 Hey guys, I'm just waiting for the stationery to come. I know I have seen some faces in the hallway I saw that people were either bored They were questioning themselves by they were here and The fun Indian guy was laughing at them. That's me. Okay Okay, so my sessions are always It's not monotonous. It's always two-way session. So today in my session I had created a slide deck, but I'm not using it. Okay Last-minute changes. I know I'm walking myself in a disaster But yeah, so I'm I'm interested to do some activities and not just deliver some content I want you guys to work on something and from that probably will make a curry But you have to get the bread. That's not on me. I'm not getting the bread for you guys. Sorry That's all the joke. Okay Okay, I'm still waiting for the paper to here to arrive once it's here probably will start the session But in the meanwhile, let me introduce myself. My name is Pratham ish I'm a technical support engineer working for a hat in Pune, India But at the same time, I'm a volunteer for Mozilla So I'm a community manager who is taking care of the global Mozilla community and kind of acting as a voluntarily project manager for them helping them with some projects for the community and I've been doing this for a lot of time and that's the reason I thought of Proposing a talk in DevCon which can help me to share my experience of making a curry with simple ingredients in it All right, I hope The papers are good Thank you Yeah, you can just Okay, so how many of you are community managers? Anyone a community manager so far Very good question so so Community is nothing but a group of people agreed Yes, so have you worked with people and help them to get them into some specific direction? Have you mentored people as a group of people? Have you mentored a community a Group of people so when I say community it's group of people. Okay a community could be any community it could be a community doing yoga together in the morning or PUBG community we have a lot of PUBG communities in India Those kids play PUBG games all the time then we have Linux communities. We have Mozilla communities Community is group of people. Okay, so have you ever worked with a group of people in such a way that you are Asking them to do something for you or for the project Yes Okay, so I assume most of you Have some idea about managing few people right? Okay, but in this session I'm going to do something different. Okay, I will Take you out from the very typical space which we work every day as in the communities which we work every day And we are going to do something new which I've never done so far in any of my sessions and which is Starting with the diagram. Okay, so I want you to have Two three papers if you can and some pens. Let me know once everyone is ready. I Don't look there. I'm not using my slight pick And I've been instructed that the camera can only cover this screen so I cannot come out I'm wearing good clothes as far as I know Okay, how many of you are technical Technical people as in technical engineers engineers anyone people from science pure sciences Okay, pure from people from commerce background as in commerce day-to-day commerce or arts Okay, good Okay, so now how many of you have? Ever heard of any startup or work with a startup. I'm just asking some questions so that I can Channelize my session. Okay, good How many of you want to transform the world? Transform the world. Okay, so now I Want you to think of one idea on which you would like to have your own startup or your project or a product Okay, example. I'm single. Okay. It's a very funny example. I'm Indian. I'm single funny. Ha ha ha. Okay, so I've always dreamed of a project Which will create a virtual girlfriend? Okay, that's single guys in India think of virtual girlfriend. Okay, so a girlfriend a Cybertron Probably so my the the project which I would like to work on could be a virtual girlfriend Okay, I don't have want to have a physical girlfriend because I don't have money So I would like to have a virtual girlfriend. Okay, so that is one project which I have in my mind That might be my idea. Okay, so do you have any idea in your mind on which you would like to create a project or? Have your own startup or product? Please write it down So some people want to create VR applications. They want to have a startup Which will have some VR application my startup. Yes No, it could be anything you want to take yoga to next level That is your project or startup Anything any idea it could be technical or non-technical you just I just want you to write in one sentence. What is that idea? We are not going to use anyone's or abuse anyone's copyright. Okay. The idea is his idea. Don't copy it looking What is the reality? Yes, please write one idea you have 30 seconds It could be any funny idea out of the box. I want to have my own bank Might be an idea your project, right? I want to have my own cryptocurrency Who's going to stop you you have written your idea awesome everyone Australia, but it's done Okay, so now based on one line of sentence which I have written I want to answer three questions below. Okay. The question is why how what? Why you want this to be your idea? How you want to how you want this idea to prosper or what all things you have in your mind based on this idea? For example, the why for virtual girlfriend is because I'm single the how for virtual girlfriend is probably creating an AR application augmented reality or mixed reality And the what will be a girlfriend looking girlfriend? Some celebrity Yes, why how what the three questions? What it could be anything for example, let's say a person has written yoga or Taking yoga to next level what could be what you actually want to achieve? What do you mean by next level or defining the what for that idea? What exactly is that idea a? Description or something please write it on the paper and you can be descriptive as much as you can Okay, how many of you have done writing those three points. Okay, can you just give me a paper? Yeah That's fine you can people can always ask who's shit is this probably But make sure that it's not the same paper on which you have written it Okay, all done. So I want you to read