1. An Introduction
to Working Out Loud
Kevin Gamble, Ph.D.
eXtension Management Consultant

2. Where We’re Headed Today
• What is working out loud?
• Why - the benefits
• How - the five elements
• The tools - making it real
• Next steps

3. Definitions
Working Out Loud = Observable
Work + Narrating Your Work
- Bryce Williams

4. Definitions
“Working Out Loud starts with
making your work visible in such a
way that it might help others. When
you do that – when you work in a
more open, connected way – you
can build a purposeful network that
makes you more effective and
provides access to more
opportunities.”
- John Stepper

5. The Five Elements
Making your work visible

6. The Five Elements
Leading with generosity

7. The Five Elements
Building a social network

8. The Five Elements
Making it all purposeful

9. The Tools
• Almost every personal productivity tool
works - sharing is baked in
• My tools:
• Google Drive
• Evernote/Keep
• Slack
• Email
• Basecamp - project management
• Social networks - Twitter, Facebook, G+

10. Organizational Benefits
• Greater participation - breaks down silos
• More agile - faster iterations/cycles
• Better products - social learning
• Momentum - pushing the rolling boulder
• Flatter - new leadership emerges
• Less obscure

11. Learning Circles
The excuses:
1. I don’t have time.
2. I don’t know how to start.
3. I don’t know which people to
connect with.
4. I don’t know how to connect with
people.
5. I don’t have a system for connecting
or contributing.

12. Learning Circles
• WOL sounds easy - it’s not
• Guided practice - forming new habits
• Think more deeply about relationships
• Safe environment to practice
• Supportive group
• Personal goals - a reason

13. Next Steps
• Today - join a learning circle
• Next week - find a time to meet
• Week of November 30 - start our
journey ( 12 weeks)
• Next year - volunteer to lead
• Going forward - celebrate and rejoice
in a more effective, open, connected,
sustainable, and humane way of
working.