standing on the shoulders of giants by stack exchange's ana noemi
TRANSCRIPT
Standing on the Shoulders of GiantsHow We Can Borrow From Other Traditions and Level Up Our Game
CMX Summit East 2015
__________________
by Ana Noemi@anoemi
I <3 NY
Previously...
Work
Know what community managers do a lot of?
I’ve had the chance to see how community works in lots of orgs.
Justifying ourselves.
It’s exhausting.
Justifying ourselves.
What we do is a lot bigger than startups.
Community = getting a collection of individuals to view themselves as a cohesive group.
It’s easy to lose sight of our purpose when we’re facing a constant onslaught.
You don’t need to reinvent the wheel.
If we look at communities outside our day to day, it helps us see deeper patterns and structures.
I want to help you think about community building outside your current constraints.
Non-Transactional Giving
Self-Identifying Membership
Alignment of Desires
Customs and Rituals
Empowerment of Individuals
1) Non-Transactional Giving2) Self Identifying Members3) Alignment of Desires4) Customs and Rituals5) Empowerment of Individuals
These are the five traits of every vibrant, enduring community:
How do these five traits show up in strong, successful communities?
Alcoholics Anonymous1st Example:
“I have found that the process of discovering who I really am begins with knowing who I really don't want to be.”
Alcoholics Anonymous
What is it?
• “Mutual aid society” - members help each other face their relationship with alcohol, rebuild their lives
• Religious influence
• Free and inclusive to all
Alcoholics Anonymous
• Will not tell you whether you’re an alcoholic
• Sponsorship
• 12 Steps
Alcoholics AnonymousWhat is it?
The Five Traits in AA
Alcoholics Anonymous
The Five Traits in AA
Non-Transactional Giving
The Five Traits in AA
Sponsorship
Alcoholics Anonymous
The Five Traits in AA
Non-Transactional Giving
The Five Traits in AA
Self-Identifying Members
Sponsorship
AA doesn’t diagnose alcoholism
Alcoholics Anonymous
The Five Traits in AA
Non-Transactional Giving
The Five Traits in AA
Self-Identifying Members
Alignment of Desires
Sponsorship
AA doesn’t diagnose alcoholism
Working to get well
Alcoholics Anonymous
The Five Traits in AA
Non-Transactional Giving
The Five Traits in AA
Self-Identifying Members
Alignment of Desires
Rituals & Customs
Sponsorship
AA doesn’t diagnose alcoholism
Working to get well
Meetings
Alcoholics Anonymous
Non-Transactional Giving
The Five Traits in AA
Self-Identifying Members
Alignment of Desires
Rituals & Customs
Empowerment of Individuals
Sponsorship
AA doesn’t diagnose alcoholism
Working to get well
Meetings
Anyone can start a group
Alcoholics Anonymous
(image TBD)
Burning Man2nd Example:
“A Disneyland where the participants create all the rides” -- Michael Mikel, Co-Founder
Burning Man
What is it?
• 65K people in Black Rock Desert for a weeklong celebration
• Music, large scale art installations, partying, self-expression
• Bring your own food, water, shelter
Burning Man
• Theme camps
• Effigy burn
• Gifting
• Make a city, break it back down (“Leave no trace”)
Burning ManWhat is it?
Burning Man
Burning Man
Burning ManThe Five Traits in Burning Man
Burning ManThe Five Traits in Burning Man
Non-Transactional Giving Gift economy
Burning ManThe Five Traits in Burning Man
Non-Transactional Giving
Self-Identifying Members
Gift economy
Culturally abnormal activity
Burning ManThe Five Traits in Burning Man
Non-Transactional Giving
Self-Identifying Members
Alignment of Desires
Gift economy
Culturally abnormal activity
‘Leave no trace’
Burning ManThe Five Traits in Burning Man
Non-Transactional Giving
Self-Identifying Members
Alignment of Desires
Rituals & Customs
Gift economy
Culturally abnormal activity
‘Leave no trace’
Effigy Burn
Burning ManThe Five Traits in Burning Man
Non-Transactional Giving
Self-Identifying Members
Alignment of Desires
Rituals & Customs
Empowerment of Individuals
Gift economy
Culturally abnormal activity
‘Leave no trace’
Effigy Burn
Theme Camps
3rd Example: Linux
“I think, fundamentally, open source does tend to be more stable software. It's the right way to do things.” -- Linus Torvalds, Project Lead
Linux
What is it?
• Open source alternative to Windows and OSX
• Free for everyone to use and modify
• Community & corporate symbiosis
• Leading operating system on servers
Linux
• Linux User Groups (LUGs)
• Community provides support to one another
• Strong countercultural, anti-corporate ethos
What is it?
Linux
The Five Traits in LinuxLinux
The Five Traits in Linux
Non-Transactional Giving Built by volunteers
Linux
The Five Traits in Linux
Non-Transactional Giving
Self-Identifying Members
Built by volunteers
Linux User Groups
Linux
The Five Traits in Linux
Non-Transactional Giving
Self-Identifying Members
Alignment of Desires
Built by volunteers
Linux User Groups
Anti-corporate ethos
Linux
The Five Traits in Linux
Non-Transactional Giving
Self-Identifying Members
Alignment of Desires
Rituals & Customs
Built by volunteers
Linux User Groups
Anti-corporate ethos
Lots. Of. Shouting.
Linux
The Five Traits in Linux
Non-Transactional Giving
Self-Identifying Members
Alignment of Desires
Rituals & Customs
Empowerment of Individuals
Built by volunteers
Linux User Groups
Anti-corporate ethos
Lots. Of. Shouting.
Pull requests
Linux
Let’s take an example that’s closer to home.
The Five Traits at Stack Exchange
Non-Transactional Giving We believe people want to help each other
Self-Identifying Members Give away content, no pressure to sign up
The Five Traits at Stack Exchange
Alignment of Desires Defining “on topic”
The Five Traits at Stack Exchange
Rituals & Customs Community documentation of our memes & inside jokes
The Five Traits at Stack Exchange
Empowerment of Individuals Creation of Meta Stack Overflow
The Five Traits at Stack Exchange
Communities are weird tangles of human interaction.
We are the pattern matchers.
If we don’t define what community building is, others will do it for us.
Not every company is going to embrace the five traits,or the true importance of community.
If you’re not being empowered to do your best work, find somewhere where you are.
Thank you!
@anoemi