THE RURBAN FRINGE

The Art of Community Building

Posted on | June 16, 2010 | No Comments

Community building is part art, part science.  Just getting out there and spreading the word is not enough, community organizers and facilitators also need to understand the nuances of working with people from a variety of backgrounds as well as apply the principles of good, old-fashioned relationship-building.

Command and control is dead. 

To fully engage people to work for the good of their community, you can no longer control the message, the project or the people.  Social media and new technologies have allowed everyone to become connected and an ‘expert’ at something … harness this two-way energy, instead, and provide guidance, not demands.

Honesty, transparency and ethical behaviour are musts.

How can you have a relationship with a person or a group if you behave abysmally?  This is about basic human relations:  telling the truth, doing what you say you’re going to do, disclosing any conflicts … you know, all that stuff you learned in kindergarten.

Build value for your group.

This is a strategic priority.  Get to really know the community you serve and the issues you represent; it is only by listening, reading and researching these that you can serve your community members with valuable insights and timely opportunities. 

Mentor others.

Part of encouraging community involvement includes mentoring others.  It also needs to be said that mentoring does not mean that one must become exactly like the mentor.  But actively exposing and enabling people’s gifts and community contributions will lead to positive, ongoing community engagement.  Individualism doesn’t lead to empowerment.

Community building is really about creating a rallying point amongst people.  But you also have to have the drive and the commitment to make it work.  It’s not always easy, but it can be incredibly rewarding.

So … get out there.  Find an issue.  Build relationships.  And change your community for the better.

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