what the person has written and If you're not able to understand, please raise your hand and We'll find out who has written that shit so that you can understand what he has written Anyone finding it difficult so far to read. Oh, okay. We can yeah Okay done. Have you read through the entire paper of the three things? Okay. Now you have to okay So now you have to reverse on the on the backside of the page. You have to write something which I'll tell you Okay, what are the challenges you see in that idea in those three questions? Do you find any challenge? It could be technical challenge Non-technical challenge it could be anything some challenge which you think could be a challenge with this three questions or the idea entire idea If let's say a person has written to design a rocket which can take him to Mars You can question what failure you would be using or how you are going to do have finance Generic questions just ask those generic questions to that person. Yes, the backside. Yeah, the backside Yes So if you have any questions related to that idea the problems which you think might come Implementing that idea all the questions you're going to write it down on the backside of the beach But this time make sure that you read through the entire thing and ask wise questions So much advice that that person should not sleep tonight You should only think of the answers of your questions Ask as many questions as you can as in right as many questions as you can you can have more five minutes Not a problem. You can ask 10 questions 20 questions for example, if let's say the person has said that he wants to have a Let's say any software product. So you can also ask him questions that While hiring team for your organization, will you consider the diversity factor as well? Such questions you can ask Think out of the box, but ask wise questions If the person says that he wants to design a rocket which can take him to Mars You can also ask him how what is the communication way you are going to have in your rocket? Which can help you to communicate with earth any question any equation The shooting questions But ask as much questions as many questions as you can Yeah, if you think that there could be more challenges as well to that idea And if you have finished asking the questions, you can add more challenges as well Yeah, it's okay. That's fine. If you have understood the idea That means the person has written it is crystal clear with his definition or with his idea, which is good Okay done. Can someone help me to collect all the papers, please? So now he's again redistributing it randomly again. All right, this is where the interesting part is Actually, you got your wife. You need to swap it It should be a paper which you have not worked so far on which you have not worked All right So now this is the best part The questions which the previous person has asked you have to write the solution of it if someone has asked questions previously You have to answer those questions with respect to that idea as if that is your own idea and After that is going to be the best part. Trust me But you have to try to answer as much as questions as many questions as you can So what we have done so far we have an idea Okay, we have someone who has challenged your idea Now we are trying to find solutions to those challenges Okay, and then with then something will follow if you are not able to read please raise your hands we can ask Person again There could be some questions of which you might not be able to answer it. Okay You can try your best. I'm not saying try try can try your best if not, it's fine Okay, can you just More five minutes All right Don't stress yourself. It's fine. If you're not able to answer everything done Tried answering most of the questions most of it Okay, so what is the first thing which we did? Understanding the idea Yes, anyone had a rough experience or unique experience. Well understanding the idea Was there was there something which you found very unique anyone? It was the idea was very unique or I could not understand the yes Okay, okay Okay, so while writing the idea was there any challenge No, yes Yes, no Idea was not a challenge Just thinking of it. Okay, then defining the idea. Was it a challenge to buy how what was it a challenge? Yes Anyone wants to give a try what was the challenge while defining the three questions what why how? Okay, so you thought that could be some challenge in defining the three questions for that idea Okay Okay, so the challenge was the in the idea itself Okay, any other challenge which anyone faced while writing the answering the three questions the why what how? No Okay, moving on what was the next thing which we did? Changed papers and we asked you to find whether there could be any challenge in that idea Another three questions was was it complicated for you to you know? Asks a question ask a question. No Was it quite easy for you to list on all the questions or you were still struggling to ask the right question? Why are you able to ask the right question? Personally if you personally ask me or if you personally introspect. Were you able to ask the right questions? Yes, okay Okay, so Asking questions was very easy Than the press two things the two things which we did before right? Okay. Now Answering the questions was it difficult or it was easy? it was more difficult Can you can you just give me one example? As in what was the idea? What were the questions asked? Can you be loud? Yeah, can you be loud? Okay, okay Okay Okay, okay Was there any different experience with answering the questions? Was it something that you started laughing looking at the idea in the first place and then you you thought it could be challenging to Answer the questions Okay, so the vibe what how was not clear? Okay, okay, and when answering the questions, did you thought that you should speak with someone else or consult someone? Yes Definitely Okay, so now what we did was there was an idea Treated as a project that was one project. Okay. We were asked to find Something which is not working right for the project. Okay, then we ourselves When we changed to new project we aligned ourselves thinking it's my own idea And now I need to answer