User manual for Martin Underhill

It’s important to know what makes people tick, and what makes them comfortable. This user manual should give you an insight into how I work best.

Conditions I like to work in

I like my work environment to be clutter-free and clean
A bit of background noise is fine, but interruptions should be kept to a minimum
I am not interested in rank/grade unless to offer support, if I’m talking to with someone less grizzled than myself

I make myself available for meetings between 10am and 3pm, which gives me time to get my head down beforehand and afterwards
I take an hour for lunch, usually between 12pm and 1pm
If I’m working from the office, I’m usually behind the laptop at around 7am and leave at 3pm (the roads are safer to cycle on at these times)
If I’m working from home I work a rough 9am to 5pm day
Having said all that, my working day can be messy; I’ll get my hours in but the school run and other life commitments can mean I sometimes catch up in the evening
Weekends are family time, so I’m strict on working only Monday to Friday; by all means contact me over the weekend, but I won’t see your message until the next working day

Slack is the best place to get hold of me for a chat through something as I usually have it open
I prefer to use a messaging service like Slack to chat as it gives me control over when I read and respond to your message
Sometimes an audio or video call is the best way to get something done; these should be diarised unless an ad-hoc call is agreed upon via messaging
Don’t text or call me on my personal number unless it’s a personal issue or an emergency
I check my emails a couple of times a day at most and aim to respond within a few of days, so don’t email with anything that needs an urgent response

Public praise (directed at me) makes me uncomfortable
Not-so-positive feedback is very welcome; if it is honest and direct, it will be received gratefully
That not-so-positive feedback can be awkward but should always be done face to face (in person or over video call)
Don’t worry about offending me: I’m pretty thick-skinned, and besides, learning is what life is about and feedback accelerates growth

Sustained, uninterrupted concentration time
After more than a decade of self reliance and risk-management as a small business owner, I need a real feeling of security from my employer, since employment means all my eggs are in one basket
A wee nudge is welcome if you’re in a rush for something and I haven’t responded as quickly as you’d’ve liked

Mixed messages – say what you mean!
Bluster; if you’re full of shit, I’ll know
I’m an introvert, so, while I really enjoy a good chat, extended periods of one to one or group interaction leave me drained
Saying ‘no’; I’m an agreeable giver but I know when to push back, even though it’s not natural or comfortable
Lots of meetings
Unnecessary meetings
@channel and @here on Slack, which should be used mindfully
Attending out of work activities: two children and no family nearby to ease the load makes social get-togethers tricky

After doing what I do for so long I have a strong intuition for the right design
Sometimes, when on the spot, my Spidey-sense will tingle, but I won’t have an answer as to why something is an issue until I’ve gone away and had some alone time to think it through
When presenting, I don’t work well with pre-prepared notes, instead I prefer to have a framework to follow and ad-lib around each point
Everything I do is done with the best intentions; if you ever think otherwise, let’s have a chat, as it’s almost certainly a misunderstanding or some missing context
I have a real knack of seeing both sides of a problem
I am very open to being proved wrong
I don’t back down easily if it’s not the right thing to do
I’m happy to ask the ‘stupid’ question on behalf of my colleagues who might not be as comfortable putting themselves in the firing line
I’m an INFP-A personality type
I love an interesting fact!