| Follow @epilepticrabbit
Laura Hilliger is a writer, educator and technologist. She’s a multimedia designer and developer, a technical liaison, a project manager, an open web advocate who is happiest in collaborative environments. She’s a co-founder of We Are Open Co-op, an Ambassador for Opensource.com, is working to help open up Greenpeace, and a Mozilla alum. Find her on Twitter and Mastodon as @epilepticrabbit
Authored Comments
People should choose their own brooms, yes, but engagement is about asking people which broom they chose and why. A good leader should have an honest relationship with a contributor. A good leader knows the reasoning behind slow or stopped contribution. With a trusting, empathetic relationship, people can work through whatever is going on. That empathy in tandem with open, transparency is what leads to the context people need to stay engaged.
There are dynamics at play in any group setting, including online groups. Different types of personalities which might reveal why certain people seem unengaged or reluctant. Careful consideration can help a leader figure out how to engage a particular kind of person. In the end, a good leader is one who helps people as individuals – that relationship is what leads to sustained engagement.
Hey Raj! Loved reading this background. I've heard bits and pieces in the past, but <3 how you talk about your own learning pathway :)