Finding Hidden Gems in Collaborative Communities

How do you,

• As a community leader,
• Recognize ‘hidden gems’ in a community, and
• Attract them to collaborate with you?

Image: Where's Wally World Record

The pitch

The Pitch	The Message
I've seen what you’re doing and I’m impressed.	I’m not wasting your time. I’m showing you that I’ve researched your work before contacting you. I’m demonstrating that I understand your cutting edge ideas and the value of them.
A bunch of us are pushing the same concepts to the next level.	I’m offering to amplify your research and altruistic goals through our project’s marketing channel. I’m hinting at trustworthiness, mentioning others who have already joined. This also hints at commitment and momentum. I’m offering more than I ask.
Will you join us?	I’m asking for help. You’re more likely to join if asked. Combined with hinting at how unique your skillset is, I’m appealing to your moral duty to step up. I’m inviting you to share ownership in our project.
I’m not offering riches, we’re giving away our creations. I'm not offering fame. Beyond our inner circle, most people won't know what you’ve done.	You’re intrinsically motivated. Social status and money are just a means to an end. I’m telegraphing that these principles will apply to all collaborators.
We realize this is a moonshot, and the odds are stacked against us.	Let’s be clear. Most tech projects fail. There likely isn’t a business case yet to justify what we’re doing. I’m looking for collaborators with grit; collaborators ready to tackle tough challenges. Being comfortable with failure comes with the job. Since you already work in this domain, you can judge the likelihood of success, and your ability to help the project succeed.
But if we succeed you will know, in your heart, that you have helped build something awesome for humankind.	Working for a higher purpose motivates you.
Interested?	You aren’t convinced yet. But this starts you considering possibilities. It invites conversation and a response.

Don’t use this pitch

To succeed, you will need to be genuine:

• Customize the pitch to match your values, reframed in your language, uniquely tailored for the needs of your ‘hidden gem’.
• Genuinely care about the person, their challenges, and their success.
• Behave like a ‘hidden gem’ yourself.

Then:

• Check in regularly, be a good listener and help when needed.
• Ensure psychological safety, where everyone feels safe to try risky ideas and be vulnerable in front of each other.
• Stay on task.

Who are the ‘hidden gems’?

A small percentage of people in communities are high-impact enablers. They tend to be:

• Visionary lateral thinkers, who consider the bigger picture and are open to challenging established thinking (including their own).
• Highly motivated, stepping up for hard and boring tasks when others step back.
• Generous with their time, empowering those around them.
• Humble, and quick to share credit.
• Overcommitted.
• Contagiously enthusiastic, balanced by an inner peace and self-awareness.

I believe there are ‘hidden gem’ characteristics within all of us. These characteristics surface when presented with the right opportunities.

Supporting research

‘Hidden gems’ are:

• The “captains” in Sam Walker’s The Captain’s Class - the team members who:
• Lead from the back.
• “Carry the water”.
• Have the courage to stand apart.
• Apply a low-key and democratic communication style.
• Do not quit.

• The 1% in the 90-9-1 rule for online community participation where:
• 90% of community users tend to be lurkers,
• 9% contribute a little, and
• 1% account for most of the action.
• The “self-actualized” people at the pinnacle of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs who are innovative, self-sufficient, empathetic and motivated by a higher purpose.
• The servant leaders who embrace humility, respect and trust in Debugging Teams.
• The curious, passionate, and community minded “alpha geeks” that O’Reilly media watches to predict future technical trends.
• The glue people who pick up the less-glamorous, less-promotable work that makes teams successful.
• The enabling contributors found in research on the success factors in open-source software communities, and studies on episodic volunteering.

Diverse communities

Projects are more innovative and successful when they attract a diverse community. One with diverse backgrounds, skills and perspectives that extends beyond the ‘hidden gems’ described here. Attracting and retaining this diversity requires a broader approach that goes beyond the scope of this article.

Where?

'Hidden gems’ often under-play their worth and can be difficult to recognize. Look out for people consistently sharing useful answers within a community forum, or writing insightful blog posts, or presenting on a niche topic at conference events.

Time to reach out?

Have you noticed a ‘hidden gem’ in your community? Is it time to reach out and offer to help them become more impactful?