The Art of Community: Seven Principles for Belonging

Many leaders confuse self-selection (no invitation necessary) with “everyone belongs.”

personal letter or telephone call that welcomes a new member can be powerful.

An initiation is a kind of ritual, and the best rituals come with symbols and tokens.

Second, when those who are trapped in a crisis of belonging receive an invitation from any insider or community leader, the invitation itself becomes evidence of their belonging

Connect to the future: Tell her how you hope it will support, change, or serve her.

To Kevin, it had become clear that users desperately wanted to be part of a community that represented their identity, values, and shared interests.

To create something that others want to join and support, we have to remember a core tenet: communities function best and are most durable when they’re helping members to be more successful in some way in a connected and dynamic world.

Your success in growing a community will depend on how well you can understand and articulate the following features: Shared values Membership identity Moral proscriptions Insider understanding

To grow a tight community, it’s essential to articulate the community’s core values clearly, at least for yourself. Not every value needs to be articulated, just the most important ones: those that tie the community’s members together.

Foundational Form Elements: Opening 1. Welcome 2. Intention 3. Reference a tradition 4. Explain events and instructions Body 1. Share wisdom 2. Invite participation Closing 1. Acknowledgment 2. Sending