So Where is Your Community?
As you sit in your home on lockdown (hopefully safe, healthy and not too bored), the full impact of COVID-19 pandemic has started to sink in. This global pandemic respects no boundary, social class or group, but as much as it feels like you’re alone, we are definitely in this thing together.
For most of us, this time is like nothing we’ve ever experienced. I guess I’m not alone when I disclose that I’m feeling lonely, isolated with obvious cabin fever starting to take hold. Despite nearly unlimited access to the Internet, a plethora of virtual connection alternatives and the daily stretching of our online persona, we may still feel separated from the world, our family, our neighbourhood and our livelihood. Few foresaw this possibility and very few of us were ready for the current and future workplace shifts facing us. This COVID-19 event isn’t even among the largest most lethal pandemics in human history, but its impacts are and will forever be, massive!
To cope, I’ve been reaching out. I’m volunteering my expertise, sharing COVID19 innovations, sharing community hacks, highlighting Maker efforts and sharing stories of heroism I find. I’m leveraging every social medium I know, navigating both local and global issues, trying to connect themes and information where ever possible, and I’ve learned a valuable lesson along the way.
If there was ever a time for “communities of purpose,” it is right now. No matter what your thing is — your product, your mission, service or business, having an established community of like minded individuals, customers and connectors can be critical to your ongoing success. More than just a customer success tool, an active online community will become your army, ready to mobilize and rally for your common cause when needed. i now see the company managed community as the first piece in a massive cognitive surplus puzzle, connecting your ideas, needs and opportunities to other challenges as required. Your community can act locally, regionally, nationally and internationally with a built-in trust factor. If your community trusts you enough to invest in your offering, they will be advocates for you everywhere, especially in times of crisis. It is surprising how few focused and connected communities exist when you start looking for them. As I was considering this post, I found that community expert and author Howard Rheingold has posted a similar thought on Mutual Aid & Social Capital: The Power of Communities, Networks. Rheingold lists a number of currently active examples to back up this story. He describes “the capacity for people to enlist their peers in mutual aid without formal institutions such as laws and contracts is sometimes called social capital” and its just the sort of capital we need right now.
I see social capital communities as an internally vetted and much more personal team than that of a simple Facebook or LinkedIn group. Typical social groups often offer a mixed bag of people, advice and connection. Not to say that traditional online communities and groups aren’t incredibly powerful, they are. During this crisis, I’ve been connecting with the Open Source COVID19 Medical Supplies group and The GitHub space is perhaps the best COVID19 Open collaboration space, and they are doing great things. Key to these communities is their focus, — they have a lane and an established POV. Their brand or niche is specific, and their purpose is well defined.
As we unravel from the COVID19 crisis, we are going to see a new future of work develop. I’m betting it’s going to be far more social, more virtual and more community-focused. We will need all of the social capital and cognitive surplus we can find. This crisis has taught me just how much we need community, and I’ll be advocating that every business I mentor builds a healthy and vibrant community as part of its core value going forward.
