Establishing and nurturing a community in the evolving global tech communities like DevOps, Cloud Native, and Value Stream presents diverse challenges. Reflecting on my decade-long experience, I have distilled valuable insights and encounters that shed light on the intricacies and gratifications of this venture.
Sparking Enthusiasm: The Core of Community
Passion and eagerness to connect and acquire knowledge are at the core of every thriving community. This inherent drive motivates individuals to participate, contribute, and evolve within a community. My journey commenced with an aspiration to learn from others and exchange knowledge. This enthusiasm is infectious and often acts as the catalyst that sparks the creation of a community.
Time Investment: Organising for Success
Serving as an organiser for community groups, such as meetups, demands a significant investment of time. For instance, arranging meetups in different time zones to accommodate global participants, scouting speakers who can deliver valuable insights, securing backing from sponsors who align with the community’s values, publicising events through various channels, and interacting with the community to address their needs and concerns all constitute time-consuming responsibilities. It is a commitment that requires devotion and persistence. While logistical hurdles may seem daunting, witnessing a community unite and grow stronger with each challenge makes it all worthwhile.
Embracing the Rollercoaster of Emotions
Building a community is a journey filled with joy, accomplishment, and lows of frustration and setbacks. But remember, every obstacle is an opportunity for growth and improvement. To succeed in community building, you must stay resilient and focus on the long-term objectives. Your determination and resilience are the keys to overcoming any challenge that comes your way.
The Importance of Having a Purpose in Community Building
The best community leaders have a sense of purpose driving them. They are motivated to create a space where people can connect, care, share, and grow. This selfless approach nurtures a feeling of unity and mutual assistance among community members. Purposeful leaders inspire active involvement from others.
Embracing Continuous Learning: Drawing Wisdom from Experts
Inspiration can come from various quarters. Engaging with speakers, writers, practitioners, and experts in the field offers invaluable insights that benefit the community. These interactions enrich the community experience and help members keep up with the latest trends and best practices.
Sustaining Engagement: Nurturing Community Spirit
One common challenge is maintaining engagement over time. Many individuals enthusiastically join the core group and support the community but may lose interest after a month or two. Keeping members engaged over the long term requires dedication and creative strategies to inspire and involve them.
Adapting to Changing Community Dynamics
The way people form connections and unite as a community has evolved over the years, with technology playing a pivotal role. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted in-person gatherings, leading to a rise in virtual meetups, conferences, and webinars facilitated by platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams. While this shift has broadened accessibility, it has also brought about challenges in maintaining engagement and handling the increasing number of events, requiring community organisers to adapt and leverage technology effectively.
Essential Backing: The Importance of Sponsors
Communities rely on support from sponsors, such as vendors, service providers, and SME organisations. Coordinating event logistics, like securing venues and catering, often involves back-and-forth communication. It can be a waiting game, with last-minute adjustments adding complexity. Sponsor backing plays a crucial role in sustaining community initiatives.
Balancing Responsibilities: Managing Work and Volunteer Commitments
For those involved in professional community building, there is motivation and reward. However, many community organisers volunteer their time alongside their jobs. These individuals often work into the evenings, organising events outside their 9-5 schedules. Their dedication is admirable as they go above and beyond to connect the dots for gatherings.
Let’s take a moment to appreciate the individuals who dedicate their time to organising meetups and community groups. Their hard work, often done alongside their jobs, creates spaces for people to come together, learn, and exchange ideas. They are the backbone of our communities, fostering an atmosphere that allows individuals to develop personally and professionally. Your efforts are truly commendable and invaluable.
Establishing a community is no small feat, but the sense of fulfilment it brings is truly invaluable. It demands dedication, time, perseverance, purpose, and flexibility. The journey may be a rollercoaster of emotions, but the positive impact of a thriving community outweighs all challenges. It provides a platform for individuals to learn, connect, and grow, fostering innovation, collaboration, and knowledge sharing in the tech industry, contributing to its overall development and progress.
BMK 