billwear.github.io · Masque Protocol

Masque Persona Kit

Pick a face with a spine. Switch personas on purpose—rituals, guardrails, and a micro-loop—without betraying your core.

Motto: Choose the self the moment needs — without losing the self beneath.

Wearing a masque isn’t pretending—it’s precision. You borrow a response style that fits the room while your values keep the steering lock engaged. The kit below gives you a compact way to define a persona, step into it, act, and step out—leaving no residue of self-betrayal.

Persona Spec Sheet

Three adjectives. Three boundaries. Entry/exit phrase. A one-liner of purpose. Keep it short so you can actually use it.

Your mask

Boundaries

Example spec (click to expand)

Name: The Calm Operator
Adjectives: calm · candid · prepared
Purpose: Maintain clarity and kindness under pressure; land one decisive next action.
Boundaries: No deception. No contempt. No overpromising.
Entry: Close laptop tabs, set timer, whisper “steady & clear.” Exit: 3-minute walk; write “What I did. What I learned.”

Entry & Exit Rituals

Rituals are toggles for attention. Keep them tiny, physical, and repeatable.

  • Entry (30–60s): Close loops (tabs, chat), set a timer, say the cue phrase, and write one target outcome for this block.
  • Exit (2–3m): Stop on time, jot the artifact & next action, run a short state reset (stand, breathe, water, walk).
  • Shutdown (end of day): One-line summary → “Done. Risks. Next.” Then take the mask off on purpose.

The Micro-Loop (live in 30-second cycles)

Notice → Name → Choose → Act → Check. That’s it.

  • Notice: Breath, body, room. What is actually happening?
  • Name: “Time pressure,” “decision fog,” “ego spike,” “confusion.” Labels shrink noise.
  • Choose: Ask, “What would this mask do?” Pick one sentence or move.
  • Act: Deliver clearly. Short, specific, kind.
  • Check: Did it help? If not, adjust and keep rolling.

Guardrails (so you stay you)

Three Gates

Signals you’re drifting

Two-Week Practice Plan

Fifteen minutes a day. Small reps, quick notes, compounding fit.

Week 1 — Fit & Feel

Week 2 — Utility & Range

Templates & Phrasebook

Print the desk card. Steal the scripts. Make progress legible.

Persona Desk Card (print this)

Name
____________________________

Adjectives
__________ · __________ · __________

Purpose
_____________________________________
Boundaries
1) _______________________________
2) _______________________________
3) _______________________________

Entry
____________________________

Exit
____________________________
Micro-Loop
Notice → Name → Choose → Act → Check

Go-to Phrases
• “Here’s the next concrete step…”
• “What outcome do we want by today?”
• “Let’s time-box this to 10 minutes.”
• “I can’t commit to that—here’s what I can do.”
Decision Note (artifact pattern) 
Decision: ______________________
Context:  one sentence
Options:  A / B / C
Why:      chosen because…
Risks:    top 1–2, with owners
Next:     one concrete step + date
Meeting Openers (persona voice) 
“Here’s our target for this block: _______. If we drift, I’ll call it.”
“Two options surfaced. I favor __ because __. Objections in two minutes?”
“Let’s write the next action before we leave: who / what / when.”
Polite Boundaries 
“I can’t do that honestly; here’s a realistic alternative.”
“I won’t speak to them without them present. Let’s invite them.”
“I don’t have the data yet. I’ll return by 3pm with a recommendation.”

FAQ

Isn’t this manipulative?

It’s disciplined empathy. You’re choosing a response style that serves the work and the people—inside non-negotiable values. If it crosses your values gate, it’s not the Masque; it’s theater. Don’t do theater.

What if the mask feels fake?

Reduce volume by 20%, increase listening by 50%, and swap one adjective. The right mask feels like posture, not costume.

How do I know it’s working?

You end blocks with artifacts, tensions de-escalate, and you feel spent but intact when you exit. That last part matters most.