the questions with someone has asked me correct That is when your project management skills start That's the first thing which you need to do understand the idea. All right Once you have understood the idea asking questions. Why am I contributing or why should I be a part of that project? All right, once you have these three questions as in what is the project? Why the project? How is the project? Okay, once you ask these three questions, you have the answers then you start pointing To the to the project as in what's wrong with that project? Okay, once you have answers to all the questions to your project That is when you are very clear with what the project is and this is when you can actually start speaking to other people What this project is all about and why you should come or contribute to this project in the first place? Okay, so whenever you think of getting into project management This is the first thing which you need to do the project could be anything for me It was Mozilla Firefox Firefox was a project but getting more people contributing to Firefox was a challenge to me Okay, and now what I did was I understood the entire project I asked the right questions to the right people got the answers and I could explain the same thing to the other people Okay, and this is how I started influencing people to answer by answering their questions Okay, if you are able to answer queries Trust me people are going to ask you more questions and that is when you start building bond Okay Then what happened was after we had answers to few when we were trying to you know Answer questions. We were having some doubts in our mind or we were thinking of some other person who can help us with this Okay, that is when collaboration plays a big picture In open source or in generic any organization People cannot work Efficiently without collaborating with others and that's the reason we have multiple teams in the first place Okay, collaboration is the success to any project and that is when we start thinking of the next steps Okay, project manager or a community manager has to have a bond with the community as in with a group of people and Collaborate with other stakeholders at the same time. Okay, so the idea of this exercise was to make you understand that Project management or community management is is not that difficult. Okay, if you have the right set of Actions you can easily get into community management. How many of you felt that it was a big Disappointing exercise for me was this exercise out of your mind or you were not able to do anything Was there anyone anyone in this particular situation? You were stuck. I cannot take it further Now that you know that you are convinced with the idea you were able to answer the questions You can obviously take it forward with other people. What's this the feeling? Or it was not the feeling at all Then in that case you can switch the project Okay, so now how many of you are inspiring community managers Okay, one two three. Okay out of 2325 people we have three people who are inspiring community managers. What do you think? After this exercise, can you at least talk with people? Can you express the idea which the project stands for? That was something which I wanted to stress in this talk as in community management is not something out of the box If you if you know the project if you know what it stands for and if you can deliver it to other people as in if You can talk with other people that is when you're actually being a community manager Okay, any questions so far with this activity any questions Now I can turn to my slight dick Okay, so this is the community Okay Okay, so what do you think are the most important elements of a community now? We are coming to the next part after the post exercise part. What do you think is the most important element of any community? People okay object Project what else? People and project. Yes Openness, okay Yes Okay, okay, so framework. Can we say framework? Okay, what else? Yes Okay stakeholders can we say stakeholders? Okay, what else? Expectations good So the most important elements of a community is the people right the project for which the people are working for and what is the Expectations from the project stakeholders and from the people are working for the project if you have that particular thing in mind Trust me. You could be good at managing communities. Not just one community. I'm saying communities. Okay That was the best part which I ever found in my life when during the time of Managing it that if you know the expectations from the project from the people trust me, you are going to go great Okay, and this is nothing but the art of community which I thought collaboration given approach everyone agrees that collaboration is required Yes, open communications Even said openness open communications Everyone is contributing to that project because he has some expectations out of it Okay, that expectation could be in the form of swags It could be in the form of monetary benefits It could be form of learning something and that's the reason openness or open communication plays a very important role for people to bind together Okay, the next is unwrapping the opportunities people are not contributing to the project just for the sake of doing it Or they have been forced to do it. No, they find something is there for them in that particular project And that's the reason they're contributing to that project and unwrapping the opportunity is something which the project manager or the community manager needs To focus on how he can make the most of the communities to work on the project and what can can make the community more Enthusiastic or leaned towards that project becoming the community you in the first exercise when we when we started with the exercise We we saw what the idea was so we thought as if it is my own idea And I need to challenge that idea, right? So getting into the boots of the community is very important when it comes to managing the community You know, we should understand why the community stands for the first place. What is the goal of the community? Okay, and then comes moving forward as in let's say the project is done, but what next? So let's say