Dont Miss One-on-One Meetings With Your Team
At this point, we likely all know someone that has lost their job or had to make budget cuts because of the COVID-19 pandemic. There\u2019s a narrative in the community industry that we must always be communicating the value we bring to the organizations we work for, but it\u2019s also worth saying that community has really showed up to fight back against this pandemic. The work of connecting and creating safe spaces for people (think tenant unions, social justice organizations, voter registration and education efforts, community fridges, I could go on!) is more vital than ever.
According to\xa0a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, 53% of Americans say the internet has been an essential tool during the pandemic (with 34% more labeling it important). That means the work of community professionals in creating spaces where people can find value, joy, factual information, and human connection on the internet is\xa0so\xa0important. So if you\u2019re looking for a job, let us know. And if you\u2019re faced with making budget cuts for your team, reflect on crises you\u2019ve managed and customers you\u2019ve delighted, look to how you\u2019ve grown and developed your team, review the data that points to your efforts, and breathe. You\u2019ve got this.
As our guest\xa0Paul Bradley\xa0(manager of strategic services at\xa0Higher Logic) says during this episode, \u201cif anything, community is what you need to lean into during times of crisis.\u201d Let\u2019s all remember the community of community professionals that we have to lean on during these times \u2013\u2013 whether those are others on your team or your friends here on Community Signal.
Here\u2019s a preview of what Patrick and Paul discuss in this episode:
- Countering budget-cutting arguments
- Some buy-low investments to consider for your community
- Being accountable for the professional development of your team
- Why Paul deleted his Twitter account with over 100k followers when he took his first community job
- And Karn, our producer, celebrates five years on the Community Signal team!
If you enjoy our show, please know that it\u2019s only possible with the generous support of our sponsors:\xa0Vanilla, a one-stop shop for online community and\xa0Localist, plan, promote, and measure events for your community.
Big QuotesBad moments are our time to shine (6:28): \u201cIf something bad is going on [at your company], it\u2019s an opportunity for a community manager because they can then insert a human element into that situation and provide empathetic value that people really respond to.\u201d \u2013@PaulBradleyCMGR
This is not the time to divest from community (6:40): \u201cIf you are in a situation where you\u2019re like, \u2018I\u2019m going to back out of my community,\u2019 I would say, \u2018Why? You made this decision [to invest in community]. What were you thinking when you made the decision? How can that possibly have changed just because there\u2019s a crisis going on?\u2019 If anything, community is what you need to lean into during times of crisis.\u201d \u2013@PaulBradleyCMGR
Sending more marketing or engagement emails can have a cost (16:58): \u201cI\u2019ve worked at places [where my bosses said], \u2018Just send another email, we need two more people, hit them again!,\u2019 and they don\u2019t understand the law of diminishing returns. Yes, maybe we\u2019ll get one more at the cost of 17 unsubscribes.\u201d \u2013@patrickokeefe
A diverse team creates a fuller understanding of problems (19:07): \u201cOne of the fun things about [having] a team of people who have different skills, is that I don\u2019t know what my problem fully is until [one of my team members] looks at it and says this is your problem, and this is how we need to solve it.\u201d \u2013@PaulBradleyCMGR
Managers, make an effort to keep your one-on-one meetings (27:10): \u201cYou don\u2019t miss a one-on-one [meeting with your direct reports]. One of the things that made me feel the worst, when I had one-on-ones, was when my boss canceled. That means something to people.\u201d \u2013@PaulBradleyCMGR
About Paul BradleyHelping your direct reports advance in their careers (29:56): \u201cWhen I was hiring people, I would say, \u2018Here\u2019s the deal. Two years from now, if you are into this role and you do the work, I\u2019m going to work to promote you here or you\u2019re going to take my job or, if you\u2019re ready to move on and we don\u2019t have a spot, I will support you. I will be your advocate in helping you to find a new role. I will be a reference. I\u2019ll help you however I can.'\u201d \u2013@patrickokeefe
Paul Bradley is the manager of strategic services at\xa0Higher Logic\xa0following community manager roles at MicroStrategy, ADP, and Intel.
Related Links- Sponsor:\xa0Vanilla, a one-stop-shop for online community
- Sponsor:\xa0Localist, plan, promote, and measure events for your community
- Paul Bradley on Twitter
- Paul Bradley on LinkedIn
- Higher Logic
- Congrats on\xa0five years with Community Signal, Karn!
- Shannon Emery, who connected Patrick and Paul
- Paul\u2019s tweet about how he deleted his Twitter accounts\xa0after taking his first community job.
- WeSupport newsletter
- Higher Logic Users Group
If you have any thoughts on this episode that you\u2019d like to share, please leave me a comment,\xa0send me an email\xa0or a\xa0tweet. If you enjoy the show, we would be so grateful if you spread the word and supported\xa0Community Signal on Patreon.