(This is the third in a series of five posts this week on Humanizing Technology)

Over the past few weeks I’ve heard myself saying, “you’ve got to set the container” repeatedly. What do I mean by that? Let’s look at some real-life startup examples.

Evangicamp: Failure to Set the Container

Last night was the second Evangicamp in Boulder. I had a fun time, a sentiment echoed by most that attended. We failed to set the container early and often and as a result the take-away from the meet up left me wanting more. This is a good problem to have. In Evangicamp’s case, the container wasn’t defined early enough. A few stabs were made at it. We threw some ideas up at a white board, but there was no “agenda” so we ended up talking about whatever arose. (Don’t get me wrong, “talking about whatever” can be a container in and of itself. I’m just not sure that was the purpose of Evangicamp.)

We failed to set the container last night. HITs thrive when they have a container. You know what you’re setting out to do and you have more of chance of accomplishing it when you define the container in advance, refer to it throughout and reflect on it after the fact. This applies to one-on-one meetings as much as it does group events.

3 Ways to Set Your Container

1. Know before you go. If asked, “why did you come to Event X?” have an answer in mind. I went to Evangicamp to learn how to be a tech evangelist without being pushy. If you’re going into a meeting with someone that wants to hire you for a project, have in mind the perimeters you have for pay, time frames and hopes for the job.

2. Have a clear head so that anything that comes up can become part of the container. Although this seems to contradict number one, it is vital to have a mind like water. The container needn’t be some fixed thing. Furthermore, hat goes in a container can be fluid and changing.

3. Be willing to abandon a container and just have a good time. Drinking beers is about the quickest way I know of to abandon a container.

New Tech Meetup: Failure to Observe the Container

Another event recently that went off the tracks but that had a container was last month’s New Tech Meetup. We get together once a month to hear about the newest technologies in our community. Hundreds of people came last month and rather than tell us about their technologies, we heard about hirings, tired tech and “mysterious” technologies that couldn’t be revealed to us because the company just emerged from Stealth Mode.

Once the container is defined, stick to it. Otherwise you may be politely asked to give up the podium.

Intentions and Containers Help Humanize Tech

In tandem with setting the container, setting personal intentions for your work day, for your business meeting or for your blog post will give you focus. It’s one thing we do in yoga practice. Focus on the intention and let the rest drop away. Practice following through on an intention such as, “hear my client’s needs and reflect them back to them,” for a meeting. If you do follow through with the intention, give yourself credit for it at the end of the meeting. Note it in a notebook. Create a folder, as I have in my gmail account called, “Feels Good” for successes and completed intentions. Create a system in which you can track your goals met.

Successful HITs come of clearly set containers. What goes in the container can be buck-wild as you like. If the container expands or contracts, wonderful. Set the container and be comfortable with it changing shape, size and scope. What matters is that it’s set.

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Photo cred Natmandu