Curating Confluence - Day 5

[#1]

Curating Confluence - The importance of Training

Training

This week we have been focused on different ideas that go into curating a high-quality Confluence site. I have saved what I think is the most important part of this to the end: Training.

You should not expect your users to understand how to create Confluence content that adheres the high-quality standards that you have created without training them. On its surface, Confluence is a pretty intuitive product. Most people can start creating content almost immediately. Without training and guidance, you can be sure that this content will vary widely in quality and none of it will be consistent with your organization standards. Your job as a curator will be pretty hopeless.

As a Confluence curator, you have the perfect toolset right at your fingertips to solve this problem. Create a Confluence Knowledge Base of your own. Divide it up into appropriate sections. These might be:

• Standards: Describe the different formatting and content creation standards that you have developed. Your “Label Dictionary” belongs here as does a list of approved standard templates.
• Training: Create a set of Confluence pages and embedded Loom videos that show your users how to do basic tasks, like adding the right label to their page or how to use one of your approved templates. Add a FAQ to your training area and encourage your users to post their questions directly to the FAQ page.
• Apps: If you have Marketplace Apps, then make sure that you have documented what each app is for and how you expect them to be used. Put links to the app documentation so that users can dive into more information but be clear about what you consider to be appropriate and inappropriate use of the specific apps. For example, you may have a Salesforce connector but you may want to provide details on the standard fields that should be included. You should also provide some basic training on how to authorize or integrate the app into a Confluence page.
• Audits: Make your auditing regular, consistent, and transparent. Let everyone know how and when you conduct audits of the Confluence content. Then post metrics that encourage continuous improvement towards your Confluence goals.

You need to “drink your own champagne” and put into practice all of the good Confluence practices that we have discussed this week. Your pages should follow your own robust standards for consistent formatting and labeling. You should make sure that they meet or exceed your content metric goals. Lead the way by walking the walk and showing your users how great Confluence can be.

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Conclusion

Effective training is essential for ensuring that users can create high-quality content in Confluence that aligns with organizational standards. By establishing a comprehensive Confluence Knowledge Base that includes clear standards, training materials, and regular audits, curators can empower users to contribute meaningfully to the site. This proactive approach not only enhances the overall quality and consistency of the content but also fosters a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement within the organization. Ultimately, by leading by example and adhering to best practices, curators can transform Confluence into a valuable resource that meets the needs of all users.