Try. Share. Pat on the back.
Sharing is Caring - About others and yourself.
“Sharing is caring.” – Vesa Juvonen (Microsoft)
Vesa is right. The last time I heard him say utter his catchphrase – before signing off one of his ‘shareful’ community calls – it got my brain churnin’. My end-of-day synapses flared with notions and digital potions on the gives and gets of sharing. It, too, spawned two surrounding thoughts: Trying new things and not forgetting to give yourself credit – that act of fortifying your personal perspective on the foundation of your own credibility and value.
Being a part of this tech community is exciting, challenging, and rewarding. It can also be overwhelming, frustrating, and isolating (COVID or no COVID). That's why it's important to share (and be shared with); seek inspiration and grow. Sharing is caring – for others and for yourself.
In this article, let’s explore the original inspiration sandwiched by the two additional synapse firings.
Try something new.
Word on the street is that one of the best ways to grow is to try something new – to the benefit of yourself and your team. Whether it's a new tool, a new framework, a fresh look – a new feel, stepping beyond your known skillset uncovers new perspectives. Trying something new often means learning from others, opens dialog, and leads you to trying more – now that you can. Adaptability sparks creativity and builds confidence. Fake it until you make it – i.e., try it until you know.
Something new I tried: I don’t awlays send trip reports internally, mainly since I don’t want to bog down other people’s inboxes. But, in the era of open comms being better than no comms – I sent a recap perspective about the 365 EduCon – Seattle experience and impact. It started a few good discussions and peaked interest of a few folks who may want to get involved in the next 365 EduCon – Chicago event. My report provided insight and helped a few folks understand why we do it and how they might contribute in the future; aka, kickstarted a few peer-to-peer conversations – while informing stakeholders along the way. And hey, I now have a page template for the next recap.
Share something you know.
At the heart of “Sharing is caring” is the sharing part. Whether it's a tip, a trick, or a new resource, your sharing helps others learn, refine, or improve their work. Sharing something you know also bolsters your own doing – moving you from learner to maestro. And once you discover how your sharing impacts one person, look for the ways to increase your reach and impact – putting your knowledge out to more channels: blogs, podcasts, webinars, and forums. In my world I would call this thinking and acting like a Microsoft MVP. Be a sphere of influence. Sharing is caring, and caring is rewarding.
Something I shared: Reaching across the pond to Sweden, I delivered a remote session to the SEF 2023 audience in Stockholm, focusing on “Skilling up on Microsoft Lists.” One of the newish things I demo’ed were three automation methods – now native in Lists: Rules (with new and/or functionality), templates with built-in Power Automate flows, and templates connected to the Approvals app/service in Teams. All help solidify and simplify recurring actions. And with a little nudge, a little “how to” sharing, the caring part pays off: Helping others organize and save time.
Congratulate yourself for doing something you do well.
This is a hard one for me. It’s not in my nature. I fall back on statements like, “it’s just my job,” paired with an uncertain internal voice: “Does anyone care?” Alas, we grow and learn even in our later phases – old dog, new trick. AKA, pump up the positive affirmations as my therapist encourages.
So, take a moment and congratulate yourself – be it a small win or a big achievement. Acknowledging your strengths will boost your morale. Whether others are granting you kudos or not – you’re free to kudo yourself at any time. You deserve a pat on the back, maybe two. So, grab your elbow, reach up and around your shoulder, and pat that back.
Something I congratulated myself on: With busy schedules, it’s a challenge to start communicating early enough – especially when it involves executives and their schedules. “Be more planful,” that was the feedback last time; Ugg. So, I kicked off the “keynotes track” earlier this go around – across fourteen sessions with multiple execs and their support teams. The “starting earlier” IS paying off – fewer open questions and enough time for others to plan. Thus, a pat on the back “for doing my job” earlier – alleviating tensions for myself and those I support.
In the end…
“Sharing IS caring” – not only to share what you know, but to try new things and take credit occasionally. Sharing is caring, and caring leads to a more positive future. So go ahead – try, share, and celebrate. You'll be glad you did.
Also, send kudos to Vesa, the original Finnish Prompt.
Cheers, Mark