New thinking about community
We continue our theme of exploring ideas around the concept of community with a brief email interview with one of my favorite authors and thinkers, Seth Godin. If you have missed it (and believe me, you’ve missed something if you have) do yourself a favor and become a religious reader of his blog. He will help you think about things in new ways, I guarantee it.
Me: Let’s say I work at a nonprofit and am charge of a community of specialists within a profession. Once highly active and engaging, this group has stagnated, it still has a number of participants, but it lacks the energy it once had. How do I know if I’m in a dip or if I need to bail?
Godin: It lacks the energy because you're not going anywhere. Is there a mission? A status quo worth fighting? Are there leaders with something at stake, or connections that matter?
In my experience, there are too many associations that exist to pay the staff.
(Scott here – ouch! But think about that statement some. I think there’s probably more truth to it than we’d ever like to admit.)
Me: A typical association: My program is a cul de sac (going around in circles), problem is, there’s a few important people who think it’s critical for my organization. I’ve tried to quit the program before, but am told its political. How do I navigate these politics and keep my job?
Godin: What makes it political? If you shut it down, who would suffer? What would you invent to take its place? It's probably political because there isn't a better alternative. Invent that first, and then see what happens.
Me: There are tons of ways for an organization to muck things up and kill community, but in what ways can organizations act as catalysts for community creation and involvement?
Godin: As I mentioned earlier, the juicier your goal, the more imminent it feels, the easier it is to build community.
Me: If you think of the communities you’ve engaged in – what, besides the topic, attracted you to participate?
Godin: Way more than the topic, the two things are: the people and the velocity of movement.
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Comments
As a Godin fan, love how he'll zeroes in on the meat ... worth quoting "Way more than the topic, the two things are [attracting to community]: the people and the velocity of movement." Reaffirms that committee and board meetings, endless conversations and non-decision decisions are eroding our association's position in our members' lives.
Posted by: Peggy Hoffman | May 21, 2009 10:24 AM
Godin is great. All of what he offers here though is also explored in ASAE & the Center's Seven Strategic Conversations that Could Transform Your Association publication, stating that members seek:
1. Meaningful purpose
2. Meaningful relationships
3. Meaningful contributions; and
4. Meaningful story
Folks would be wise to take that one off the shelf, dust it off,and give it another read. If I remember right a free PDF executive summary is available for download .
Posted by: Jeffrey Cufaude | May 21, 2009 2:32 PM
What a great idea and post! And, sadly, of course Seth is totally right about associations.
Here's the thing about communities and associations: community is about people and relationships. Associations are about associations. I'm just sayin'.
Posted by: Maggie McGary | May 26, 2009 7:13 AM