WorkingOutLoud
One of our WikiWay values is to make EfficientlyExpressedSuggestions. We don't need to check in with everyone (or anyone) before adding value. That makes for speedy work. And possible confusion. WorkingOutLoud is an attempt at balance.
When I am not WorkingOutLoud
There seems to be such a thing as "too much efficiency" when we're not WorkingOutLoud. This can make it hard for other people to help with the work beause they're not sure what we have in mind. Sometimes this leads to more creativity because someone jumps in and takes the work in an entirely new direction that positive for the work (they mis-hear "elephant" as "He held her hand," are emotionally inspired and go and buys flowers for the office, for example). Other times, it means people taking projects in multiple directions at the same time, and the work diverges.
When I am WorkingOutLoud
When I am WorkingOutLoud, I'm making visible the work I'm doing, so people have an idea what I'm working on and why I'm working on it, using the CommunityProjects pages as a place to drop status updates, for example.
