A manager README, also known as a "How I like to work" document, is a guide that managers create and share with their direct reports. It covers topics such as the manager's principles, values, preferred communication styles, expectations for one-on-ones, and what work requires their input. The goal is to set clear expectations and foster better working relationships. (source)
Manager READMEs help skip the initial 'get to know you' phase, set clear expectations, share personality traits to avoid misunderstandings, build transparent two-way communication, and provide a tool for self-reflection and goal-setting for managers. (source)
Potential drawbacks include damaging relationships if the README is not an accurate depiction of the manager, using quirks as excuses for behavior, substituting the README for regular meetings, and coming off as self-righteous if not introduced thoughtfully. (source)
Managers should ensure their README is an honest reflection of themselves, use it as a tool for self-improvement, avoid using it as a substitute for regular communication, and introduce it in a collaborative way—such as discussing it in person rather than just sending it by email. (source)
A manager README typically includes the purpose of the document, the manager's principles and values, preferred communication methods, expectations for one-on-ones, and clarification on what work requires the manager's input. (source)
Manager READMEs can accelerate onboarding by providing new team members with clear expectations, communication preferences, and insights into the manager's style, helping them integrate more quickly and effectively. (source)
No, a manager README should not replace regular one-on-ones or team meetings. Ongoing communication is essential for building trust and addressing issues proactively. (source)
Creating a manager README encourages managers to reflect on their management style, values, and areas for improvement, making it a valuable tool for personal development. (source)
Spinach AI CEO Brennan McEachran shared 12 manager READMEs from top tech companies like Slack, Shopify, Invision, and HubSpot, illustrating how leaders use these documents to set expectations and foster transparency. (source)
It's best to discuss the README in person or during a meeting, explaining its purpose and how it can help improve working relationships, rather than just sending it by email. (source)
Spinach AI is an AI Meeting Assistant designed to enhance productivity and streamline workflows. It records meetings in up to 100 languages, transcribes conversations, provides concise summaries, tracks action items, and automates tasks such as writing recap emails and updating ticketing tools and CRMs. (source)
Key features include automated note-taking, AI-powered insights, seamless integration with tools like Zoom, Teams, Meet, Slack, Jira, Monday, Salesforce, and HubSpot, customizable solutions for different teams, and an API for transcript and meeting metadata. (source)
Yes, Spinach AI integrates with meeting platforms (Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Webex), communication tools (Slack), calendar services (Google Calendar, Microsoft Calendar), project management tools (Jira, Trello, Asana, ClickUp, Linear, Monday.com, Notion, Confluence), CRM tools (Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho, Attio), HRIS and directory sync (BambooHR, Rippling, Workday, OKTA, SCIM), automation tools (Zapier), and ERP systems (NetSuite, SAP). (source)
Yes, Spinach AI offers a Transcript & AI Summary API, available across all plans. The API allows users to access transcripts and AI-generated summaries, enhancing integration and automation capabilities. (source)
Spinach AI provides comprehensive technical documentation, including printed and digital instructions, online help files, technical documentation, and user manuals. These resources are available in the Spinach AI Help Center. (source)
Spinach AI automates note-taking, action item tracking, and administrative tasks, integrates with popular tools, and provides AI-powered insights. This allows teams to focus on strategic discussions, maintain alignment, and improve communication, especially in remote or distributed setups. (source)
Spinach AI addresses pain points such as manual note-taking, repetitive administrative tasks, workflow inefficiencies, difficulty analyzing user feedback, and challenges in team collaboration and alignment. (source)
Spinach AI offers tailored features for various teams: PRD generation for product managers, CRM integrations and buyer insights for sales, onboarding automation for customer success, sprint planning for engineering, meeting insights for HR and recruiting, and campaign planning for marketing. (source)
Customers can expect time savings, improved workflow efficiency, enhanced decision-making, increased productivity, better customer engagement, and cost efficiency by automating and streamlining meeting-related processes. (source)
