Elizabeth HarrinDirector| RebelsGuideToPM.comLondon, England, United Kingdom
I was trying to explain to someone the other day about something someone online had helped me with. I didn't know what to call him. 'Colleague' sounds like someone I work with in 'real life', and using that phrase at work would make him sound like a fellow employee at my company. 'Friend' sounds like it isn't a project management-based relationship, so his opinion in PM related things doesn't matter. 'Twitter buddy' sounded weird. 'A guy I met online' sounds like we met on a dating site.
How do other people get round this problem? Or am I making a problem where there really isn't one? Saving Changes...
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Darren KosaPlanning & Controls ContractorHampshire, United Kingdom
Hi Elizabeth,
Depending on the context I would think 'Associate', 'Contact', or 'Colleague' would all be perfectly acceptable.
In the scenario described I would probably favour 'Professional Associate'.
Regards,
Darren Saving Changes...
Elizabeth HarrinDirector| RebelsGuideToPM.comLondon, England, United Kingdom
I had a couple of responses on Twitter too: "Contwits", a combination of contact and Twitter. "Person I met on Twitter/through blogging" was another suggestion! Saving Changes...
Does it really matter ! no explanation is needed - Saving Changes...
Yvonne ParleEast Victoria Park, Western Australia, Australia
How about just saying "someone in my network" .... ?
I regard everyone whom I collaborate or work directly with to be a member of my professional network whether I meet them online or n person. Saving Changes...
Elizabeth HarrinDirector| RebelsGuideToPM.comLondon, England, United Kingdom
Yvonne, I like 'someone in my network'. That's generic but clear enough to use in my day job.
However, it does sound as if I'm spending too much time thinking about this!
Thanks for all the responses, here and on Twitter. Saving Changes...
Michael B. FlintSpeaker and Project Management Consultant| MBF Consulting Services IncMississauga, Ontario, Canada
I also like "someone in my network" - covers every eventuality, I was going to say "a network friend" but that still implies something that might not be true. Saving Changes...
I mostly use descriptions like "a PM I know online" or "fellow PM blogger" ... but I never manage to get it into one word. Explanations are still needed. Good point, hadn't thought about this that way. Saving Changes...
