Make joining your community the easy choice

So many invites, so little time…how to decide?

Soooooo many invites!

I don’t know about you, but I tend to have weekend after weekend without much special going on.

And then poof…all of a sudden, the invitations pour in.

💌 Your coworker’s daughter’s wedding.

💌 The neighbor kid’s graduation party.

💌 Your best friend’s backyard barbecue.

And they’re all on the same Saturday.

Picture it. Your kitchen table, covered with invites.

This scenario perfectly describes what’s happening right now in community.

Communities are popping up like dandelions – which is great.

More communities means more places for people to find support, camaraderie, friendship and connection.

More communities means that smaller communities are winning the day.

The catch is that a proliferation of communities means a proliferation of invitations.

It feels like something new is launching every week, and you can’t possibly join them all. How in the world are you expected to choose?

Think back to that kitchen table. How do you decide which event gets an enthusiastic “yes” and which ones get your regrets?

I ask my clients this question a lot. No one ever says they choose the flashiest invitation on the fancy paper with glitter and extra inserts.

Over and over, people say they accept the invitation from the person they know the best, to the event where they’re confident they’ll have fun and feel like they belong.

Which makes perfect sense.

For potential members to say YES to your invitation, they need to feel as if they belong.

They need to feel like they know you, they’re comfortable and they believe you genuinely want them there.

This is why it’s so important to share your story. That peek behind the curtain makes you relatable, and that’s what makes you likable.

I say it a lot – Imperfection connects; perfection disconnects.

Just like the fancy party invite doesn’t guarantee an RSVP, your beautiful sales page might not be enough for someone to “join now.”

So what can you do? Here's a back-of-the-envelope list of starter ideas:

• Tell your story. Illustrate how you got to this point in your life.

• Show your photo. People need to see your face.

• Smile!

• Find little ways to show people you care.

• Be clear and specific about your values. Right off the bat, people will either say, “These are my people” or “Nope, that’s not me.”

• Stand against something. For example, I’m against treating community as a “get rich quick” scheme. I talk about the long, slow work. It’s not flashy, but it attracts people who want honesty and are willing to stick around for the long haul.

• Invite people to conversations – one on one, in group settings or at special events.

• Share your knowledge freely and regularly. I write this newsletter week after week. I post regularly on LinkedIn. I frequently host free workshops. It’s easy to get to know who I am and what I’m about.

• Turn away people who are not a good fit. There are 8 billion people on this earth. You’re not the right fit for all of them, and that’s OK. 

I believe so wholeheartedly in storytelling as a winning strategy that we dedicated an entire month to the topic inside The Hive. I'm still practicing the new tips I learned.

As your community matures, your story and their stories intertwine. That’s why I spotlight a Hive member each month. Their stories are a part of my story.

What we are building, we are building together. 🐝

Your story matters,

☀️ Speaking of invitations, if the Community Foundations Summer Cohort is still on your “maybe” pile, the time to act is now. I’d love to add you to our story! ☀️