Always Build Community

When you build or boost a community, you are moving things forward. 

When I travel, do business or just hang out at home, I'm always thinking about my ABCs (Always Building Community).  How can I organize groups around visions?  How can I welcome people into the fold?  How can I build an instant community, comprised of fellow travelers all trying to do well and good?  

At work, we build communities around products, programs and social opportunities.  In our personal life we build the community around pride, safety, justice and shared opportunities.  If you are willing to invest in community, you'll never be alone, and likely you will also be able to punch above your weight as a person.  Too often, we wait for communities to present themselves, prove their viability and invite us in.  That's not proactive!  If you fancy yourself a leader, take the reigns here and consider my following advice points: 

1 - Smile and be friendly to strangers during your travels.  When two people make eye contact, exchange smiles or approving nods or shake hands - they are now fused together as an ad hoc community.  This is what I do in airports, streets and hotels along my way.  In many situations, when we get 'stuck,' this community is a source of relief and assistance.  This is step one to community building: Unconditional Friendliness. 

2 - Focus on the Why, not the What.  Talk about the purpose behind our efforts, either at work or in transit.  By placing vision or cause at the center of the table, we naturally organize people around a shared vision or mutually desired outcome.  It dissolves barriers and creates a unity of thinking. 

3 - Be willing to join one you didn't create.  If you find a community to be valuable, even a small project team, jump in and roll up your sleeves to help (not lead).  Park your ego at the door and remember that any team needs support to thrive.  If you create one that others initially refuse to join, welcome them in later when they realize that your group is making a difference or being successful.  Communities are all-members-welcome-at-all-times. 

4 - Give all you can, and then a little bit more.  Communities are not built with good intentions.  They require resources and support ... yours.  Being a member is just a start, when you become a contributor, then you are building.   Here's a tweetable: Don't look for communities as a source of help - think of them as an opportunity to give.