Stages Of Community

I’ve taken great delight in applying Peck’s 4 stage model of community to dozens of communities. To use a familiar example: Triiibes.

Seth Godin’s Triiibes is an excellent example of how communities develop

Pseudo-Community: First members joined and were extremely polite and feigned enthusiasm for everything (secretly, most members wanted to impress Seth). 

Chaos: Then conflicts began to happen. Member's, once comfortable with each other, didn't feel the need to hide their own ego or ambitions for the benefit of the group. There were some good fights, some members left.

Emptiness: Then the community was a bit aimless for a while. Gradually, however, members began to communicate better, developed a group tone/voice and put their own agendas and egos behind them. 

True Community: Now Triiibes is a very productive community. One that has written two ebooks, succeeded in getting a member to speak at TED and racked up an array of productive (and unproductive) discussions. 

If you want to develop your online community, it's vital you take them through this process of development. Don't try to resolve or prevent conflicts too quickly. 

Also, closing your community for months at a time can be a very good idea. Taking a fixed group through the community process can be easier than handling hundreds of members at different stages. 

Comments

[Becky Blanton]

Hmmm.....I remember it differently. As long as no one person stood out, and there was "NO tall poppy," things went well. Standard group dynamics. It's still a tribe that does not welcome tall poppies and those who are doing well, don't share that with the group publicly any more. Lesson learned by many.

And while there's wisdom to letting members sort out their own conflicts, totally abdicating your role and power as a moderator can also destroy your community and any sense of safety, respect or leadership. The terms "spineless" and "uncaring," about members feelings comes to mind.

No one led the group. They fumbled and stumbled through group process without a leader. Seth told the group he would not lead them...they were to do that themselves. There's a difference between actively TAKING a group through a process and WATCHING them go through it. Leaders participate.

Ultimately leaders also initiate a discussion about conflict and discomfort and reach out to connect with their leaders...not drop them.

A lot of valuable opportunities were left on the table and what could have been truly remarkable is just another community. Responding to conflict and community the way it's always been done is no different than marketing, advertising or managing the way it's always been done. If nothing was done differently, was it really worth doing?

[Karenne]

Hmmm... this is very interesting see Becky's thoughts like this.

I like Triiibes but it's not the "best" community I belong to, mainly because the "leader" isn't around much.

There are many different types of leadership styles, far be it for me to declare which anyone should be...

While I am not the "big-boss" of my own tribe, I am present and I do stand-up when conflicts occur - I also do everything I can to make sure that my members grow as I do.

I protect and share with them.

K (a triiibster)