We are all maxed out trying to build community
Becky McCray
I help you shape a brighter future for your small town, giving you practical steps you can put into action right away.
Community builders are probably feeling it this time of year especially: maxed out and just plain tired. Personally and professionally.
And it can be tough to admit. When I visited one town, my host and I talked through all kinds of issues and challenges around building their community. It took awhile to get around to the really hard question.
We are all maxed out and tired, he said. We get into conflicts over who is supposed to do what.
You can understand that. That could be your town, too.
Then he asked about a possible solution. How do we create an overall container or umbrella organization for keeping us all working together smoothly?
You don’t.
There is no answer to keeping everyone working together smoothly that doesn’t destroy the very sense of community you are trying to create.
No matter what you're trying to accomplish, whether it’s in the arts or manufacturing or education or anything, there is one real goal underneath all that. It’s community.
Community is our goal.
You will have conflict. You will overlap and duplicate each other. Because you’re a community of real people.
But there is one action to take.
You teach everyone the Idea Friendly method. You’ll change the thinking from one group in charge to lots of people trying lots of things.
It’s not easy. It’s not quick. But it’s probably no harder that forming an umbrella organization and trying to force everyone to obey.
Impact With Intent. Be Kind, enjoy life, and use your skills to improve everything you touch; inspire others to do the same.
5 年Umbrella groups or organisations invariably have obligations to some sort of board, management or funder.? This 'obligation' drives initiatives to standardise reporting, language and sometimes approach.? As soon as you do this you start to lose relevance, connection and flexibility and the umbrella starts to wield the power. I'm with Kerry Anderson?- let the passionate go and find their way to do 'what they've go to do'.? If the problem is 'community builders are all maxed out' then the issue is either too much demand or not enough resource.....and their are different options to resolve both of those issues.?
Retired
5 年Great if you can but sometimes it takes a new group to shake things up
Author-Speaker-Facilitator: Empowering rural and regional Australia. Advocate for entrepreneurs and small business.
5 年It is so important to let people with a passionate cause have the leeway to run with it without the constrictions of traditional meetings and organisations. Younger generations in particular are good at saying NO to joining a committee and many great community leaders have burnt out with the frustration of having to do everything themselves or deal with the barriers put up by those that do not share their vision. Sometimes a group's vision becomes too broad or irrelevant. We have found through Operation Next Gen that informal and inclusive gatherings in non traditional places reinvigorate community leadership and activities. When it comes to a major event requiring some governance often a local Progress Association or Neighbourhood (Community) House will auspice the event or create a subcommittee to encompass the activities of this passionate group.
Sarah “Main Street” O’Brien
5 年True collaboration and collective impact begins with leaving your ego and personal/organizational priorities at the door. If we are all trying to build community we have to always put community first. That is really hard to do for most humans. It likely means giving up something in order to achieve success for the common good. And more often than not that something is someone else’s success.
Online Remoting Coach | Location Independent Living Coach
5 年I think collaboration is one possible answer.? Too many groups in small communities often indicate a lack of collaboration (one would think that more meetings mean more collaboration, but often it does not).? The willingness to cluster and work with others on related issues rather than do your own thing does not only make overheads more affordable, it also decreases the workload (and number of meetings to attend) for everybody.??