How to make friends : the power of communities

Adam Grant said "The best way to predict the future is to create it," and communities have as an aim to shape the future.

Communities have become a pivot in shaping the business landscape. Whether to drive innovation, or to address societal challenges, often both combined. The collective voices and efforts of communities can be change makers, disrupting traditional paradigms and thinking, to force organizations, government and larger communities to make exceptional transitions (think Arab spring or the Salt March). While it takes one person to lead a change, their effort can only take a strong stance once they have a community amplifying their voice.

Martin had a community.

Ghandi had a community.

Mala Yousafzai had a community.

Greta Thunbderg had a community.

Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson and Dorothy Vaughan created a community.

Communities centered around an organization, interest, or purpose harness the power of diverse perspectives and collective intelligence. James Surowiecki, in "The Wisdom of Crowds " emphasizes that diverse groups of independently thinking individuals are remarkably effective at solving problems and making decisions, and this all the secret graal organizations are looking for.

Taking a leap back, we can review how the open-source model, back then community sourced effort and intelligence through forums and events, has been at the foundation of technologies that changed the world. Linux, Apache, and many other open-source projects have redefined the technology we use today. The Internet would not be what it is today without the contribution of hundreds of thousands of community contributors. And that is just one highlight of the potential of community-driven innovation.

Communities are also vital for knowledge sharing and mutual support, helping individuals and organizations grow. The collaborative environment within communities encourages continuous learning and the exchange of best practices. But their power extends beyond business and technology into societal impact. In 2023, the mobilization of local communities in response to the earthquake in Marrakech and Al Haouz is a testament to this. The collective effort provided crucial support in logistics, supplying necessities, housing displaced families, and assisting in search and rescue operations. Some communities were self formed around the effort, some were lead by individuals or organizations. In all cases, the combined effort lead to a phenomenal result in assisting the affected.

At this stage, you must be wondering "Why and how are these communities so efficient ?"

The main reason is that their drive goes beyond materiality of needs. Communities are driven by purpose. They are built on strong bonds of trust, empathy, and care that create a force that overcomes obstacles through resilience and creativity in an aim to achieve the goal.

The great thing about communities is that they can rapidly mobilize to create significant impact.

Recently, I took part in the creation of the Morocco Tech Mafia , a community aiming at gathering all the actors and contributors of the Moroccan tech, from VCs to founders to experts, to propel the ecosystem. In just 72 hours, the community amassed over 8,000 members. Within two weeks, we saw the formation of partnerships, collaborations, and a surge of active members committed to the group's growth. Such swift mobilization highlights the potential of communities to drive rapid change and have impact.

As leaders, at any level, understanding how to build and nurture communities is crucial. Content creators rapidly understand the power of communities.

You can look at communities as dynamic, intersecting Venn circles that influence and support each other. From a broader perspective, we can see how these communities shape our environment and contribute to continuous growth. As leaders, we must create a vision that resonates with community members and fosters a collaborative spirit toward common goals.

In conclusion, the power of communities is undeniable in driving success, technological innovation, and societal impact. Our commitment in leading, interacting and being part of these interconnected communities can help harness collective intelligence, support continuous growth, and create a lasting positive impact.