Trying to figure out someone’s work quirks from those little daily interactions is a real head-scratcher and mostly a reverse-engineering process. This Document is for anyone who is slightly interested in knowing me, mostly in the work context. Most of what you’ll find here comes from the generous feedback shared with me throughout my long career. I am grateful to all of them.
If you want to learn about my work experiences, the best place to look is my LinkedIn profile.
When I work …
I tell the truth.
Even if it is uncomfortable and sounds not-so-nice. Due to my position, I might have more information and might not sometimes have the liberty to discuss them, however, I will always try to stay faithful.
I love order, consistency and regularity.
It helps me get everything organized and put into the process. I don’t mind surprises, just not too many. A confluence page with a table in it is my happy place : ) You will mostly find my desk crowded and messy, it is the exact opposite of my head. I like plans that work, with a bit of adjustment on the way.
I work hard.
I have done it since I was little. I also have problems with people who don’t work as hard since the amount of work required for a task rarely scares me.
I tend to question common beliefs regularly.
I see productive disagreement as an excellent tool for growth and excellence in a field where absolute truths rarely exist. Even when I disagree with others, I admit that they have valid points.
It is essential for me to understand the logic behind arguments.
It helps me understand the other persons’ belief system, mindset and train of thought. That leads me to ask many questions which require no immediate answers. Even when I agree with others, I keep questioning with the hope of discovering our blind spots.
I don’t brag about my accomplishments.
It’s a team effort. Always. I do keep a brag-sheet that I consult with my manager and my coach but do not feel comfortable sharing in public.
My Shortcomings…
I sometimes get emotional about work.
I am chronically overthinking about work, and therefore have constantly a lot of running ‘threads’ in my head. The emotions they generate seldom leak into my interactions with people. I am working on it.
I am recovering sarcastic
I sometimes say the exact opposite of what I mean, with a hidden smile. Occasionally, this misses the target creating weird interactions.
I talk, sometimes a lot
Although I prefer written communication, I tend to dominate and steer conversations when I feel the need. This might lead to creating an expectation I do this all the time, resulting in people being more and more reluctant to speak up with me present.
I can be harsh with people, underplaying their achievements
When I have the feeling that people stop caring for whatever reason about things I do care about, without an argument, I can create a not-so-safe environment. I am working constantly on my ratio of praise vs feedback.
Logistics
My most productive time is in the afternoon and night.
And I might be grumpy in the mornings as a result. But bear with me. If you receive anything from me on off-hours, feel free to ignore them until the morning.
For day-to-day communication, I prefer asynchronous channels (Email, Slack, Text).
I don’t particularly appreciate being interrupted, so asynchronous channels are my thing. I will get back to you eventually. I see it all. By default, my messages are always NOT URGENT, I will always flag when this is otherwise.
For discussions, I prefer written briefs.
Talk is cheap. Writing down always forces the mind to get more rigorous, and it makes tracking/accountability easier. I love detailed emails, I would rather spend one hour writing an email with the right context and information instead of jumping into a meeting for 30min.
Meetings with me are optional
When I schedule something, by default, your attendance is not mandatory. Let me know which times work best for you so we can reschedule. I will always flag when it is otherwise
Stuff I think a lot…
- map is not the terrain
- should vs will vs is
- Writing is nature’s way of telling us how lousy our thinking is. (Leslie Lamport)
- Trust is earned in drops and lost in buckets.
- Responsibility vs Accountability
- figure out what game you’re playing
- Good apple vs bad apple
- Framing, framing and reframing
- lookout, analyser, solver and executor roles (and they are mistaken for one another)
FACTS
- Born in Bolu, raised in Istanbul, Turkey.
- Studied Mathematics and Informatik in France.
- Moved to Berlin in 2016.
- Married, one daughter.
- Plays volleyball in the lower division in Berlin.