Leading an Open Source Community

Leading an Open-Source ProjectDeveloper Advocate for Joomla!@tessamero

LEADING AN OPEN-SOURCE PROJECT – TESSA MERO - php[world] 2015

My name is Tessa. Hi!!! College Instructor. Curriculum Developer.

Web Developer.

Snowboarder.

Love to Speak – Educate - Inspire

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Open Source Enthusiast• Joomla contributor for 4 years• Joomla Leadership for 2 years• My roles in Joomla• Organizer of Joomla User Group Seattle &

Seattle PHP User Group• Organizer of PNWPHP Conference (with

Jeremy Lindblom, SHOUT OUT!)

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Summary• What is Joomla!• Community & Communication• Management/Representation• Behavior• Hiring/Firing Effectively• Encouragement• Dealing with Change• Preventing Burnout• Steps to Becoming a Leader

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JOOMLA!• Fork of Mambo CMS in 2005• Swahili for “All Together” (Jumla)• Free and Open Source Software• Created by over a dozen co-founders• No paid staff• 100% volunteers• 35 Million+ Downloads• Approx 9,500 Extensions for latest

version• 65+ Teams in Organization3


Current Joomla! Structure

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Community & CommunicationDemonstrate leadership with communication and

listening to your community

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Getting There (User to Leader)• User

• Participation• Contributor• Leader (multiple meanings)

• Being in an official leadership team• Leading a Team / Leading a Sub Team• Assisting with leading a team• Being a great example of a good

community member3


Documentation & Transparency• Documentation of Processes

• Transparency• Team Reports• Keep things as open as possible (no

contract signing!)• Make it easy for newcomers to begin

and grow!

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Communications• TRUST• Community Feedback• It’s OK to disagree!• Learn to compromise• Accept outside advice (3rd party)• Have Decision Making Processes

• Ideas floating around endlessly – NOTY• Voting

• Don’t shoot down ideas quickly• Give people a chance to speak

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Assume people mean well until proven otherwise.

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Mentoring• Help create future leaders• Train them• Delegate your work to others• Don’t make 1 person a single point of

failure, train multiple people for the same roles

• Encourage and be thankful. Empower people. (more on this later)

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Why should we train and mentor contributors?


The Importance of Follow Through• Respect

• Reputation• Trust• Help teammates follow through by staying

organized and following up

Wait, let me explain the next slide….don’t judge too quickly! =P

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Management/RepresentingThe correct way to manage people and representing your community

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Representing Open Source• Be a good representative by exhibiting

positive and good behavior internally and externally (social media)

• Speak highly of others (and other Open Source) and don’t put down other people

• Make newcomers feel welcome• Don’t wait for things to happen (maybe

they are waiting on you?)• Have fallback plans on changes (if…then..)

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Invest in being motivated, not miserable

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BehaviorLet’s be grown-ups! Oh, look, an ice-cream shop!

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Code of Conducts• My initial views on it back in 2012• Why is it important?

• Sense of safety for all• Increases diversity

• Keep the COC simple• Representatives outside of Project• Why is it important?

Code of conduct allows you to agree that you will be respectful and to cooperate with each other, and make others feel welcomed

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Dealing with Conflict• Try resolving 1 on 1 (don’t humiliate them

in public)• Try using a mediator to resolve conflict• Let people know if they are making you

feel uncomfortable or if they hurt you• DON’T HOLD GRUDGES (hardest one of all,

since I have some…)• Don’t Blame OTHERS!• Accept fault and accept being wrong. It’s

OK!3


Why can’t we all just get along?!!!??? How hard is it?

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Toxic Volunteers & Negativity• Stop the Gossip Train!

• Don’t talk about people negatively• Get actual information before talking!

• A great contributor/leader will NOT tolerate toxicity

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What to do?• Don’t contribute to toxic behavior. That’s

what they want.• First try to understand. Compromise• Listen – Reasons why people are upset• Alleviate situations – Don’t instigate!• Still doesn’t work? Document extremely

bad behavior (insults, harassment, threats, etc)

• Create a Ban process for different parts of the project if COC is violated3


Hiring and Firing EffectivelyWe all know this is the toughest part of leadership!

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Effectively finding the right people


Interview Process• Call for Volunteers• Interview (Or Rejection Letter)• Hiring

• Look for someone who is motivated and excited to get started

• Willing to read documentation• Not afraid to ask questions

• Training

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Firing Process• “Firing” is too strong… the real term is

“Let them Step Down”. (unless there is a term)

• Remind them they haven’t contributed in awhile

• Give them a chance to continue their contributions (let them know it’s ok for breaks)

• Let them know there is someone (or someone’s) willing to take over their role.

• (It’s not a big deal. It’s OK to step down!! Please do if you don’t have the time! Please!)

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EncouragementGood job, want a cookie??????

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Remind people on how awesome they are. Your minute of time can make a positive impact.


Positivity• Stay positive, even in extremely stressful

situations• Helps make wiser decisions• Prevents you from immature behavior

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Team Building• May not always be “productive”.• The best thing out of team building?

• Effective communication• See “emotions” in person• Collaborating more positively• Creating “New” things (like friendships,

ideas, processes, etc)• Understanding each other better

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Dealing With ChangeIsn’t it easier if we keep everything the same?

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And How?• Have things well planned out• Implement In SMALL STEPS!

• Prevents community outrage• Prevents resignations from people that

disagree with the change

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My Response Timeline on Major ChangeDay 1: “WHAT? SERIOUSLY????”

Day 5: “You’ve got to be kidding me. I can’t believe we are doing this”

Week 2: “Okay, maybe we can do this. I’m feeling confident about it”

Month 3: “Wow, this is amazing. Why didn’t we do this a long time ago?”

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Preventing Burn-outCareful, don’t jump into the hot flames!

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Make your priorities• Don’t choose open source over family• Focus on work. Then open source.

It’s really easy to forget what your priorities are in life when open source is SO amazing

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“Yes, yes, and yes!”• Don’t say “yes” to everything. This is how

you overwhelm yourself with work. If you don’t have the time, be honest about it

• Don’t start too many projects and leave it unfinished. Make priorities and focus on it

• Learn to Delegate work • Don’t be afraid to step back or ask for help

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Steps to Becoming a LeaderSo you want to be a leader? Follow me!!!!!!

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Traits of Leaders• Demonstrating Confidence• Listening to the community• Making and Enforcing unpopular decisions• Real leaders listen. Gather information,

wait for timely opening, and demand action

• Keep a good reputation• Mentor people. Bring in new people• Demonstrate positivity everywhere

(influencial)3


Leadership is not a popularity contest. It’s okay for people to disagree and not like you.


Create a Culture where people respect each other


What does it mean to be a leader in an open source project?


“Honesty - people want to work with people they trust. They want someone with high values morals and integrity”

-Jessica Dunbar


“It’s an opportunity explore ideas, solve your own problems at scale, and learn how little you know about some subjects”

-Keith Casey


“Work with the community. When it fails, don't get disgusted at the failure; get involved and help solve the problem.”

-Cal Evans

Thank you!Contact:@tessamerohttp://[email protected]

Leadership & Management

Leading an Open Source Community