Want to learn about what it means to create and support a thriving community? This interactive deck will walk you through the steps needed to lead a meaningful community.

1. community

2. – Helen Keller
Alone we can do so little.
Together we can do so much.“
“

3. WHAT COMMUNITIES
HAVE YOU BEEN
A PART OF?
Activity #1

4. Why do people join communities?

5. social
To feel less alone and to connect with people
(near or far) to pursue shared interests.
Why do people join communities?

6. values
To connect with others who share the same
values in a social setting.
Why do people join communities?

7. To share experiences with natives of the same country, to speak
the shared language and observe cultural traditions together.cultural
Why do people join communities?

8. To develop relationships with others in the same industry
or expand their networks into other industries / markets.business
Why do people join communities?

9. for a sense of belonging.
People join communities,

10. a group of people
engaged around a shared interest.
community is

11. CULTURE
The way of life that is unique
to a specific community
COMMUNITY
A group of people engaged
around a shared interest
shared
interest
governance
behaviors
artifacts
values
communication
history

12. DIVERSITY IN YOUR COMMUNITIES

13. We believe...
We support...
...is important to us.
ARTICULATING YOUR
COMMUNITY
Activity #2

14. Community Commitment Curve
Members actively collaborate
in order to achieve something together.
Leaders help guide the community in a strategic direction.
Members are
content with simply belonging.
commitment
time
dynamicPASSIVE

15. a group of people
engaged around a shared interest
moving in a strategic direction.
a dnyamic
community is

16. – Seth Godin
Dynamic communities
realize they can harness their
collective intelligence to
achieve something together, in
addition to simply belonging.
“
“

17. Left-handed people
Passive Dynamic

18. Gay Community
Passive Dynamic

19. Comics
Passive Dynamic

20. and we’re going to change...
We support...
and our goal is...
...is important to us.
CHARTING YOUR COMMUNITY’S
DIRECTION
Activity #3

21. BUILDING DYNAMIC
COMMUNITIES

22. Shared Interest
Group of People
Spur Initial Interactions
Identification of Leader(s)
Strategic Direction
Time + Commitment
pre-community
building checklist
you need:

23. The leader will allow their faith in the idea to
ignite their passion and become overwhelmed
with the need to share it with others.
identify the leader. is it you?

24. leaders:
Share their passion/idea with other people.1
If they feel the same, encourage them to spread the idea.2
Find another person, share their passion/idea again, and put
them in contact with the person they found in the previous step.
3
Repeat from #2.4

25. Strategic direction in a community comes from
the vision, authenticity, experience, credibility, and
empathy of the leader(s).
These leaders start the community, are chosen
by the community, or emanate naturally from the
community through a process of organic selection.
Strategy emerges
from the leaders

26. – Seth Godin
Lack of strategy in a leader negates
to realize the full potential of the
community because the community
may not harness all of their energy in
the right direction and instead split
into various directions.
“
“

27. Strategy comes from the leader and the group’s
collective reasoning.
Strategy in Communities
Strategy is: Strategy is not:
- Dictating a direction
- Sheep blindly following a sheperd
- Imposed from above
- Listening to the voices
- Giving direction
- Purposefully creating opportunities for dialogue,
engagement, and continuing participation.
- An interactive process
- Cultivating the natural resources of the community
X

28. established
Community Commitment Curve
commitment
time
optimize diversity
steer community in strategic direction(s)refine goals & vision
explore new platforms & resources to amplify impact
identify and create popular sub-groups
train and manager leaders
develop a manifestoempower loyal members
resolve conflictsleader(s) begin to step back
collect & analyze data
members drive growth
members initiate events & activities
inception
mature
initiate communication
develop limited sense of community
build relationships
launch activitiesinvite members to join
develop purpose

29. inception
Engage with the early adopters
one-on-one to build a critical mass

30. commitment
time
inception
established
mature
- Invite members to join
- Initiate communication
- Launch activities
- Build relationships
- Start to develop the sense of community
- Seed community interactions
tasks
member
loyal member
leader / organizerCommunity Commitment Curve

31. ESTABLISHMENT
Developing a tight-knit community,
that grows beyond you.

32. commitment
time
inception
established
mature
- Empower loyal members
- Develop a manifesto
- Collect & analyze data
- Members drive growth
- Members initiate events & activities
- Resolve Conflicts
- Leaders begin to step back
tasks
Community Commitment Curve

33. maturity
Identify new directions and opportunities for
impact that the community can leverage

34. commitment
time
inception
established
mature
- Optimize diversity
- Train & manage leaders
- Explore new platforms & resource to
amplify community impact
- Steer community in strategic directions
- Refine goals & vision
- Identify & create popular sub-groups
tasks
Community Commitment Curve

35. mitosis
Your self sustaining community
begins to break up into
smaller more focused communities.

36. commitment
time
inception
established
mature
SUB GROUPS;
- Invite members to join
- Initiate communication
- Launch activities
- Build relationships
- Develop limited sense of community
tasks
Community Commitment Curve

37. IDENTIFYING YOUR COMMUNITY’S
GROWTH STAGE
Activity #4

38. established
The co.space is an intentional
community for young
changemakers.
Based in State College, PA, it was
launched by two founders who
oversaw and ran the home for the
first two years and then proceeded
to pass day-to-day leadership
to two house managers. The
co.space is beginning to mature
and scale into future cities as it
expands its leadership team. inception
mature

39. The TEDxJ&J community was
launched a few years ago by a
leader within J&J who believed
there was an internal community
excited about creating a culture
of innovation. What began as a
small gathering of like-minded
individuals has grown into a large
event with multiple gatherings
and teams led by individuals
throughout the company around
the world.
established
inception
mature

40. PechaKucha are informal and
fun gatherings where creative
people get together and share
their ideas, works, and thoughts
through simple presentations.
Founded by 2 individuals in
Japan, it is now run by city
organizers and volunteers in over
800 cities around the globe. established
inception
mature

41. Marvel is one of the world’s
most prominent character-based
entertainment companies, built
on a proven library of over 8,000
characters featured in a variety of
media over seventy years.
Marvel has countless sub-
communities targeting movies,
gaming, books, character-
specific groups, events, online
communities and more.
established
inception
mature
mitosis