How A Working Styles Doc Just Changed The Game…
I recently onboarded a new client, Tabitha, from Buzz Education, who came prepared with a fabulous Working Styles doc. I couldn’t believe how helpful it was to have all of that information laid out for me up front. It was simple, streamlined, and such an effective way to understand her preferences and how she likes to work.
I let her know how impactful this was, and she offered that I could use her version as a template to create my own. After drafting my version, I realized it could be just as helpful to share here—for future clients to reference and for anyone who might want a starting point to customize for their own needs. So here it is… my working styles doc:
Working Styles – Niki Bridges
Goals in Our Relationship
I’ll set you up to thrive by…
Listening deeply and translating your ideas, priorities, and goals into clear, actionable steps
Tracking progress transparently, using systems and tools you already feel comfortable with
Refining processes until they’re simple, sustainable, and actually helpful
Acting as a thought partner who you can bounce things off of
Making resources easy to access and workflows easy to follow
Checking in on you—not just the work—so our partnership feels grounded and supportive
You can help me learn and grow by…
Offering constructive feedback or alternative approaches that stretch my thinking
Asking for clarity, support, or context whenever something feels unclear or incomplete
Things That Are Important to Me
Clear goals and measurable milestones
Collaboration and open communication
Communication styles that work for everyone—please tell me your preferences! If anything feels off, I’d much rather adjust than work against your natural style.
A Bit About Me
I come from a family of entrepreneurs and have run several businesses over the years, including photography, retail, consulting, and Executive Assistant services. This has offered unique insight into what it takes to run a business, and I use that perspective daily to inform how I operate in administrative support.
Outside of the admin/ops world, I’m an artist through and through. I’m always following my curiosity and picking up new creative skills—painting, illustration, video editing, web design, crafts… you name it.
Music is a huge part of my life. My partner and I go out dancing a few times a month and spend a lot of evenings at home DJing and connecting over music.
My Working Style
Work is both personal and professional for me. I love getting to know the people I work with and genuinely care about what’s going on in their lives.
I welcome thoughtful feedback from anyone on the team. I prioritize synergy, respect, and a pleasant work environment—I think those things make everything else easier.
I love organizing and creating systems that make our goals feel possible (and less overwhelming).
I’ve managed small and medium-sized teams and get a lot of joy from helping people grow professionally.
I’m always looking for elegant, simple solutions. If something feels chaotic or frustrating, I’m probably already thinking about a system or structure that could make it smoother for you.
Working Together: Communication
Please use our organization’s emails to communicate with me.
For emergencies or time-sensitive needs, you can call or text me, but I prefer to keep most work off my phone.
If you need something by a certain time, please give me a deadline. Examples:
“This would be helpful by X date.”
In Subject Line: [Action Requested by X date]
Projects should have clear timelines and work plans.
Want to meet? Send a calendar invite. I try to keep my calendar up to date, and I will offer alternatives if needed.
I sometimes work atypical hours. This is part of the flexibility and beauty of remote, contract work. I typically try to schedule send messages outside of normal hours, but on the off-chance you receive a message from me outside of agreed-upon terms, no response is necessary unless it’s truly urgent and explicitly requested.
Logistics: Check-Ins
Our check-ins are recurring, informal meetings to assess, regroup, and set goals.
Typically weekly or biweekly, depending on workload
Usually 30–60 minutes
During check-ins, I like to:
Review project progress
Align on upcoming goals and priorities
Troubleshoot or problem-solve any blocks preventing progress
Questions for You
What priorities could you use support with right away?
What do you need from me to do your best work?
What do you want to learn or strengthen during this project, and how can I support that?
What tends to annoy you that I should know about and avoid?
How do you prefer to receive and process feedback?
Is there anything else that would help us collaborate successfully?
So tell me, do you have an active Working Styles doc that you share with new teammates? If so… what did I miss? As you know, I’m always refining my processes and would love to hear what you think I should add to make this even more helpful.
