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Avoid Common Early-Stage Mistakes: Build Strong Teams with the Manual of Me.

  • 7 days ago
  • 2 min read

In the early stages of a startup, most attention goes to product development and idea validation. That is understandable. But at this stage, the team often determines success or failure. Many young companies make similar mistakes. They underestimate interpersonal dynamics. They lose time due to misunderstandings. They postpone investing in a healthy communication culture.


One simple but powerful tool can help prevent these issues from the beginning: the Manual of Me.



What is a Manual of Me?


A Manual of Me is a structured self-description. Each team member reflects on how they work best and documents their preferences for communication and collaboration.


It typically answers questions such as:


  • What is my preferred working style (e.g., early mornings vs. late afternoons)?

  • How do I prefer to give and receive feedback?

  • What situations stress me, and how can others support me?

  • Which communication formats work best for me?


The goal is clarity. Not personality analysis, not labeling. Just transparency about how each person operates.


How to integrate it into your team?


  1. Each team member completes their own Manual of Me and shares it with the team. Participation should include everyone, from founders to working students. Alignment only works when it involves the whole group.


  2. Schedule a dedicated session where each person presents their manual and answers questions. This creates space for clarification and mutual understanding.

  3. Apply the insights in everyday collaboration. Use them in feedback rounds and one-on-one meetings. Revisit the Manual of Me when new team members join or when roles change.


Consistency matters. The impact unfolds over time.


Why it works?


A Manual of Me builds trust and creates shared understanding. It makes expectations visible and supports smoother collaboration, especially in hybrid teams or during onboarding phases.


At first, this level of openness may feel unusual. However, teams that consistently practice it often prevent common early-stage problems such as:

  • Misunderstandings that waste time and energy

  • Conflicts about work styles or feedback processes

  • A lack of psychological safety that limits innovation


By making working preferences explicit, teams reduce friction and strengthen cooperation.


Voices from the MAX!mize Teams:


"MAX!mize played a very important role in our journey. The workshops taught us the fundamentals of company building. Before joining, we were purely a group of scientists with little entrepreneurial experience. One of the very first workshops gave us a real aha moment: we realized the importance of the team. We learned that assembling the right team is one of the most critical factors for a company’s success." Ali Shaygan Nia, FlexPower


Conclusion


Strong teams do not develop by chance. They require reflection, open communication, and the willingness to discuss how collaboration should work.


The Manual of Me is a simple and practical tool that helps founders and teams avoid typical early-stage mistakes. It supports the development of a healthy and transparent team culture from the start. In increasingly hybrid and diverse work environments, that clarity can make a decisive difference.


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