Gather Community Consulting is a Seattle-based consulting firm that specializes in community building.
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“Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people. It will keep you cramped and insane your whole life… Perfectionism is a mean, frozen form of idealism, while messes are the [community builder’s] true friend.”
We are now entering what I've come to think of as prime "burnout season." Over the last few years, I've observed countless community builders grow exhausted and overwhelmed during the summer months. Here’s a free guide and resource to taking time off.
Context switching is something we humans try to do. When we do it, it has the opposite effect it has on a computer. We become less effective. Unfortunately, most community builders have no choice but to switch contexts. What can we do to keep up without falling apart?
Making a huge decision like this requires a lot of yeses and even more noes. Ultimately, that’s what any commitment requires: saying yes to one thing and no to most everything else.
When you are tired, you lose inspiration, and then you cannot serve anyone. For us, it often takes a walk, music, a deep breath. You need that before you snap back to the work. And you will snap back.
Clients often ask me, “How do we get people to participate and share in our online community?” Often, what they are really asking is, “How do we encourage vulnerability?” If you truly want to encourage people to share more, there is only one thing you can do. Share of yourself.
