If you show up for a meeting in the office, people will notice because they will see you. Online, if you just “show up” nobody will notice.
On the internet the fast majority of people is just lurking around, reading and watching stuff other people create. Just a small percentage is contributing by creating.
Who will people notice? Who will have a better conversation? Who will be the better virtual worker?
Within a community or team communication among the team members is essential.
If you want to succeed in a virtual team, you have to learn using social media. You have to start conversing online.
The easiest, smallest, first baby step is by commenting on blogs. Under every post are the comments of readers. Nothing big. Start small.
Fears About Speaking Online
You might have some hesitations. Some fears to express yourself in this digital world.
Havi Brooks has some great articles addressing these fears. Her topic is blogging, but it applies to almost every online conversation.
- What if people are mean to me?
- But I am not an expert!
- Nooo! Don’t make me be vulnerable!
- What if someone READS what I wrote?
Take your time. No hurry.
Why not start your exercise here? You are among like minded people. There are no stupid questions. There are no stupid answers.
So, it’s ok to have fears and reservations. It’s human. Why do you think you are reluctant to comment on blog posts sometimes?
English is not my native language. Therefor I am not commenting much.
I don't think I have anything useful to contribute.
No fears. Just not enough time.
You nailed it one more time Bas
Fear is what prevents most of the good stuff happening in our lives. It comes in many flavors, from the fear of looking stupid to the fear of success.
What do you mean no time? We all have the same amount of time in a day. Maybe it's a matter of your not using it efficiently?
I think there are two main reasons:
1. People don't want to get involved. They just want to glimpse and go away. After all a blog isn't a team meeting, is it?
2. Lack of time. If you barely scan an article you won't leave a comment. With more and more content in the Web people's attention is harder to gain. And even if you draw it people rarely share their insights as writing a quality comment takes a couple of minutes.
i agree with previous poster: i just read it and don't want anything from it.
Hi , I was busy with my graduate work. So commented a little .
I encountered this fear of expressing online in a lot of my friends. Everybody thinks that once they put a line of text on a public web page somewhere, the whole world will gather to analyze it. Nothing further from the truth. One of the big challenges we have with our startup is to get noticed. When it comes to really needing to get yourself noticed, you actually realize that the initial fear had no real basis.
I think we all feel busy. But again Havi Brooks makes a great quote: “Blogging frees you up from other stuff.” I can only confirm this. Check out http://www.fluentself.com/blog/biggification/bl...
I agree with Paul. My problem is, I thinks that once I put a line of text on a public web page somewhere, the whole world will gather to analyze it.
I agree with most of the previous comments regarding the fear to type something on a blog or to express oneself so that all can view what you think. In a way it like opening up your thought process to a whole lot of people.
I also think what has made this harder is the level of potential scrutiny from “big brother” type organisations. Be it the campany that you work for or government departments. In a greater sense we have lost a lot of the ability to trust one another. I do hope that through social networking we can reverse some of this trend.
Hey , Pretty nice idea , that will really works
“When it comes to really needing to get yourself noticed, you actually realize that the initial fear had no real basis.”
Now THAT is so true! You press the submit button, waiting for the world to come down… and … word is still fine
Okay, Bas, you've finally made me feel guilty enough to post something. You are an inspiration with all of your posts and I feel I learn more than I could ever contribute. And so I don't… But I have a couple of observations. They have to with non-project and project oriented online collaboration.
One addresses the time management issue discussed here. While I love to read the info you and others post here, I don't _have_ to post. I should do it for the greater good of the discussion, but if I don't no one will come asking me for a new deadline… (Unless you start to do that, Bas…)
The other has to do with working virtually on teams assigned to a project. Quite a different story and all tied back to your excellent observations on what a project manager really needs to focus on – the people. I find that it takes time to introduce the concept of online collaboration to folks and have them become comfortable with it (including all the “fear” stuff discussed above…). For example, we have one VP here who still uses paper letters to communicate the simplest messages. Pick you battles – we're not going to change him. But I've found that once you make the effort to set up the environment, whether it's a SharePoint web site, a Wiki site, weekly conference calls, or online video chat meetings, and you make sure the people are trained in the use of the technology, they often come to appreciate and embrace the online environment. And it does not have to be a global project. Here in Buffalo, NY, team members appreciate not having to slog across campus in the snow and 17 degree F weather for a status meeting. Log into the action item web site, join the call and away we go. Not to mention the participants have all their reference materials and use of their PC at their disposal for the meeting.
So, here's my first post and it’s a long one. Sorry about that…
-Don
Hehehehe. I am glad the old guilt-trip still works ? Seriously, I am thankful you took the time to comment.
Regarding commenting: you are quite right. People don’t have to. BUT, IF you want to improve yourself in virtual working, THEN you are obligated to yourself to comment as it is a fabulous way to train your online communication skills.
And yes, virtual working is not only global, but also local. I would be ecstatic if I can avoid the daily commute.
Isn’t the perception that most Software Developers are more likely to feel more comfortable talking to & through a computer than face to face? Or is it just the idea of interaction that is the limiting factor for many developers?
Those of us who are posting & commenting obviously aren’t included in those preconceived archtypes, & I’m finding that the new generation is also very comfortable with online communications, having grown up texting & tweeting each other even when they are able to communicate in person.
As for commenting, most of the online professional community feels some obligation to comment when a post piques their interest or they feel they have something to contribute to the discussion.
BTW, IN the spirit of learning more about online communications, how did Dimitri, Pawel, Paul & earlyflyer post their pictures in their comments? It adds to their communications.
Hi Ray,
You can have your picture next to the comments by going to
http://gravatar.com