Testing of one version is done. The community always is hungry. It always asks. What is next for me? So you should always work on getting more and more opportunities for the community, okay? That was something which I wanted to get in my talk. We are running out of time. Do you have any questions so far with community management? Okay, I want to ask you one question. Let's say if there is a conflict in the community. What all things will you do? Let's say that the idea which you just had there are people fighting for something What is the basic thing which you'll do? If there is a conflict in a community, what is the thing which you Okay, asking whether it's a conflict about the idea or conflict of Contribution, okay in community. What happens is people are working for one goal. That says achieving the end success of the project Okay, but let's say that you see a lot of people Contributing or fighting over their contributions as in saying that that was done by me, but he got it right, right? So in that case, what do you think should be your approach as a community manager? You have to take things forward, but at the same time you are seeing that there is conflict between individuals or between ideas What is the thing which you think can apply in that particular scenario? People are fighting. Let's say your two best friends are fighting. What is the what is how is your approach? Those two are your best friends, right? You can have two sides. Then what do you do? Okay, what else? Calm down people. Okay, how? Okay, okay, what else? Okay, okay Okay, so my solution which I've used over the years is open communication and documentation Let's say there is some conflict in some part of the project. Okay, use open communications to document everything Why has the conflict happened in the first place getting those two parties together and using open communications try to solve the conflict because they might be really important stakeholders for your project going forward and that's the reason you cannot disappoint anyone in that case I have used documentation and the way of open communications as the next step forward. Okay. Yes Getting them on the same table asking them what is wrong documenting what is wrong and documenting your suggestions and recommendations and Let's say that if the two individuals or the two stakeholders agree on one point saying that this was the cause of conflict The chances for me in the past few years were that once they understood why both of them were Fighting in the first place things get clear very easily once you have them on the same table Okay Yes, but never ever let the conflicts played If you see the conflicts conflicts happening inside the project never ever Underestimate or try to avoid it Jump as a community manager. You have to jump there and then and solve the issue right away because it might affect the future of your project Conflict resolution I can speak for one hour, but I don't have that much of time But yes, it's a very big topic, but the only solution is getting everyone together on a common ground which I have used so far okay and The responsibilities of community manager. What do you think would be the responsibilities of a community manager? Maintaining the community taking the project forward creating documentation for the project Maintaining harmony as in conflict-free Okay, what else could be underlining thing of any community manager the responsibilities of committee managers communications, okay These are very simple questions. I know the answer. Everyone knows the answer. Please speak Yeah Anyone wants to give a try communications projects documentation Managing relationships maintaining the project forward. Yes Any more anyone wants to add more responsibilities Trusting okay, I'll quickly move forward. I'm very sorry for it Approach how do you think should be the approach of committee manager? You cannot be dictative you cannot be You know running behind everyone. What should be the approach of community managers? Okay transparent open Okay rules frameworks guidelines Anyone wants to give a anyone wants have anyone has more answers to this approach Watchful eye, okay Engagements relationships, okay Challenges, okay time zone could be one challenge. Yes. What else? What else do you think would be a challenge of community manager? Cultures, okay, okay priorities Okay, what else? Neural diversity, okay any more Any more thoughts on challenges like of engagement, okay, okay Overengagement, okay getting everyone on the same board, okay Critical conversations. Yes, that's important Okay, so far any questions Yes budget Yes, but it is very important for any community manager You cannot you cannot promise anything which is not in your hands and budget is something which most of the community managers face an issue with Budget usually is related to the Successment of the project and the stakeholders when it comes to community Might not get as much as it can Okay, there is always a budget deficit when it comes to community engagements and that's the reason Budgeting should be very wisely handled as a part of community manager, okay Yes, any questions so far with challenges or you want to say something about challenges conflict resolution Openness documentation is something which I have personally followed over the years Right, and this is very important as a community manager You have always the priority task is maintaining and scaling the community if community is not inside the project your job What are you going to manage right and that's the reason maintaining the existing community and scaling it up is Prime responsibilities of community manager All right Scaling the community is getting more people on board reaching out to Other contributors Telling them the idea the goal of the community what is expected of the project and once you have People on board you are trying to scale the community Okay, so maintaining and scaling the community are very important parts of any community manager Okay, any questions. I'm done with the time. He's sorry for that. Thank you. Thank you everyone I'm sorry. I could not manage time. So time management is also important factor for community manager. Thank you. Thank you