the Enterprise plan. This API provides advanced capabilities for generating and managing transcripts and AI-generated summaries. Source
Spinach AI automates tasks such as generating sprint plans, PRDs, and managing tickets, streamlining workflows for teams and reducing administrative burdens. Source
Spinach AI analyzes user feedback to uncover trends, pain points, and opportunities, enabling teams to make data-driven decisions and improve their processes. Source
Yes, Spinach AI provides tailored solutions for various teams, including product management, engineering, sales, customer success, HR, recruiting, and finance, addressing their unique workflow and collaboration needs. Source
Spinach AI automates note-taking, action item tracking, and administrative tasks, allowing users to focus on strategic discussions and decision-making, which increases overall team productivity. Source
Spinach AI is designed for product managers, engineering teams, project managers, marketing teams, HR and recruiting, customer success, sales, and finance and accounting teams. It is suitable for any team looking to improve productivity, collaboration, and workflow automation. Source
Spinach AI addresses challenges such as manual note-taking during meetings, administrative task overload, workflow inefficiencies, difficulty uncovering insights from user feedback, and collaboration barriers across teams. Source
Spinach AI automates the creation of meeting recaps and follow-ups, ensuring that action items are tracked and nothing falls through the cracks. Source
Customers can expect increased productivity, streamlined workflows, enhanced collaboration, data-driven decision-making, customizable solutions for different teams, and improved customer engagement. Source
Yes, for example, Ron Meyer (Alliance Executive at Infinite Ranges) uses Spinach AI to manage sales cycles without pausing to take notes, and Matt Filion (Authvia) reports improved team productivity and organization. Testimonials
Industries using Spinach AI include sales, customer success, technology, revenue operations, consulting, and healthcare technology, as demonstrated in public case studies and testimonials. Source
Spinach AI offers tailored solutions: sales professionals get automated CRM updates and buyer insights, product managers benefit from PRD generation and user feedback analysis, customer success teams automate onboarding and follow-ups, and engineering teams streamline sprint planning and standups. Source
Spinach AI is SOC 2 Type 2 certified (verified by EY), GDPR compliant, and HIPAA compliant. These certifications ensure the security, reliability, data integrity, confidentiality, and privacy of user data. Source
Spinach AI uses TLS and AES-256 encryption for data in transit and at rest, does not use user data for training, and offers features like SAML SSO, SCIM provisioning, admin controls, and custom data retention policies. Source
Yes, Spinach AI is compliant with both GDPR and HIPAA, ensuring secure and compliant handling of user data and healthcare information. Source
You can request access to Spinach AI's SOC 2 report by contacting [email protected]. Source
Spinach AI can be set up almost instantly. Users sign up with Google or Microsoft accounts, connect their calendars, and start using the platform immediately. Source
Spinach AI is intuitive and user-friendly, requiring no complex IT involvement. Premium users also receive onboarding support to ensure a smooth transition. Source
Customers consistently highlight Spinach AI's ease of use. For example, Dan Robidoux (Careviso) calls it a 'silent cornerstone' for daily work, and Belén Medina (Do It Consulting Group) says it's improved team communication and client interactions. Testimonials
Spinach AI stands out with tailored features for different roles, advanced AI-powered insights, seamless integrations, and customizable solutions. For example, product managers get automated roadmap meetings and PRD generation, while sales teams benefit from CRM integrations and buyer insights. Source
Spinach AI offers unmatched specificity for different user segments, automates administrative tasks, provides actionable AI insights, and integrates with popular tools. Customer testimonials highlight its positive impact on productivity and team alignment. Source
Notable success stories include Ron Meyer (Infinite Ranges) using Spinach AI for sales cycles, Sergio (AlfaDocs) for customer engagement, and Kushal Birje (EDB) for transforming meeting and project handling. Testimonials
Spinach AI helps high-performing teams by automating meeting management, improving communication, and providing actionable insights, enabling teams to focus on strategic goals and continuous improvement. Source
Spinach.ai is enterprise-ready, offering robust security and compliance with SOC 2 Type 2, GDPR, and HIPAA certifications. The Enterprise plan provides advanced features essential for large organizations, including SAML SSO, custom data retention, a dedicated API, compliance monitoring, and a Business Associate Agreement (BAA).
