Jeff’s Typical Work Style

The following are professional work style habits. They are not expectations for others, but tips for understanding how I often go about my work.

1. I value integrity and am deeply motivated by my personal values.  
2. I believe in teamwork – “the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.” I welcome cooperation and collaboration.
3. While I am competitive, something I have been as long as I can remember, I try to focus my competitiveness on bettering myself and competing to love others better.  
4. I like to be part of creating a work environment that is positive and rewarding. I want us to enjoy our jobs and feel good about our effort at the end of each day.   
5. I try to avoid micromanaging. I trust people to follow through on their work and I want to give them the freedom to achieve goals in their own way.
6. I invite constructive feedback on my leadership. I believe feedback from supervisors, colleagues, and peers is necessary for a complete understanding of our leadership style. 
7. I value community among co-workers. I prefer we get together as a group sometimes and use these times not only to complete tasks, but to have fun and recognize accomplishments. 
8. I prefer teams I am on to have a clear understanding of our reason for existing and outcomes to achieve.   
9. I am constantly seeking to learn more. I take time each week to read and sharpen my mind. I encourage others to do the same and am a big supporter of opportunities for professional development. 
10. I believe diversity is important and I respect those who are different from me. Diversity offers me new ways of thinking about ideas and helps me understand people who have travelled different journeys than I have.    
11. I prefer to solve problems in an organized manner. I usually have a clear plan of action. I prefer not to be rushed into important decisions. Although I do fine when placed on the spot, I prefer to have time to prepare more.
12. I like to know the purpose of anything on which I am going to spend my time. “Why?” is a common question I like to ask. After completing a project, I like to evaluate and/or assess the success of it. 
13. I am honest and open with people. Because I handle most issues in a rational manner, I sometimes overlook other people’s emotional investment in issues. 
14. I seek first to understand, then be understood. I listen carefully and ask questions before offering any input. 
15. I finish what I start. I like to complete projects on time and sometimes early. I expect others to follow through on their responsibilities if we agree on them. If we don’t meet our goals, I try to offer grace and understanding, as long as we know we did our best.
16. I use resources prudently. I don’t want to waste money or other people’s time. I want to be a good steward of my time and money.
17. I believe a team’s “buy-in” or commitment to a project is essential. I err on the side of including more people in decisions. 
18. I accept the reality of mistakes and make every effort to learn from them. I forgive both myself and others for mistakes.
19. Under stress I will usually withdraw and collect myself before returning to the situation. I rarely exhibit anger.
20. I agree with the research that links physical exercise to greater satisfaction and production in work. I try to exercise regularly, eat healthy, and sleep sufficiently.
21. When people first meet me they sometimes note my seriousness or intensity. It usually takes me a little while to loosen up and let my sense of humor come out.
22. I appreciate the history and context of issues and find that I have more empathy and understanding if I learn about what led something to exist.
23. I try to over-communicate. I like to be as transparent as possible and not hide information unless there is a compelling organizational reason to do so.
24. I work hard at appreciating and celebrating my colleagues. I want to be intentional about reminding them of their value and impact.
25. I want myself and others to come to work excited for most days. Although I was not an optimistic person most of my life, the past decade I have worked much harder at being grateful and appreciating what I/we have been given.