Last week we talked about how to think about and define Community-
but I’m less interested in definitions and more interested in building the thing, so to that end, here are 4 ways we can foster good community where we are.
Be Normal-
That is, be a human being who is relatable and down-to-earth. Quick to listen, slow to speak. Being comfortable in who you are and what you bring is key to being magnetic, and magnetic people are often cornerstones of thriving and functional communities. Whether you desire to be a cornerstone or a building block, above all be caring, thoughtful, patient… and Be Normal.
Be About What You’re About-
This one goes without saying but, you should be an expert and a passionate evangelist of the concept your community rallies around. I don’t believe a community is a geographic one alone, but one that rallies around purpose and passion. With that in mind, you should be someone who takes pride in being an adept.
You don’t have to be a generalist, and you don’t have to be a virtuoso, but you need to know more than the average person. AND alongside that expertise you will need to:
Be an Excellent Communicator-
The best communities have a small core of things they care about that are reiterated constantly from the top down. This often looks like a formalized mission statement, sometimes public, sometimes not, but it is critical that the person/people espousing the values of the community to the community be exceptional at communicating both WHAT is important and also WHY it is important.
This needs repeated frequently.
You wouldn’t tell your spouse you love them 1 time and then assume they know it forever- you tell them every day, in similar ways and in new language, exactly how you feel; this is key to a healthy relationship.
Communities are the same way. You have to tell them you love them, and why you love them, and what they should do with that, every. Single. Day.
And lastly,
Play Big Games
Intentional community building is something with massively high stakes. Failure in this arena doesn’t mean failure for you alone, but for everyone you’re trying to take along with you. When a coworking space closes, every freelancer has to relocate their entire day-to-day system, upsetting their workflow and potentially their earning potential, not to mention current client base. When a church closes, every parishioner is forced to find a new place of worship, and start dozens or hundreds of new relationships that may or may not provide the same safety, support, and mutual care once known.
Taking on the effort of building a Community is a high call with outsized responsibility. If you play small games, you win small prizes. But if you want to win big, you need to start with a bigger goal in sight.
Links I Like:
This sweater is quite literally all I can think about right now.
I just recently discovered this raicilla and it’s all I’m interested in drinking right now- like mezcal, but weird.
I’m considering a way to communicate more directly with a coterie of friends in a closed online space i.e. discord/Circle/etc. If this sounds like something valuable to you, please let me know-