Building Better Management Habits
Take a page from my notebook to build better habits
Navigating Community Management
Sometimes community management can feel like trying to put together a complicated piece of furniture from IKEA — you gather all the parts, read all the instructions, but you don't really know how the heck this is going to come together.
In the early days of building online communities, I struggled to establish management habits that consistently delivered the results I expected. Which often left me feeling like I was building over complicated IKEA communities.
Today, we're going to focus on a crucial aspect of community management: consistency. Learn how to hack your habits, craft a routine, and improve your engagement with your community by taking a page from my notebook.
Let's get started!
The Consistency Conundrum
Eric Schmidt, the previous CEO of Google, once famously said, “The Internet is the first thing that humanity has built that humanity doesn't understand, the largest experiment in anarchy that we have ever had."
So basically, we're continuing to figure out what exactly we built and how to use it. For example, online communities play a vital role in helping people lean into opportunities for engagement through meaningful conversations and lasting relationships. In short, online communities can provide a safe (and brave) space for members to express themselves, share their opinions and experiences, and explore their identity.
However, to create and foster a community, like Eric Schmidt said, is a large experiment in anarchy — a delicate balance to strike. As much as we want to provide meaningful conversations and lasting relationships to members, the orchestration required can feel overwhelming to begin. To overcome this overwhelm, the best thing to do is to lean into what you can control in the chaos — in this instance, this begins with hacking your habits.
Hacking Your Habits
Building consistent habits can be a challenge, especially when you're trying to go it alone. But fear not! I've discovered that understanding the psychology of habit-building can make a world of difference when it comes to establishing sustainable routines.
According to Charles Duhigg, the author of "The Power of Habit," habits are formed through a three-step process: cue, routine, and reward.
The cue is what triggers a specific behavior, like checking your social media notifications.
The routine is the behavior itself, such as responding to comments or posting new content.
The reward is the positive outcome or feeling that you get from performing the behavior, such as increased engagement or a sense of accomplishment.
So, if you want to establish effective habits for community management, it's important to identify your cues and rewards, and create a routine that supports your efforts. For example, if your cue is checking your social media notifications, you could create a routine of responding to comments and messages at the same time every day. The reward for this behavior might be increased engagement, which can help motivate you to continue the habit over time.
Another helpful tip is to make your habits as easy and convenient as possible. If you struggle with posting content regularly, try using scheduling tools or apps to plan your content in advance. This can make it easier to establish a consistent routine and help you stay motivated over time.
Lastly, it's crucial to stay accountable to yourself and your goals. Tracking your progress, setting clear objectives, and celebrating your successes are all great ways to stay motivated and committed to building effective habits. And don't forget, finding an accountability partner or joining a community of like-minded individuals can provide support and encouragement along the way. (Shout out to The Community Community)
From Procrastination to Productivity
Managing a community can be a time-consuming and challenging task, especially if you're trying to do it manually. Fortunately, there are a variety of tools and apps available that can help you streamline your community management efforts like Zapier or CommonRoom.
However, I’ve found that most of my own habit building (or lack there of) typically comes down to not being able to visualize it. That’s why I love Marc Louvion’s tools for this reason, and I would highly recommend exploring each of them:
Habits Garden: This tool helps you build habits you won't quit. Not kidding, this tool helps you gamify your habits to make them fun, easy, and automatic.
Visualize Habit: This calculator helps you build out your habits list and helps you visualize and discover how much you will achieve in a year.
Gamify Your Life: Again, love a little gamification! Use this tool to discover ways to motivate yourself to achieve your goals.
50 Productivity Hacks: Use this tool to uncover the best productivity hacks chosen by internet (and you).
Decision Game: We’ve all been there: struggling to make a choice, a classic case of analysis paralysis. The Decision Game incentivizes you to make a decision quickly to save the main character from the Overthinking Monster.
From Chaos to Consistency: Crafting Your Daily Routine
So, where do you start?
Start with your most important tasks: Prioritize your most important tasks. Whether it's responding to messages, creating content, or engaging with your community, tackling these tasks first can help you make steady progress towards your goals.
Use time-blocking: This technique involves scheduling your time in advance and allocating specific blocks for different tasks. For example, you might block off an hour in the morning for responding to messages and comments, and another hour in the afternoon for creating new content. Not only does this help you stay focused, but it also ensures that you're consistently moving forward in your work.
Prioritize self-care: While community management is rewarding, it can also be stressful, which is why it's essential to prioritize self-care. Whether it's taking breaks, practicing mindfulness, or engaging in physical activity, don't forget to take care of yourself.
Schedule time for learning and growth: To stay on top of your game, set aside time for learning and growth. Reading industry blogs, attending webinars, or connecting with other community managers can help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and techniques.
Stay flexible: Lastly, it's important to stay flexible and adaptable in your daily routine. Unexpected tasks or emergencies will arise. It's important to approach your routines with flexibility so you can adjust your schedule accordingly.
With these tips, you can establish a consistent approach to community management that supports your habits and helps you accomplish your goals. It's like building a house; laying a strong foundation with the right materials is essential for ensuring the house stands for years to come. In the same way, creating the right habits and systems is key to successful community management.
Community Engagement Routine: Where the Magic Happens
When it comes to building connections and engagement in your community, there's one thing that you simply can't overlook: making engagement your top priority every step of the way. This is especially important if you're hoping to create a community that will stand the test of time.
I remember feeling a bit lost when I first started out in community management, and advice like this didn't always feel relatable or easy to put into practice. But the truth is, while the specifics of community engagement can vary depending on the context, there are a few core elements that are essential for creating strong community engagement routine. As you experiment in building your routine, use these tips:
It’s Not About Quality vs. Quantity: It’s About Content Cadence: No matter what type of content you create, you need to set a cadence and stick to it (as closely as you can). Liz Alton's blog post about getting your content cadence right is a great introduction if you're not familiar with the concept
Respond To Comments And Messages Promptly: One of the most important aspects of community engagement is responding to comments and messages promptly. This shows your members that you're listening and that their feedback is important to you. Additionally, responding promptly can help prevent negative feedback or complaints from escalating.
Ask Questions And Encourage Participation: Asking questions and encouraging participation can help foster a sense of community and engagement. This might include hosting polls, asking for feedback on new products or services, or encouraging discussion around industry trends or news.
Be Authentic And Personable: Members are more likely to engage with communities that are authentic and personable, so it's important to show your human side in your community engagement. This might include sharing personal stories or experiences, or using humor or empathy in your messaging.
Host Events: Hosting events or contests can be a fun and effective way to engage with your community. This might include hosting a giveaway or sweepstakes, hosting a live chat or Q&A session, or hosting a virtual event or webinar.
Listen And Respond To Feedback: Finally, it's important to listen and respond to feedback from your community. This can help you identify areas where you need to improve, and also show your audience that you're committed to providing value and building relationships.
Just remember, Rome wasn't built in a day— but it didn't have the internet either, so don't worry if it takes you a bit longer.
In Closing: Consistent Habits and Engagement Routines
In the wise words of Eric Schmidt, the internet is a vast and confusing place. But fear not! By prioritizing consistency, hacking your habits, and focusing on engagement, you can build a thriving community that stands the test of time.
So go forth, fellow community builders, and create something truly magical. Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day—but with the right tools and mindset, you can make progress towards your goals every step of the way.