Nurture then Grow
Happy February! I hope you have a great run this month 🌹
Had a conversation with someone who was looking to grow her community while also being worried that the current members were not engaging at all.
While growth is good and absolutely necessary, it has to be done at the right time. In this case, growing the numbers isn’t the right move yet, she has to nurture the people that she already has first.
If people are barely engaging, more numbers won’t change that because those already in the community will set a bad example for the ones coming in and the cycle will just repeat itself.
Let’s break down the idea of nurturing!
According to Oxford, to nurture means to care for and protect (someone or something) while they are growing.
In community building, that will mean caring for your people as they grow in the area of their lives that you are serving, by creating a space where they feel seen, heard, and valued.
Nurturing isn’t a tactic or some super tip, it’s the basic things you do daily within your community to keep it running.
What nurturing your community looks like;
1. Active Engagement:
Encouraging conversations by asking questions, and sharing relevant content with discussion prompts
Being present and responding to comments & messages and participating in ongoing discussions
Facilitating introductions, creating discussion groups, and organizing programs
Establishing and enforcing clear community guidelines to create a safe space for everyone
2. Get to Know Your Members:
Conducting regular surveys to understand their needs, interests, and expectations from the community.
Having one-on-one conversations with members to understand their individual experiences and motivations.
Analyzing data to track engagement patterns, and content preferences, and to identify trends and interests.
3. Recognition & Rewards:
Highlighting positive member contributions and acknowledging member achievements
Offering rewards like badges, points, or virtual rewards for active participation, consistent contributions, and helpful behavior.
Hosting exclusive programs and offering early access to content, or organizing invite-only gatherings
4. Provide Value:
Creating and curating high-quality, relevant content that aligns with member interests
Hosting interactive events like webinars, workshops, Q&A sessions, etc.
Connecting members with opportunities by sharing job postings, and relevant news, or connecting them with potential collaborators or mentors within the community.
5. Listen & Pay Attention:
Monitoring conversations, actively listening to feedback, and addressing concerns promptly
Showing members their input matters by implementing suggested improvements and sharing updates on progress.
Holding regular sessions for open discussions, answering questions directly, and listening to member suggestions.
There is a time to focus on improving the systems that would support growth and there’s a time to focus on growth, don’t mix it up!
Mostly, we tend to see the analogy of a garden when nurturing is discussed and it simply describes that when you’re growing a garden, you nurture it first by tilling the ground, enriching it with nutrients, tending to the seedlings and even removing the weeds. And by so doing, you create a perfect environment for the plants to thrive and grow. The same is true in community building.
When members are properly nurtured, you would even find your members doing the talking which would be an added bonus to your efforts in growing the numbers.
Nurture first and nurture good, then grow!
Till next week, I appreciate you.
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