Helping Others Get Better, Not Only Solving the Problem

[#1]

Hello everyone,

I’ve been thinking about what makes a really valuable contribution in the Community.

For me, it is not only about providing a solution. Of course, solving the immediate problem matters, but I think we can help even more when we also help people become better at using the products themselves.

That can mean things like:

• explaining why something works the way it does
• pointing out the difference between a bug, a permission issue, a product limitation, or a design choice
• sharing a better long-term approach, not only the quickest fix
• helping someone avoid the same problem again in the future
• showing where the official documentation confirms the answer

I also think contributors add a lot of value when we help users improve how they ask, troubleshoot, and think about the problem. Sometimes the best reply is not just “click here,” but helping the person understand the logic behind it so they can solve similar issues next time on their own.

In that sense, contribution is not only support. It is also guidance, knowledge-sharing, and helping others grow in confidence with Atlassian products.

For me, the strongest Community replies are usually the ones that are:

• accurate
• practical
• easy to follow
• honest about what is certain and what is only personal experience or judgment

So maybe one good goal for us as contributors is: not only to provide answers and guidelines, but to leave people in a better place than before they asked.

[Jousef]

Hey Arkadiusz,

I agree with you 100% all the way! The same I apply at my workplace. Especially as admins who try to deliver solutions to the many stakeholders we can have, we should at the same time make sure that we consult them to a point where they are almost self-sufficient. Low maintenance is what I wish for the most.

Of course there are always changes coming, processes are changing, teams reorganize, you name it. But if we can do a good job of somewhat foreseeing where this ship is floating towards by giving guidance and exchanging knowledge, I think we are then on a good path to not hit any barriers in that ocean of problems. :D

Really well said, thank you for sharing your opinion!