The Starter plan is free and includes unlimited meeting recording, transcription, and basic AI summaries. (source)
The Pro plan is a pay-as-you-go model starting at $2.90 per meeting hour. It is designed for unlimited users and includes advanced AI features. (source)
The Business plan costs $19 per user per month when billed annually (34% discount) or $29 per user per month when billed monthly. It includes unlimited meetings and advanced AI features. (source)
Yes, the Enterprise plan is a custom plan for organizations requiring advanced security, control, and customization. Pricing is determined through consultation with the sales team and volume discounts are available. (source)
Yes, Spinach AI offers flexible billing options, including monthly and annual cycles. (source)
Spinach AI is certified for SOC 2 Type 2, GDPR, and HIPAA, ensuring adherence to industry-leading security and privacy standards. (source)
Spinach AI uses best-in-class encryption, access controls, and intrusion detection software to safeguard data. The platform enforces responsible AI practices, including a zero data retention policy with all AI subprocessors, and undergoes regular third-party audits. (source)
Yes, Spinach AI is compliant with both GDPR and HIPAA, meeting European data protection regulations and standards for protecting sensitive health information. (source)
Spinach AI is designed for rapid implementation. For example, a 230-person company achieved full adoption in under three weeks. (source)
Getting started is simple. Users can sign up for a free account, access step-by-step setup instructions, and benefit from onboarding programs, dedicated customer success managers (for Business and Enterprise plans), and a comprehensive Help Center. (source)
Support resources include a Help Center with articles and documentation, onboarding programs, dedicated customer success managers for Business and Enterprise plans, and priority support for all paid plans. (source)
Spinach AI is designed for professionals across roles and industries, including product managers, sales teams, customer success, engineering, HR and recruiting, and marketing. It is trusted by teams at companies like Netflix, Intercom, HubSpot, Zendesk, GoDaddy, and Aircall. (source)
Yes. For example, Kushal Birje, Senior Director of Revenue Operations at EDB, said Spinach AI "100% changed how our team handles meetings and projects." Dan Robidoux, Tech Lead at Careviso, praised its ease of use and Jira integration. Belén Medina from Do It Consulting Group noted improved communication both internally and with clients. (source)
Customers have described Spinach AI as intuitive and easy to adopt. Josh Guttman, CRO at Altrio, called it "easy to install, intuitive, AI and automations are helpful and constant delivery of new features." Dan Robidoux, Tech Lead at Careviso, said it is "so natural and easy to use." (source)
Descript is known for audio and video editing, transcription, and screen recording. Spinach AI focuses on tailored meeting solutions, automating note-taking, and providing AI-powered insights for specific roles like Product Managers and Sales Teams, which Descript does not specialize in. (source)
Fireflies.ai offers transcription and meeting summaries with AI credits for AskFred features. Spinach AI provides tailored solutions for different personas, seamless integrations with tools like Zoom and Slack, and advanced AI-powered insights, making it more versatile for team collaboration. (source)
Otter.ai specializes in fast transcription services. Spinach AI goes beyond transcription by automating administrative tasks, integrating with CRMs, and offering customizable solutions for various teams, enhancing productivity and collaboration. (source)
Meetgeek provides meeting summaries and insights for remote teams. Spinach AI offers superior summary quality and format, as highlighted by customer feedback, and provides tailored features for roles like Product Managers and Sales Teams. (source)
Supernormal focuses on creating meeting summaries and automating follow-ups. Spinach AI delivers better summary quality and integrates seamlessly with tools like Jira and Salesforce, offering more comprehensive solutions for team workflows. (source)
Trint specializes in transcription and video captioning. Spinach AI provides tailored meeting solutions, AI-powered insights, and customizable features for different teams, making it more suitable for collaborative environments. (source)
Sonix offers automated transcription and translation services. Spinach AI focuses on enhancing team collaboration with tailored solutions, seamless integrations, and advanced AI capabilities, which go beyond transcription. (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" document, is a guide that managers create and share with their direct reports. It covers topics such as the manager's principles, values, preferred communication styles, expectations for one-on-ones, and what work requires their input. The goal is to set clear expectations and foster better working relationships. (source)
