What I have learned from my online community

This is my entry to Robert Hruzek’s monthly group writing series What I learned from Community at Middlezone Musings

This learning business can be tricky can’t it? Personally I believe that there is learning potential in everything I do but I know people who tell me that they have learned all they want to. Really. Often that is prefaced by something along the lines of ” I am too old to be starting something new..” That might be the difference between those who engage with new media and those who not only actively distance themselves from it but also go out of their way to comment on others who do. I don’t want to sound too cranky about this because I have had successes in changing views on this topic by telling my online community stories – and for that I have my online community friends to thank.

My use of this blog, Linkedin and Twitter has transformed my learning over the past couple of years.

When I started blogging I was really quite scared. I was challenged to put my thoughts in writing and post them for the world to see – should they of course find me.  I was ( and still am ) immensely grateful to those people who left comments in the early days – and drew me to their own blogs.  The breadth of topics covered was huge and I loved skipping through my RSS feeds to see who was saying what and why – and posting my own comments.

After a while  I realised how valuable this could also be to my business.  And by adding Linkedin to the mix the knowledge potential grew and grew. …and then came along Twitter. My toolkit was looking pretty full of useful tools now.

So here are some thoughts about what have I learned from my online community

• I have learned that it is possible to develop real friendships with people I am unlikely ( tho it is not impossible!) to meet but who share interests
• With my coaching hat on I have broadened my understanding of issues we all face – because my online community is generous in chipping in and helping others out when problems arise
• As an HR professional I mix with others in this very broad field and have learned about new ideas, how challenges have been successfully met, research findings to improve practice , formed bonds with others in this often misunderstood  and undervalued area of work
• I have learned what people who – on the face of it – would be competitors are doing  . And have found ways to collaborate rather than compete
• From a wider community point of view I have  linked up with teachers and other educationalists to gain a better insight to the work being done with young people
• I know far more about people in the public eye that I admire ( or who fascinate me) through their Twitter feeds
• As well as weblinks to great writers I have followed book and music recommendations

I could go on -  in fact each day I learn something new so I will.

But of all of the learning I think what has touched me most is that the community I inhabit cares. I regularly see tweets asking where someone is and read posts sharing knowledge and advice that will help . On one day I tweeted that I was feeling a bit discouraged and several of my followers responded immediately with words of encouragement.

My online community is a great – and thank you for being part of it!