Guide to running a ways-of-working session with important people you work with regularly. This is designed for early-career people, so please adjust if you're at a more senior level.

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What’s a ‘How We Work’?

30–90 min conversation dedicated entirely to communicating about how you’re going to communicate. Before you get into the fray of the work itself, give yourself a foundation.

🚫 You don’t do work. ✅ You talk about how you work.

From macro things like working styles through to micro things like “should we share creative rounds on email, or save directly into a folder?”

Big personality differences mean everyone needs to flex their style. Small annoyances can end up totally derailing relationships. Talking through how you communicate day to day with someone can clear up/avoid an incredible amount of friction.

Who should you do one with?

Anyone you interact with often (daily or weekly) where the relationship really affects your job.

• Your manager
• Regular relationships (teammates, key cross-functional stakeholders)
• People you start working with on priority projects (project partners, agencies, etc.)

When should you do it?

• Typically: when you’re starting a new relationship or kicking off a new project.
• Also: when a relationship needs a reset and things have gone a bit wonky. So many problems at work come down to tiny communication misfires.