[Experience Title]
Timeline: [start date] - [end date]
Environment: [anonymized context - company type, team size, role]
Status: Draft / Under Review / Complete
Last Updated: [date]
1. Observable Facts (Timeline)
What actually happened: (chronological, verifiable events only)
[Date 1]: - [Person/Role] said: "[exact quote or close paraphrase]" - [Person/Role] did: [observable action] - Result: [measurable outcome]
[Date 2]: - Written communication: [email/Slack content] - Meeting: [who attended, what was decided] - Observable outcome: [what changed]
My actions: - I said: "[what I actually said]" - I did: [what I actually did] - I wrote: [what I documented]
2. Communication Patterns (Observable)
What was said explicitly: - Statement A: "[quote]" - Statement B: "[quote]"
What was written: - [Email/Slack excerpt if relevant]
What was NOT said but was expected: - [Observable gap - e.g., "no one mentioned deadline"]
Communication format used: - [ ] Email - [ ] Slack / Chat - [ ] Meeting - [ ] 1-on-1 - [ ] No communication
Response patterns observed: - [Person A] responded in [time period] with [type of response] - [Person B] did not respond to [specific question]
3. Organizational Structure (Observable)
Reporting structure: - I reported to: [Role/Title - anonymized] - Team size: [number]
Decision-making process observed: - Decisions made by: [role/group] - My input requested: Yes/No
Resource allocation: - Time allocated: [hours/days] - Team members: [number] - Constraints: [observable limitations]
Written policies/procedures: - Documented: [what existed in writing] - Undocumented: [what was tribal knowledge]
4. Separation: Fact vs. Interpretation vs. Emotion
FACTS (Verifiable)
- [Event that can be proven]
- [Statement that was recorded]
- [Measurable outcome]
MY INTERPRETATION (At the time)
What I thought was happening: - [My belief about the situation]
Why I thought that: - [What led me to that conclusion]
UNCERTAINTY: - [ ] I was certain - [ ] I was guessing - [ ] I assumed based on [previous experience]
MY INTERPRETATION (Now)
What I understand now: - [Current understanding]
What changed my view: - [New information or time perspective]
UNCERTAINTY: - [ ] I'm now certain - [ ] Still uncertain about [specific aspect]
MY EMOTIONAL REACTION
How I felt: - [Emotion - e.g., frustrated, anxious, angry]
How emotions influenced my actions: - [Observable behavior change]
SPECULATION (Clearly marked)
SPECULATION: What I think might have been happening: - [Possibility A] - [Possibility B]
Why this is speculation: - No direct evidence - Based on inference from [observable pattern]
5. What I Did (Observable Actions)
Actions I took: 1. [Specific action - date] 2. [Specific action - date]
Actions I did NOT take: 1. [What I didn't do] 2. [Why I didn't do it - stated reason at the time]
Results of my actions: - Action → Observable outcome
6. Practical Lessons (Operational)
What worked: 1. [Specific action that had positive outcome] - Action: [what I did] - Result: [observable outcome]
What didn't work: 1. [Specific action that had negative/no outcome] - Action: [what I did] - Result: [observable outcome]
What was outside my control: 1. [Systemic constraint] 2. [Organizational decision]
7. Future Prevention (Concrete Actions)
Warning signs to watch for: - [ ] [Specific observable event] - [ ] [Specific communication pattern]
Questions to ask upfront: 1. [Specific question] 2. [Specific question]
Actions to take when pattern emerges: 1. [Concrete action] 2. [Concrete action]
8. References (When Available)
Industry practices compared against: - [Standard practice - with source if possible]
Internet search validation: - Search term: "[what I searched]" - Finding: [what I found] - UNCERTAINTY: [How confident am I this applies?]
No framework found for: - [Topic where I couldn't find validation]
Cross-References
Similar patterns in: - [[experience-id]] - [specific similarity]
Related to existing practice: - [[Practice Name]] - [how it relates]
Review Checklist: - [ ] Facts verified - [ ] Interpretations clearly separated - [ ] No diagnostic language used - [ ] Uncertainty explicitly stated - [ ] Actionable lessons extracted