How to build and get the most out of communities: bringing value and making yourself an asset

Humans are social creatures, no matter what environment we are in we naturally gravitate towards those with similar interests and values. Steemit and other social media sites are no different. We all want to find our place, our tribe, so we can thrive and flourish.

Since joining Steemit I have joined several communities and even taken on a leadership role in a few so I have had the opportunity to make some observations on how we can all improve those experiences.

Education

When joining a new community the natural first step is to find out what it's all about. Far too many people skip this crucial step! It's important when joining a group to figure out if you will fit in, there's not point in being there if your values don't align. My first suggestion is to always come in with a little knowledge under your belt. Most communities have an FAQ, a white paper, or in the case of discord a start-here type of room with a wealth of resources for exactly this purpose. Coming in with a head start will allow you to begin on the right foot and vastly improve your experience.

Initiative and independence

This tip is a natural extension of the previous one. Having the drive, initiative and even the curiosity to independently make a community better will benefit the whole. If you don't like the way things are moving say something! Suggest a better way. Don't be afraid to be the change you want to see. If all the singular parts of the system are moving on their own with no cohesion things will quickly deteriorate.

As our minnow mayor over on PAL always asks us "Can you take this complaint and make it a suggestion?"

Reframing your complaints into concrete ways to improve user interactions/experiences is a far better way to initiate change and betterment for all, and instead of passing the buck to someone else gives you a sense of personal responsibility.

Giving

This one can not be stated enough! Many people join communities and ask "What can you do for me?" Instead they should be asking "What can I do for you?"

In my experience people who have joined our communities with a willingness to jump right in and contribute have had a more natural and organic success purely from starting with the right mindset. The beauty of humanity is that we are all unique and we all have different strengths and skills. Find the empty space that needs filling and flow into it like water, occupy that space and own it!

Respect

This one is dead obvious but respect is earned. Personally, I am thrilled to educate and share my knowledge all day long with people who are respectful and eager to learn, it gives me the fuzzies to know I am helping :) It gives me even more fuzzies to see those same people turning around and sharing that knowledge and spirit with others. Empathy and a strong theory of mind often form the basis of respect so strengthening these skills will make you an asset and create a caring community.

In this model the abundance can multiply exponentially and spread like wildfire. This helps form the basis of a successful community.

These may seem like obvious or cliché ideas but they are even more important in online communities than anywhere else. The online community is global, so the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life is greater than ever before. This brings greater challenges but also greater opportunities for personal growth so I think it's worth examining how you can bring value to the world and the spaces you choose to occupy

<3