Manual of Me – a guide to better collaboration

It would be nice if every new coworker came with a user manual. You'd know how they tick, what makes them thrive, and – most importantly – how not to accidentally drive them up the wall in the first week. That’s the whole idea behind the Manual of Me: a personal guide to understanding how someone works best, what they value, how they handle feedback, and what kind of Slack message will make their day (or ruin it).

In this article, we’ll walk you through how to create your own user manual of me, what to include, and why it’s actually a brilliant idea for improving collaboration, not just another HR fad. Whether you’re building a personal operating manual for yourself or your entire team, it’s a small effort that delivers big results.

What is the manual of me, and why does it matter?

The manual of me is precisely what it sounds like: a self-written document that outlines how to work with you. It's not therapy, but it can prevent a lot of workplace drama.

Think of it as a “how to work with me” cheat sheet. In fact, many call it a working with me document – because that’s its entire purpose. By clarifying your communication preferences, decision-making style, and work habits, you eliminate the guessing game that often leads to frustration, misunderstandings, and the occasional passive-aggressive emoji.

Want to see what this can look like in practice? Check out Calamari’s article “Work With Me – Your Employee Manual” for an in-depth breakdown of how this concept works inside a company.

It’s especially powerful in diverse, remote, or fast-growing teams, where unspoken norms can quickly become landmines. Clear expectations mean fewer conflicts and more energy for actual work (and maybe even a meme or two).

How to create your own manual of me?

So, how do you build this magical thing? It’s not rocket science, but it does take a little self-reflection. Here are the core sections every solid manual of me should include:

My values and priorities

What matters most to you at work? Autonomy? Collaboration? Finishing your coffee while it's still warm?

My working style

Are you a morning person with a color-coded calendar? Or a night owl who thrives in chaos? Let people know.

Communicating with me

Email, chat, voice memos, carrier pigeon? This is your chance to set expectations.

(Bonus reading: Work With Me for Better Communication – how sharing your style builds stronger, smoother team dynamics.)

How I make decisions

Do you go with your gut, or need a spreadsheet and three rounds of discussion?

My strengths and areas I’m working on

Everyone has superpowers – and blind spots. Be honest about both.

How I handle stress and feedback

Some of us love directness. Others require time (and maybe a snack). Spell it out.

If you’re stuck, search for manual of me questions online or browse how to work with me document prompts to get inspired.

Manual of Me – examples and templates

Need a little nudge? There are tons of manual of me examples floating around, from minimalist bullet lists to full-blown slide decks with emojis and quotes. Some folks share them as a simple PDF, others go for something more interactive.

Want to build your own from scratch? You can use tools like Notion, Google Docs, or good old Word. But if you're into doing things the smart way, try a platform like Calamari.

Calamari’s Work with me module

Calamari lets you turn your employee profile into a living, breathing work manual. With customizable fields, shared visibility, and integration with your team’s workflow, it’s an easy way to introduce how to work with me insights right into your people operations.
Explore how Calamari’s Core HR module supports this in this blog post.

How the Manual of Me improves team collaboration

This isn’t just a feel-good exercise. Companies are starting to adopt the manual of me PDF (or its online cousin) as part of onboarding, especially in remote or hybrid teams where you don’t pick up on cues in the kitchen.

Knowing whether someone needs a heads-up before meetings, prefers async updates, or is deep into guide me to work mode before noon can dramatically reduce friction. It builds psychological safety and prevents assumptions from turning into issues.

Some organizations even require every new hire to fill out a how to work with me template as part of their welcome kit – and it works.

Why every team needs a manual of me?

Let’s be real: most conflicts aren’t about major issues – they’re about tone, timing, and misunderstood intent. The user manual for each teammate is a shortcut to clarity. It says: “Hey, here’s how I show up. Here’s how I like to be approached. Let’s make this easier for both of us.”

If you want your team to function like a well-oiled machine (or at least avoid unnecessary Slack confusion), start with “working with me” documents. They’re simple, customizable, and surprisingly effective.

Creating your own how to work with me document takes under an hour, but it could save days of awkwardness, missed signals, and misaligned expectations.

So go ahead – write your manual of me. Share it with your team. And maybe, just maybe, start a new tradition that makes work… well, work better.

FAQ – Manual of Me

Still have questions? Here’s a quick rundown of the most common ones people ask when creating or sharing their Manual of Me – because yes, it’s normal to wonder where to start (and if your coworkers really want to read it).

What’s the difference between a Manual of Me and a regular employee bio?

A bio says who you are. A Manual of Me says how to work with you. It goes beyond job titles and hobbies to include preferences, communication style, and feedback expectations.

Who should create a Manual of Me?

Everyone. From interns to executives. If you work with humans, your coworkers will benefit from knowing how to collaborate with you more smoothly.

How long should my Manual of Me be?

It doesn’t need to be long. One page can be enough if it's clear and thoughtful. Think signal over noise.

Where should I store or share it?

Wherever your team will actually read it. That could be your company wiki, Notion, Google Drive, or directly inside a platform like Calamari that supports it through employee profiles.

What if my working style changes?

That’s totally normal – and expected. Your Manual of Me isn’t carved in stone. Treat it like a living document and update it when your preferences evolve.