A manager README, also known as a "How I like to work doc," is a document that managers create and share with their direct reports. It covers topics such as the manager's principles and values, preferred communication methods, how one-on-ones are conducted, and what work requires their input. The goal is to set clear expectations and foster better working relationships. Source
Manager READMEs help skip the 'get to know you' phase, set clear expectations, share personality traits, build transparent communication, and provide a tool for self-reflection and goal-setting for managers. They can help avoid misunderstandings and foster a productive working relationship. Source
Potential drawbacks include damaging relationships if the README is not an accurate reflection of the manager, using quirks as excuses for poor behavior, substituting the README for regular meetings, and coming across as self-righteous. It's important to use the README as a tool for transparency and improvement, not as a replacement for ongoing communication. Source
Managers should ensure their README accurately reflects their management style, avoid using it as an excuse for negative traits, continue to meet regularly with their team, and introduce the README in a collaborative discussion rather than just sending it by email. Source
Manager READMEs can help set clear expectations, encourage open feedback, and clarify communication preferences, which can reduce misunderstandings and foster a more transparent, collaborative team environment. Source
Spinach AI provides a library of meeting agenda templates, guides for one-on-one meetings, and performance feedback tools to support managers in implementing effective communication and management practices. Agenda Templates
Spinach AI helps managers run meetings by automating agenda management, taking accurate meeting notes, and automating follow-up tasks. This allows managers to focus on the discussion and outcomes rather than administrative work. Source
No, manager READMEs should not replace regular one-on-one meetings. They are a tool to set expectations and foster communication, but ongoing meetings are essential for building trust and addressing issues proactively. Source
Spinach AI automates meeting documentation, action item tracking, and follow-ups, helping managers stay accountable to the commitments and communication styles outlined in their READMEs. Source
Spinach AI offers an AI Meeting Assistant, automated note-taking, workflow optimization, AI-powered insights, seamless integrations with tools like Zoom, Slack, Jira, and Salesforce, and tailored solutions for different roles such as product managers, sales, engineering, and more. Source
Yes, Spinach AI automatically captures meeting notes, action items, and outcomes, allowing users to focus on discussions without manual note-taking. Source
Spinach AI integrates with popular tools such as Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Slack, Jira, and Salesforce, enabling smooth collaboration and workflow automation. Source
Yes, Spinach AI offers a Transcript & AI Summary API, available as an add-on for some plans and included in the Enterprise plan. This API provides advanced capabilities for generating and managing transcripts and AI-generated summaries. Source
Spinach AI automates tasks such as generating sprint plans, PRDs, and managing tickets, streamlining workflows for teams and reducing administrative burdens. Source
Spinach AI analyzes user feedback to uncover trends, pain points, and opportunities, enabling teams to make data-driven decisions and improve their processes. Source
Yes, Spinach AI provides tailored solutions for various teams, including product management, engineering, sales, customer success, HR, recruiting, and finance, addressing their unique workflow and collaboration needs. Source
Spinach AI automates note-taking, action item tracking, and administrative tasks, allowing users to focus on strategic discussions and decision-making, which increases overall team productivity. Source
Spinach AI is designed for product managers, engineering teams, project managers, marketing teams, HR and recruiting, customer success, sales, and finance and accounting teams. It is suitable for any team looking to improve productivity, collaboration, and workflow automation. Source
Spinach AI addresses challenges such as manual note-taking during meetings, administrative task overload, workflow inefficiencies, difficulty uncovering insights from user feedback, and collaboration barriers across teams. Source
Spinach AI automates the creation of meeting recaps and follow-ups, ensuring that action items are tracked and nothing falls through the cracks. Source
Customers can expect increased productivity, streamlined workflows, enhanced collaboration, data-driven decision-making, customizable solutions for different teams, and improved customer engagement. Source
Yes, for example, Ron Meyer (Alliance Executive at Infinite Ranges) uses Spinach AI to manage sales cycles without pausing to take notes, and Matt Filion (Authvia) reports improved team productivity and organization. Testimonials
Industries using Spinach AI include sales, customer success, technology, revenue operations, consulting, and healthcare technology, as demonstrated in public case studies and testimonials. Source
Spinach AI offers tailored solutions: sales professionals get automated CRM updates and buyer insights, product managers benefit from PRD generation and user feedback analysis, customer success teams automate onboarding and follow-ups, and engineering teams streamline sprint planning and standups. Source
Spinach AI is SOC 2 Type 2 certified (verified by EY), GDPR compliant, and HIPAA compliant. These certifications ensure the security, reliability, data integrity, confidentiality, and privacy of user data. Source
Spinach AI uses TLS and AES-256 encryption for data in transit and at rest, does not use user data for training, and offers features like SAML SSO, SCIM provisioning, admin controls, and custom data retention policies. Source
Yes, Spinach AI is compliant with both GDPR and HIPAA, ensuring secure and compliant handling of user data and healthcare information. Source
You can request access to Spinach AI's SOC 2 report by contacting [email protected]. Source
Spinach AI can be set up almost instantly. Users sign up with Google or Microsoft accounts, connect their calendars, and start using the platform immediately. Source
Spinach AI is intuitive and user-friendly, requiring no complex IT involvement. Premium users also receive onboarding support to ensure a smooth transition. Source
Customers consistently highlight Spinach AI's ease of use. For example, Dan Robidoux (Careviso) calls it a 'silent cornerstone' for daily work, and Belén Medina (Do It Consulting Group) says it's improved team communication and client interactions. Testimonials
Spinach AI stands out with tailored features for different roles, advanced AI-powered insights, seamless integrations, and customizable solutions. For example, product managers get automated roadmap meetings and PRD generation, while sales teams benefit from CRM integrations and buyer insights. Source
Spinach AI offers unmatched specificity for different user segments, automates administrative tasks, provides actionable AI insights, and integrates with popular tools. Customer testimonials highlight its positive impact on productivity and team alignment. Source
Notable success stories include Ron Meyer (Infinite Ranges) using Spinach AI for sales cycles, Sergio (AlfaDocs) for customer engagement, and Kushal Birje (EDB) for transforming meeting and project handling. Testimonials
Spinach AI helps high-performing teams by automating meeting management, improving communication, and providing actionable insights, enabling teams to focus on strategic goals and continuous improvement. Source
Spinach.ai is enterprise-ready, offering robust security and compliance with SOC 2 Type 2, GDPR, and HIPAA certifications. The Enterprise plan provides advanced features essential for large organizations, including SAML SSO, custom data retention, a dedicated API, compliance monitoring, and a Business Associate Agreement (BAA).
