Communication Tools

The Challenges of Communication in DAOs

DAOs, by their very nature, are decentralized, digital-first, and often operate without a hierarchical structure. This unique setup presents its own set of communication challenges:

Global Dispersion: DAO members are often spread across different time zones, making real-time communication challenging.
Lack of Central Authority: Without a clear hierarchy, decision-making processes can be prolonged, and reaching consensus can be more complex.
Reliance on Digital Platforms: DAOs operate primarily online, which means they are heavily reliant on digital communication tools. This can lead to issues like platform outages, miscommunication due to lack of face-to-face interaction, and information overload.
Asynchronous Communication: Given the global nature of DAOs, much of the communication happens asynchronously, which can lead to delays and potential misinterpretations.
Transparency and Security: DAOs operate on principles of transparency and security. Ensuring that all communications are both open and secure can be a delicate balance to strike.

Let's tackle each one by one, and see how we can address them.

Challenge 1: Managing Global Dispersion

Problem: DAO members are spread across different time zones, making real-time communication challenging.

Scheduling Tools: Use lettucemeet to find times to meet How to Use lettucemeet
Automated Time Converters: Make sure everyone in your Discord community knows what time events are in their own time zone: Syncing Time Zone on Discord

Challenge 2: Operating without Central Authority

Problem: Without a clear hierarchy, decision-making processes can be prolonged, and reaching consensus can be more complex.

Voting Platforms: Tools like Aragon or Snapshot can facilitate decentralized decision-making through voting mechanisms. See our research on Governance to learn about these tools
Discussion Forums: Platforms like Discourse or Loomio where structured discussions can take place, ensuring every voice is heard. Alternatively, Discord Forums can be an easy add on to your community.
Role Management: Tools like Sobolsolve the problem of knowing What is going on within the DAO, and who is responsible for what. Find exactly who you need to talk to to move on with a project in an easy and intuitive way.

Challenge 3: Establishing Effective Asynchronous Communication

Problem: Much of the communication happens asynchronously, leading to potential delays and misinterpretations.

Threaded Discussion Tools: Using Discord effectively will get you and your community a long way to become better async communicators. See our extensive Discord guideline for DAOs: Improving Discord: A Guide for DAOs and DAO members
Documentation Platforms: We prefer Notion and Obsidian for all our intraDAO documentation but the choice of tool doesn't matter much, you can use tools like Confluence or Google Docs where meeting notes, decisions, and updates can be documented for members to access at their convenience. What matters more are the processes, and the rules for getting stuff done. You can see some of our guidelines on this:
Video Messaging: Tools like Loom allow for asynchronous video messages, adding a personal touch to communications.
Use forms to collect data from your members: With tools like Tally, you can reach your community members with questions to answer about your DAO in an async way.

Challenge 4: Hosting Effective Digital Meetings

Problem: DAO communications primarily occur in digital meeting environments. These need to be well run.

Choose your tool well: There are many other tools than Zoom. Check some out below:
Notes, notes, notes: Make sure to always take notes. When a year ago you needed a designated scribe to make sure verything was recorded, now we have the power of AI:

PreviousSocial Media Tools NextMiscellaneous

Last updated 1 year ago

The Challenges of Communication in DAOs

DAOs, by their very nature, are decentralized, digital-first, and often operate without a hierarchical structure. This unique setup presents its own set of communication challenges:

Global Dispersion: DAO members are often spread across different time zones, making real-time communication challenging.

Lack of Central Authority: Without a clear hierarchy, decision-making processes can be prolonged, and reaching consensus can be more complex.

Reliance on Digital Platforms: DAOs operate primarily online, which means they are heavily reliant on digital communication tools. This can lead to issues like platform outages, miscommunication due to lack of face-to-face interaction, and information overload.

Asynchronous Communication: Given the global nature of DAOs, much of the communication happens asynchronously, which can lead to delays and potential misinterpretations.

Transparency and Security: DAOs operate on principles of transparency and security. Ensuring that all communications are both open and secure can be a delicate balance to strike.

Let's tackle each one by one, and see how we can address them.

Challenge 1: Managing Global Dispersion

Problem: DAO members are spread across different time zones, making real-time communication challenging.

Scheduling Tools: Use lettucemeet to find times to meet How to Use lettucemeet

Automated Time Converters: Make sure everyone in your Discord community knows what time events are in their own time zone: Syncing Time Zone on Discord

Challenge 2: Operating without Central Authority

Problem: Without a clear hierarchy, decision-making processes can be prolonged, and reaching consensus can be more complex.

Voting Platforms: Tools like Aragon or Snapshot can facilitate decentralized decision-making through voting mechanisms. See our research on Governance to learn about these tools

Discussion Forums: Platforms like Discourse or Loomio where structured discussions can take place, ensuring every voice is heard. Alternatively, Discord Forums can be an easy add on to your community.

Role Management: Tools like Sobolsolve the problem of knowing What is going on within the DAO, and who is responsible for what. Find exactly who you need to talk to to move on with a project in an easy and intuitive way.

Challenge 3: Establishing Effective Asynchronous Communication

Problem: Much of the communication happens asynchronously, leading to potential delays and misinterpretations.

Threaded Discussion Tools: Using Discord effectively will get you and your community a long way to become better async communicators. See our extensive Discord guideline for DAOs: Improving Discord: A Guide for DAOs and DAO members

Documentation Platforms: We prefer Notion and Obsidian for all our intraDAO documentation but the choice of tool doesn't matter much, you can use tools like Confluence or Google Docs where meeting notes, decisions, and updates can be documented for members to access at their convenience. What matters more are the processes, and the rules for getting stuff done. You can see some of our guidelines on this:

Video Messaging: Tools like Loom allow for asynchronous video messages, adding a personal touch to communications.

Use forms to collect data from your members: With tools like Tally, you can reach your community members with questions to answer about your DAO in an async way.

Challenge 4: Hosting Effective Digital Meetings

Problem: DAO communications primarily occur in digital meeting environments. These need to be well run.

Choose your tool well: There are many other tools than Zoom. Check some out below:

Notes, notes, notes: Make sure to always take notes. When a year ago you needed a designated scribe to make sure verything was recorded, now we have the power of AI: