Your Toaster Has a Manual. Does Your Leadership?

We have user manuals for almost everything. Your phone. Your car. Even your toaster.

They tell us how things work, what to avoid, and how to get the best results.

And yet, when it comes to one of the most complex systems people interact with every day - another human - we expect everyone to just figure it out.

That’s why I’m a big fan of leaders creating and sharing user manuals (sometimes called a “How to Work With Me” guide) with their people. Why? Because like any good manual, it removes guesswork, builds trust, and helps people succeed faster.

Still not convinced? Here are five ways a user manual helps:

1. It reduces uncertainty and friction

2. It builds trust and psychological safety

3. It improves performance and decision-making

4. It role models authenticity and vulnerability

5. It sets your people up for success

Now you may be wondering how to create one. And this is where it differs from the manual for your toaster - humans are a little more nuanced than a few buttons and settings.

Let me share a simple three-section structure I use with leaders in my development programmes. It’s a practical starting point - and you can easily adapt it to suit your organisation and your people.

Section 1: Who I Am

• My Superpowers - If I were a superhero, what strengths do I bring to the team?

• What Energises Me - What motivates and fuels me?

• My Triggers and Hot Buttons - What situations or behaviours tend to derail me?

• How You’ll Know I’m Stressed (and How to Support Me) - What stress looks like for me and what helps me reset?

Section 2: How I Work

• My Working Style - How I naturally operate day to day.

• How I Like to Communicate - My preferences for updates, meetings, and messages.

• How I Make Decisions - How I process information and reach conclusions.

• How I Give and Receive Feedback - What helps feedback land well.

• How I Handle Conflict - How I respond to tension and what keeps me constructive.

Section 3: How I Work With Others

• What I Value Most in Others - The qualities that matter to me.

• What Builds and Breaks Trust for Me - The behaviours that strengthen - or erode - trust.

But here’s the important part: don’t stop with your own manual.

Once you’ve modelled it as a leader, invite your team to create theirs too. When everyone shares how they work best, you move from assumption to understanding.

And that’s the real point of user manuals . . .

They aren’t about control. They’re about clarity. They turn unspoken expectations into shared agreements - and in doing so, they strengthen trust, respect, and performance across the whole team.

Because if we believe manuals help us get the best out of machines, imagine what they can do for humans!

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If you’d like to discuss how this could work in your organisation - or you’re looking for practical and effective ways to help your leaders step up their greatness - please contact us. We’d be delighted to explore what would work for you and your team.