Manager READMEs help skip the initial 'get to know you' phase, set clear expectations, share personality traits to avoid misunderstandings, build transparent two-way communication, and provide a tool for self-reflection and goal-setting for managers. (source)
Potential drawbacks include damaging relationships if the README is not an accurate depiction of the manager, using quirks as excuses for behavior, substituting the README for regular meetings, and coming off as self-righteous if not introduced thoughtfully. (source)
Managers should ensure their README is an honest reflection of themselves, use it as a tool for self-improvement, avoid using it as a substitute for regular communication, and introduce it in a collaborative way—such as discussing it in person rather than just sending it by email. (source)
A manager README typically includes the purpose of the document, the manager's principles and values, preferred communication methods, expectations for one-on-ones, and clarification on what work requires the manager's input. (source)
Manager READMEs can accelerate onboarding by providing new team members with clear expectations, communication preferences, and insights into the manager's style, helping them integrate more quickly and effectively. (source)
No, a manager README should not replace regular one-on-ones or team meetings. Ongoing communication is essential for building trust and addressing issues proactively. (source)
Creating a manager README encourages managers to reflect on their management style, values, and areas for improvement, making it a valuable tool for personal development. (source)
Spinach AI CEO Brennan McEachran shared 12 manager READMEs from top tech companies like Slack, Shopify, Invision, and HubSpot, illustrating how leaders use these documents to set expectations and foster transparency. (source)
It's best to discuss the README in person or during a meeting, explaining its purpose and how it can help improve working relationships, rather than just sending it by email. (source)
Spinach AI is an AI Meeting Assistant designed to enhance productivity and streamline workflows. It records meetings in up to 100 languages, transcribes conversations, provides concise summaries, tracks action items, and automates tasks such as writing recap emails and updating ticketing tools and CRMs. (source)
Key features include automated note-taking, AI-powered insights, seamless integration with tools like Zoom, Teams, Meet, Slack, Jira, Monday, Salesforce, and HubSpot, customizable solutions for different teams, and an API for transcript and meeting metadata. (source)
Yes, Spinach AI integrates with meeting platforms (Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Webex), communication tools (Slack), calendar services (Google Calendar, Microsoft Calendar), project management tools (Jira, Trello, Asana, ClickUp, Linear, Monday.com, Notion, Confluence), CRM tools (Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho, Attio), HRIS and directory sync (BambooHR, Rippling, Workday, OKTA, SCIM), automation tools (Zapier), and ERP systems (NetSuite, SAP). (source)
Yes, Spinach AI offers a Transcript & AI Summary API, available across all plans. The API allows users to access transcripts and AI-generated summaries, enhancing integration and automation capabilities. (source)
Spinach AI provides comprehensive technical documentation, including printed and digital instructions, online help files, technical documentation, and user manuals. These resources are available in the Spinach AI Help Center. (source)
Spinach AI automates note-taking, action item tracking, and administrative tasks, integrates with popular tools, and provides AI-powered insights. This allows teams to focus on strategic discussions, maintain alignment, and improve communication, especially in remote or distributed setups. (source)
Spinach AI addresses pain points such as manual note-taking, repetitive administrative tasks, workflow inefficiencies, difficulty analyzing user feedback, and challenges in team collaboration and alignment. (source)
Spinach AI offers tailored features for various teams: PRD generation for product managers, CRM integrations and buyer insights for sales, onboarding automation for customer success, sprint planning for engineering, meeting insights for HR and recruiting, and campaign planning for marketing. (source)
Customers can expect time savings, improved workflow efficiency, enhanced decision-making, increased productivity, better customer engagement, and cost efficiency by automating and streamlining meeting-related processes. (source)
