I built a tool to automate my EM documentation duties - here's what I learned after using it for a year

I built a tool to automate my EM documentation duties - here’s what I learned after using it for a year

I Built a Tool to Automate My EM Documentation Duties - Here’s What I Learned After Using It for a Year

For the past year, I’ve been using a tool I built to handle my management documentation duties. What started as a personal solution has evolved into something beneficial for a few other managers, and I’m now considering making it available as a Software as a Service (SaaS) product.

What It Helped Me Solve

The tool addresses several key challenges that I faced in my role as an engineering manager:

  • Brain Dump Friendly: The tool allows me to write unstructured notes naturally. It organizes these notes and makes them searchable later, enabling me to capture thoughts without the pressure of structure.

  • Bias Management: I incorporated built-in systems to help combat bias—especially recency bias—during performance reviews, ultimately making evaluations fairer for my team.

  • Automated Updates: It generates daily and weekly status updates for Slack based on my notes and meetings, streamlining communication and keeping everyone informed.

  • Time Savings: The tool has saved me hours each week by reducing the need for thorough, structured writing, allowing me to focus on more important management tasks.

  • Better Team Communication: My team stays well-informed with consistent and concise updates, which has fostered a more collaborative environment.

  • Performance Tracking: It has become easier to maintain fair and comprehensive performance notes over time, ensuring that evaluations are based on accurate information.

Key Learnings from 1 Year of Usage

Reflecting on my experiences using this tool, I’ve gained several valuable insights:

  • Natural Note-Taking Leads to Better Documentation: Allowing myself to brain dump thoughts and having them automatically organized has made me more consistent with documentation.

  • Automation is Key: The ability to generate Slack updates from my daily notes and meetings has saved me significant time and effort.

  • Bias Management Matters: Implementing systematic reminders and structures for fair evaluations has improved the quality of performance reviews across the board.

Real Impact

The tool has made a noticeable impact on my work and that of my team:

  • Teams feel more informed and engaged without needing to chase after updates.
  • Direct reports receive consistent updates about ongoing work, promoting transparency.
  • I’ve freed up several hours weekly for actual management work, allowing me to focus on team development and project oversight.
  • The natural note-taking process has turned out to be brain dump friendly, encouraging more open communication.
  • Fairer performance reviews have emerged through the bias management systems, leading to better morale and trust within the team.
  • Overall communications have become more consistent and concise, contributing to a more cohesive team environment.

I’m Sharing This Because:

  1. I’m curious if other engineering managers face similar challenges.
  2. I’m looking for feedback on what features would be most valuable in a tool like this.
  3. I want to understand if this tool could help other managers in their documentation and performance evaluation processes.

Questions for the Community:

  • What’s your biggest documentation pain point as an engineering manager?
  • What tools are you currently using for these tasks?
  • What features would make you consider switching to a new tool?

Community Engagement

The response to my tool has sparked a lot of interest, and I wanted to highlight some great discussions from the community:

  • Interest in Sharing: Many of you expressed interest in seeing this tool available online, which reinforces the need for effective documentation solutions.

  • Curiosity About Functionality: There were inquiries about whether the tool is a web app or a Slack app, as well as questions about potential AI components. I’m excited to confirm that the tool does employ some AI to enhance its functionality, making it even more user-friendly.

  • Validation of Personalization: Comments highlighted the importance of creating tools that align with personal mental models rather than trying to cater to everyone’s needs. This personalization is a core philosophy behind my development process.

  • Tracking Progress: Some users articulated a need for robust tracking features for both themselves and their direct reports, particularly for career progression and performance evaluations. This feedback is invaluable as I consider future enhancements.

  • WYSIWYG and Clean Design: Users complimented the clean and focus-friendly design of the app, which encourages productivity and reduces distractions.

Final Thoughts

I’m genuinely excited about the potential this tool has to transform the way engineering managers document their work. The responses from the community have been incredibly encouraging, and I look forward to iterating on the tool based on your feedback. If you’re interested in trying it out when it becomes available, please feel free to reach out!

Your insights and experiences are invaluable as I continue to refine this tool. Let’s keep the conversation going!

This blog post captures the essence of your journey with the tool, highlighting its benefits, key learnings, and engaging with the community for feedback and

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