Community Manager Commandments

Core principles that guide my approach to building thriving communities.

The Commandments

These principles have been forged through years of community building experience across diverse industries.

COMMANDMENT I

Thou Shalt Listen Before Speaking

The foundation of community management is understanding your audience. Listen actively to community needs, concerns, and feedback before implementing solutions or making announcements.

Implementation Tips:

  • Create regular feedback channels and surveys
  • Spend time observing community interactions
  • Acknowledge feedback publicly to show it's valued
  • Document recurring themes in community discussions
COMMANDMENT II

Thou Shalt Build Ownership, Not Audience

Transform passive audiences into active participants by creating clear pathways for contribution and recognition. Communities thrive when members feel ownership and agency.

Implementation Tips:

  • Create roles and responsibilities for community members
  • Develop recognition systems that highlight contributions
  • Involve community in decision-making processes
  • Provide tools and resources for member-led initiatives
COMMANDMENT III

Thou Shalt Build Movements, Not Just Projects

Create communities that rally around shared values and vision, not just products or services. When people believe in something bigger than themselves, they become advocates, not just users.

Implementation Tips:

  • Articulate a clear vision that transcends features or benefits
  • Connect individual actions to collective impact
  • Create narratives that inspire emotional connection
  • Celebrate milestones that reinforce shared purpose
COMMANDMENT IV

Thou Shalt Focus on Why People Should Care

Emphasize human connection and purpose in all community initiatives. Understanding motivations creates more meaningful engagement than focusing solely on features or benefits.

Implementation Tips:

  • Before launching any initiative, ask: "Why would someone care about this?"
  • Connect features to emotions and outcomes that matter
  • Share stories that illustrate impact and meaning
  • Create space for members to share their "why"
COMMANDMENT V

Thou Shalt Create Value, Not Scarcity

Build communities around abundance mindsets rather than artificial scarcity. True value comes from connection and contribution, not exclusivity for its own sake.

Implementation Tips:

  • Design systems that reward contribution and collaboration
  • Create opportunities for members to add value to each other
  • Focus on expanding access rather than restricting it
  • Measure success by depth of engagement, not just exclusivity
COMMANDMENT VI

Thou Shalt Prioritize Belonging Over Attention

Create spaces where people feel they truly belong, rather than just capturing fleeting attention. This builds sustainable communities with deeper engagement.

Implementation Tips:

  • Invest in rituals, shared language, and recognition systems
  • Create clear community norms and values
  • Facilitate meaningful connections between members
  • Prioritize depth of engagement over vanity metrics
COMMANDMENT VII

Thou Shalt Build Trust Through Consistency

Maintain consistent communication, governance, and presence. Trust is the foundation of community, and consistency is the foundation of trust.

Implementation Tips:

  • Establish regular rhythms for communication and engagement
  • Create transparent, consistent processes for decision-making
  • Follow through on commitments and promises
  • Acknowledge mistakes openly and learn from them
COMMANDMENT VIII

Thou Shalt Measure What Matters

Focus on metrics that reflect quality of engagement and community health, not just quantity of interactions or members.

Implementation Tips:

  • Develop metrics around retention, contribution ratio, and satisfaction
  • Track the journey of members from newcomers to contributors
  • Measure impact on business goals, not just community activity
  • Regularly review and refine your measurement framework
COMMANDMENT IX

Thou Shalt Design for Diversity and Inclusion

Create communities that welcome diverse perspectives and experiences. Inclusive communities are more resilient, creative, and valuable.

Implementation Tips:

  • Audit community spaces, content, and processes for accessibility
  • Actively seek out and amplify underrepresented voices
  • Create clear codes of conduct and enforce them consistently
  • Provide multiple pathways for participation and contribution
COMMANDMENT X

Thou Shalt Balance Structure with Emergence

Provide enough structure to guide the community while allowing space for organic growth and member-led initiatives.

Implementation Tips:

  • Create clear frameworks and guidelines, but leave room for experimentation
  • Support and amplify member-initiated projects
  • Balance planned content with space for organic conversation
  • Regularly evaluate and evolve community structure based on feedback
View My Philosophy See Commandments in Action