If you have some time coming up, here are a few books I’d suggest. Some are community-related, others less so.
- Priya Parker – The Art of The Gathering. One of the best books I’ve read all year. A game-changer in how we create powerful, transformative, experiences for our community members. Applies primarily to in-person gatherings but almost all of the lessons can be applied online too.
- Marshall Rosenberg – Nonviolent Communication. Explains how to engage with members in challenging situations. Anyone doing ‘in the trenches’ community management should have this on their shelf (preferably well-thumbed through).
- Richard Rumelt – Good Strategy Bad Strategy. Too often we blunder our way into a strategy without truly defining what ‘good’ strategy looks like. Reading this will help you identify the purpose behind strategy and how to do it well.
- Daniel Coyle – The Culture Code. If you’re working with smaller groups or internal communities, this will explain how to create a cohesive team and build a sense of trust.
- Jono Bacon – People Powered. Jono’s breakdown of his approach to building thriving communities in the developer space and other sectors. A great read packed with clever, practical, tips.
- Carrie Melissa Jones & Charles Vogl – Building Brand Communities. An approach to building true and authentic communities when so many brand communities become customer support channels.
You can also find my past two books, Buzzing Communities, and The Indispensable Community.
Enjoy!