Spring is almost here, your business is picking up—and suddenly, everyone on your team is driving each other crazy. Let’s see if your team could benefit from Personal User Guides.
Answer yes or no to these questions:
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Do team members often seem unsure how you like to work?
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Do you find yourself repeating the same instructions or clarifying expectations over and over?
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Are conflicts or misunderstandings slowing down productivity?
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Do you wish your team could accelerate results instead of slowing things down?
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Do you wish everyone would just know what motivates you—and what annoys you—without having to guess?
If you answered yes to more than one, it’s time to create User Guides—for you and your team.
Here’s why: in small teams, the average employee spends 2.5 hours per day clarifying tasks or resolving misunderstandings—time your team can’t afford to waste. (HR Vision)
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
What if Your Team Knew All Your “Secrets”?
The things that fire you up. The things that drive you nuts. The unwritten rules about how to work best with you.
I’ve hired people in the real estate and mortgage industry for over 30 years. I’ve made some great hires—and I’ve failed a lot.
A few years ago, I was making a critical hire: our Ops Boss®. This would be the 10th member of our team, someone working closely with me (as most integrators do with their visionaries). I was nervous—it was our first hire I hadn’t already known for months or years. And I know I’m not the right partner for everyone.
I wanted whoever took this role to be fully prepared for taking me on—and I wanted to fully understand them as well. Being a coach, I see many Team Owners and their Directors of Operations who don’t communicate well. I was committed to leveling up.
I remembered Adam Hergenrother sharing his one-page “User Guide” and did some research, eventually drawing inspiration from Jay Desai, Founder & CEO of PatientPing. It took me about a month to write my guide, get feedback from my team and close personal friends, and refine it. (In true transparency, my team told me I was too hard on myself and needed to highlight the “good things.” LOL)
Authenticity is one of our core values. I want every new hire to know our strengths and where we are a work in progress. So I incorporated my CEO User Guide into the interview process, sharing bits during interviews and the full manual before the job offer was finalized. The Ops Boss® also created her own User Guide during her first 90 days.
The Benefits of User Guides
The results were overwhelmingly positive. User Guides:
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Accelerated our pace
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Helped us have meaningful, effective conversations
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Reminded us that our relationships are as important as the work we’re doing
My CEO User Guide is 9 pages. The Ops Boss® guide is 8 pages.
Here’s a peek at what’s included:
CEO User Guide Sections:
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Preferred Method of Communication (in order of preference)
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Response Time
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Availability
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Brivity
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Thought Process
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Weekly 1:1’s
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Questions/Learning
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Feedback/Communication
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Schedule/Boundaries/Expectations
Ops Boss® User Guide Sections:
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Preferred Method of Communication (in order of preference)
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Response Time
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Availability
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How I Work
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My To-Do List
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Thought Process
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Questions/Learning
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Let’s Get Weaknesses Over With
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Strengths
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Habits I’m Working On
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Knowledge That’s Important
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Education Budget Ideas
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Feedback/Communication
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About Me Outside of Work
Excerpts from our guides:
Thought Process:
“I count on your input. You were hired because you’re an expert in your field. Share your logic—help me understand how your mind works. I process independently then bring ideas back for collaboration.”
Response Time:
“I do not live in my email—Messenger will get the fastest response.”
Questions/Learning:
“I’m learning and growing every day as a leader. I expect everyone on our team to lead themselves first.”
Feedback/Communication:
“I’m a High D. Feedback is direct and not emotionally charged. My top strength is Empathy. I value people and results equally, and direct communication deepens trust.”
Schedules/Boundaries/Expectations:
“I take relationships seriously. Our team is like family. This guide shows both my work style and my personal values.”
About Me:
“I love God, my family, and my work. I’m quirky, love pink and unicorns, enjoy antiquing, vinyl records, coffee shops, and meaningful conversations.”
From Personal to Team-Wide Transformation
The bottom line: telling people your “secrets” works. Everyone on your team benefits when you create User Guides. Communication becomes intentional, trust deepens, and results accelerate.
That’s exactly why we created the User Guides for People Workshop last year. And rather than waiting for a live class, you can now get the replay on-demand—so your whole team can create their own guides and work together seamlessly.
Bonus: This also makes a fantastic mid-year retreat activity for teams. It’s hands-on, practical, and builds stronger relationships while improving communication, clarity, and results.
What You’ll Walk Away With
✅ Christy’s personal CEO User Guide as inspiration
✅ A customizable Canva template to create your own instantly
✅ Step-by-step guidance for when and how to share it with your team
✅ A repeatable process to use across your business
✅ Fresh insights into your leadership style
✅ Actionable ways to improve communication and drive results immediately
In 49 minutes, you go from guessing how to lead to leading with clarity, heart, and confidence—and setting your team up to do the same.
Get Instant Access — Only $37
The live workshop was $79—today, the full replay is yours for just $37.
You’ll receive instant access to the video and all resources for 30 days. Less than a cup of coffee a day to transform your leadership style and create a team that actually runs itself.
Stop letting assumptions slow your business. Build your User Guide for YOU today—and guide your team to do the same.