The document discusses five traits of successful communities: 1) non-transactional giving, 2) self-identifying members, 3) alignment of desires, 4) customs and rituals, and 5) empowerment of individuals. It uses examples like Alcoholics Anonymous, Burning Man, Linux, and Stack Exchange to illustrate how these traits show up. The key message is that by understanding patterns in other communities, community managers can better define their role and avoid constantly justifying themselves. Examining communities outside one's normal scope helps see deeper structures and patterns.

1. Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
How We Can Borrow From Other Traditions and Level Up Our Game
CMX Summit East 2015
__________________
by Ana Noemi
@anoemi

2. I <3 NY

3. Previously...
Work

4. Know what community managers do a lot of?
I’ve had the chance to see how community works in lots of orgs.

5. Justifying ourselves.

6. It’s exhausting.
Justifying ourselves.

7. What we do is a lot bigger than startups.

8. Community = getting a collection of individuals to view
themselves as a cohesive group.

9. It’s easy to lose sight of our purpose when we’re
facing a constant onslaught.

10. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel.

11. If we look at communities outside our day to day, it helps
us see deeper patterns and structures.

12. I want to help you think about community building outside
your current constraints.

13. Non-Transactional Giving

14. Self-Identifying Membership

15. Alignment of Desires

16. Customs and Rituals

17. Empowerment of Individuals

18. 1) Non-Transactional Giving
2) Self Identifying Members
3) Alignment of Desires
4) Customs and Rituals
5) Empowerment of Individuals
These are the five traits of every vibrant, enduring community:

19. How do these five traits show up in
strong, successful communities?

20. Alcoholics Anonymous1st Example:

21. “I have found that the process of discovering who I really am
begins with knowing who I really don't want to be.”
Alcoholics Anonymous

22. What is it?
• “Mutual aid society” - members help each other face their
relationship with alcohol, rebuild their lives
• Religious influence
• Free and inclusive to all
Alcoholics Anonymous

23. • Will not tell you whether you’re an alcoholic
• Sponsorship
• 12 Steps
Alcoholics Anonymous
What is it?

24. Non-Transactional Giving
The Five Traits in AA
Self-Identifying Members
Alignment of Desires
Rituals & Customs
Empowerment of Individuals
Sponsorship
AA doesn’t diagnose alcoholism
Working to get well
Meetings
Anyone can start a group
Alcoholics Anonymous

25. (image TBD)
Burning Man2nd Example:

26. “A Disneyland where the participants create all the rides” -- Michael Mikel,
Co-Founder
Burning Man

27. What is it?
• 65K people in Black Rock Desert for a weeklong
celebration
• Music, large scale art installations, partying, self-expression
• Bring your own food, water, shelter
Burning Man

28. • Theme camps
• Effigy burn
• Gifting
• Make a city, break it back down (“Leave no trace”)
Burning Man
What is it?

29. Burning Man

30. Burning Man

31. Burning Man
The Five Traits in Burning Man
Non-Transactional Giving
Self-Identifying Members
Alignment of Desires
Rituals & Customs
Empowerment of Individuals
Gift economy
Culturally abnormal activity
‘Leave no trace’
Effigy Burn
Theme Camps

32. 3rd Example:
Linux

33. “I think, fundamentally, open source does tend to be more stable software.
It's the right way to do things.” -- Linus Torvalds, Project Lead
Linux

34. What is it?
• Open source alternative to Windows and OSX
• Free for everyone to use and modify
• Community & corporate symbiosis
• Leading operating system on servers
Linux

35. • Linux User Groups (LUGs)
• Community provides support to one another
• Strong countercultural, anti-corporate ethos
What is it?
Linux

36. The Five Traits in Linux
Non-Transactional Giving
Self-Identifying Members
Alignment of Desires
Rituals & Customs
Empowerment of Individuals
Built by volunteers
Linux User Groups
Anti-corporate ethos
Lots. Of. Shouting.
Pull requests
Linux

37. Let’s take an example that’s closer to home.

38. The Five Traits at Stack Exchange
Non-Transactional Giving We believe people want to
help each other

39. Self-Identifying Members Give away content,
no pressure to sign up
The Five Traits at Stack Exchange

40. Alignment of Desires Defining “on topic”
The Five Traits at Stack Exchange

41. Rituals & Customs Community documentation of
our memes & inside jokes
The Five Traits at Stack Exchange

42. Empowerment of Individuals Creation of Meta Stack Overflow
The Five Traits at Stack Exchange

43. Communities are weird tangles of
human interaction.
We are the pattern matchers.

44. If we don’t define what community building is, others will do it for us.

45. Not every company is going to embrace the five traits,
or the true importance of community.

46. If you’re not being empowered to do your best work, find
somewhere where you are.

47. Thank you!
@anoemi