Group Size Matters

I found a great article talking about Digital Life and Community Building. I wholeheartedly agree with the thought that we need to be intentional about our Third Place and how we utilize it for our mental and emotional health. The article does a good job of talking about that so I won't. The thing that jumped out at me was this concept of the 8-18-1800 "rule".

The idea is simple: 8 people for a good conversation, 18 for good ideas, and 1,800 to rally for a cause. It got me thinking about how I approach communication. Sometimes, I realize I might not start with the right goal in mind. Maybe I'm aiming too broadly or expecting too much from a larger group.

The article rightly points out that having a 'good conversation' with a massive audience isn't realistic. Conversely, relying solely on your close circle for fresh ideas might limit potential outcomes due to the echo chamber effect. It reminded me of a cringe-worthy moment when "someone" included too many people in an email that should've been a one-on-one chat...ouch!

Next time you initiate an interaction, hopefully you'll consider this: Is it an 8, 18, or 1800 situation? It might just steer you in the right direction.