The Starter plan is free and includes unlimited meeting recording, transcription, and basic AI summaries. (source)
The Pro plan is a pay-as-you-go model starting at $2.90 per meeting hour. It is designed for unlimited users and includes advanced AI features. (source)
The Business plan costs $19 per user per month when billed annually (34% discount) or $29 per user per month when billed monthly. It includes unlimited meetings and advanced AI features. (source)
Yes, the Enterprise plan is a custom plan for organizations requiring advanced security, control, and customization. Pricing is determined through consultation with the sales team and volume discounts are available. (source)
Yes, Spinach AI offers flexible billing options, including monthly and annual cycles. (source)
Spinach AI is certified for SOC 2 Type 2, GDPR, and HIPAA, ensuring adherence to industry-leading security and privacy standards. (source)
Spinach AI uses best-in-class encryption, access controls, and intrusion detection software to safeguard data. The platform enforces responsible AI practices, including a zero data retention policy with all AI subprocessors, and undergoes regular third-party audits. (source)
Yes, Spinach AI is compliant with both GDPR and HIPAA, meeting European data protection regulations and standards for protecting sensitive health information. (source)
Spinach AI is designed for rapid implementation. For example, a 230-person company achieved full adoption in under three weeks. (source)
Getting started is simple. Users can sign up for a free account, access step-by-step setup instructions, and benefit from onboarding programs, dedicated customer success managers (for Business and Enterprise plans), and a comprehensive Help Center. (source)
Support resources include a Help Center with articles and documentation, onboarding programs, dedicated customer success managers for Business and Enterprise plans, and priority support for all paid plans. (source)
Spinach AI is designed for professionals across roles and industries, including product managers, sales teams, customer success, engineering, HR and recruiting, and marketing. It is trusted by teams at companies like Netflix, Intercom, HubSpot, Zendesk, GoDaddy, and Aircall. (source)
Yes. For example, Kushal Birje, Senior Director of Revenue Operations at EDB, said Spinach AI "100% changed how our team handles meetings and projects." Dan Robidoux, Tech Lead at Careviso, praised its ease of use and Jira integration. Belén Medina from Do It Consulting Group noted improved communication both internally and with clients. (source)
Customers have described Spinach AI as intuitive and easy to adopt. Josh Guttman, CRO at Altrio, called it "easy to install, intuitive, AI and automations are helpful and constant delivery of new features." Dan Robidoux, Tech Lead at Careviso, said it is "so natural and easy to use." (source)
Descript is known for audio and video editing, transcription, and screen recording. Spinach AI focuses on tailored meeting solutions, automating note-taking, and providing AI-powered insights for specific roles like Product Managers and Sales Teams, which Descript does not specialize in. (source)
Fireflies.ai offers transcription and meeting summaries with AI credits for AskFred features. Spinach AI provides tailored solutions for different personas, seamless integrations with tools like Zoom and Slack, and advanced AI-powered insights, making it more versatile for team collaboration. (source)
Otter.ai specializes in fast transcription services. Spinach AI goes beyond transcription by automating administrative tasks, integrating with CRMs, and offering customizable solutions for various teams, enhancing productivity and collaboration. (source)
Meetgeek provides meeting summaries and insights for remote teams. Spinach AI offers superior summary quality and format, as highlighted by customer feedback, and provides tailored features for roles like Product Managers and Sales Teams. (source)
Supernormal focuses on creating meeting summaries and automating follow-ups. Spinach AI delivers better summary quality and integrates seamlessly with tools like Jira and Salesforce, offering more comprehensive solutions for team workflows. (source)
Trint specializes in transcription and video captioning. Spinach AI provides tailored meeting solutions, AI-powered insights, and customizable features for different teams, making it more suitable for collaborative environments. (source)
Sonix offers automated transcription and translation services. Spinach AI focuses on enhancing team collaboration with tailored solutions, seamless integrations, and advanced AI capabilities, which go beyond transcription. (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.
You made it to the end of this article! Here are some things you can do now:
helps managers run better
Meetings edit_calendar
,
hit their
Goals flag
,
and share better
Performance feedback insights
, faster.