If you're thinking about creating your own manager README, it's important to understand the pros and cons of writing one.
Hiba Amin
What do major tech companies like Slack, Shopify, Invision and HubSpot have in common? Manager READMEs.
Earlier this year, Spinach AI CEO and Co-Founder, Brennan McEachran shared 12 “Manager READMEs” from some of Silicon Valley’s top tech companies. Since then, there’s been a lot of chatter about the benefits of manager READMEs, but also the negative consequences that can come from them (when done wrong).
Before we dive into the pros and cons of manager READMEs, it’s important to know what they are.
Also known as a “How I like to work doc”, manager READMEs are a document that managers create and share with their direct reports, covering things like:
The list goes on.
If you’re an engineer, you’re familiar with ReadMEs when diving into someone else’s code. Manager READMEs are exactly that, except you swap code for management.
✅PRO: It’s a great way to skip the whole ‘get to know you’ phase and jump right into a productive working relationship.
✅PRO: It’s easy to set expectations between you and your direct reports. For example, if you say you’re very open and inviting to feedback, the expectation is that your direct report will provide you with that feedback.
✅PRO: It’s a great opportunity to share your personality traits with your direct reports, which can help avoid misunderstandings. For example, in Michael Lopp’s Manager README (Former VP, Product Engineering at Slack), he says: “I am an introvert […] Do not confuse my quiet with lack of engagement.”s
*It’s important to note here that if your personality trait is “rude” or “mean”, a manager README is not a scapegoat for bad behavior.
✅PRO: It can help build transparent, two-way communication with your team. Heather Foeh, former VP of CX at PathFactory (also a remote manager) uses this document to let her direct reports know that she’s never too busy for them and encourages them to reach out when they need her.
✅PRO: It’s a great tool for self-reflection and goal-setting for managers. This process gives managers a space to reflect on how they manage, as well as how they would like to manage.
🛑CON: If what you’ve written isn’t an accurate depiction of yourself, it can really hurt your relationship with your direct reports. If it’s not accurate, don’t share it with your team. Instead, use it as a goal-setting tool for yourself. In an interview with Camille Fournier, Former CTO of Rent The Runway, she said:
“I’ve seen this happen. I’ve probably done this to people. You project a particular image. You say a particular thing. You say, “I’m really open to feedback, come give me feedback, come give me feedback. Somebody believes you, naively. They come and give you feedback, and then you get mad or you react poorly or you, you know, you punish them in some way. “And [your direct report] realizes, ‘Holy crap. I’ve now damaged my relationship with my manager because I thought that they said [they were great at receiving feedback] and they just aren’t.’”
-Camille Fournier, Former CTO of Rent the Runway
🛑CON: Adding in a “quirks” section can be used as an excuse to always behave that way. It’s good to share your quirks, but be sure to work on improving on them as well. For example, in my manager’s README, she states that she’s very forgetful. She appreciates reminders and doesn’t find them annoying. Since we’ve started working together she’s created processes and found tools to ensure that she’s less forgetful. She’s working on her quirks.
🛑CON: They can be used as a substitute to meeting frequently with your team (one-on-ones, team meetings, etc). Don’t wait for your team to come to you with problems or concerns, be proactive and continue to spend time with your team frequently. That’s what’s going to help build trust over time.
🛑CON: It can come off self-righteous or pompous. To combat this, don’t just send the README in an email, sit down with your direct report and walk them through why you created it and how you hope it can help improve your working relationship.
Overall, manager READMEs can be a powerful tool for managers to onboard new team members and self-reflect on who they are (and who they want to be) as a manager. Try out the exercise for yourself. If you feel you’ve done a good and accurate job, share it with your team—or better yet, share it with another manager and ask them for feedback.
Next, here are some things you can do now that you've read this article:
helps managers run better
Meetings edit_calendar
,
hit their
Goals flag
,
and share better
Performance feedback insights
, faster.