Experience: 20 years

Colour: The colour of the flames of a campfire, after sunset, when it's not too cold, and you're surrounded by good friends, good refreshments, and good cheer. That colour. 🔥

Book: There's absolutely no way I could ever choose just one! But if you haven't read \"Ten Steps to Nanette: A Memoir Situation\" by Hannah Gadsby, you're missing out.

Pets: 2 hairless tuxedo cats, siblings, Kvothe and Bast (which should give you a hint as to another of my favourite books).

How did you start into community management? What was your career path across the years?

I started my career in community management in the early aughts, before it was even a well-defined role. I was fostering user generated content before it had a name, and I experimented - wildly - with different ways to build and engage online and in-person communities.

Over the years, I've worked with several brands, often starting on the ground floor and helping them identify and grow their communities from scratch. I've also helped educate people across organizations about the value of engaged and inspired communities.

My career trajectory has been unexpected, to say the least. With a degree in theater and dance, I assumed I'd be waiting tables and bartending for the rest of my life! But I've always been drawn to the power of connection and storytelling, and I love being the glue that holds people and groups together, and I value helping teach others how to make those meaningful connections, too.

What have been the main challenges of your career?

One of the main challenges of my career has been finding champions in leadership in organizations that see the value of community and make it a priority. Community management is still a relatively new discipline, and many organizations don't yet understand the full range of benefits that a strong community can provide. This can make it difficult to get the resources and support that I need to grow successful communities.

On a smaller scale, I've sometimes struggled to find the balance between in-person and virtual events and communities. On the one hand, I want to make sure that any community is accessible to everyone, regardless of their location or financial resources. On the other hand, I know that in-person events offer a unique opportunity for camaraderie and networking. As someone who cares deeply about the people in these communities, I want everyone to get the most out of their participation, but it can be challenging to strike the right equilibrium.

What has helped you develop yourself as a community professional?

My work at Burning Man has shaped my understanding of community and given me the tools to build strong communities wherever I go.

I have attended Burning Man since 2004, and worked for the Burning Man Project (the organization itself) year-round for 13 years. Burning Man is a community where people from all walks of life come together to create a temporary city in the desert, guided by 10 principles, including radical inclusion, gifting, and leave no trace.

At Burning Man, I have experienced some of the best kinds of connections: quick and fast friendships, trust, playfulness, vulnerability, unexpected discoveries, even shared hardship, and many of the things that Chip and Dan Heath write about in their book \"The Power of Moments.\" Witnessing how and when and why these connections happen has given me the ability to create them in my own communities and in the communities I help brands build.

Of course, I can't replicate the magical absurdity and immediacy of thousands of random people singing along to Bohemian Rhapsody played live by a Symphony Orchestra in front of a 10-story wooden sculpture at sunrise. But I do try to bring the learnings I've gathered at Burning Man with me to create my own bits of magic in my communities.

What's your favourite community platform?

I don't have a favourite. I think community and social platforms are all tools in a toolbox - there's no single one that's right for every possible task.

What is “community” for you?

Community is connection, and the most important connection is between the members themselves. One of my greatest joys is to see community members turn to each other for leadership and support, instead of relying solely on me. That's when the magic happens.

What's one single strategy that you may suggest to increase value for the people in your community?

Be genuine.

Communities know when interaction is perfunctory. People can smell engagement-farming a mile away. If you're building rituals, build them in a way that is sincere. Ask honest questions, give straightforward answers, and be a trustworthy advocate for their goals.

What would you recommend to those just starting into community management?

Listen to your community. Take the time to get to know your members and understand their needs and interests. Offer help and advice, and celebrate their successes.

Be patient. Building a strong community takes time and effort. Don't get discouraged if you don't see results immediately. Just keep working and experimenting.

And, on a more granular level, start with a small number of channels in your Slack or Discord server. Siloed conversations can discourage engagement and overwhelm new members. You can always create new channels later, as needed. But in the beginning, it's best to centralize conversations to set that engagement flywheel spinning.

Link: http://jenneviere.com/

Join Led by Community the hub for community leaders here: https://ledby.community/join-the-hub

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