Get Together

What's "Get Together: How to build a community with your people" about?

• Community Building Guide: "Get Together" is a comprehensive guide on how to cultivate a community by working with people rather than for them. It emphasizes collaboration and shared purpose.
• Stages of Community Development: The book outlines three stages of building a community: sparking the flame, stoking the fire, and passing the torch, each with specific strategies and principles.
• Real-Life Examples: It includes stories and examples from various successful communities, such as run clubs, online groups, and educational movements, to illustrate its points.
• Authors' Expertise: Written by Bailey Richardson, Kevin Huynh, and Kai Elmer Sotto, who have extensive experience in community building with organizations like Instagram and Facebook.

Why should I read "Get Together"?

• Practical Advice: The book offers actionable advice for anyone looking to start or grow a community, whether for personal, professional, or social purposes.
• Diverse Applications: It provides insights applicable to a wide range of communities, from local clubs to global online networks.
• Empowerment Focus: Emphasizes empowering members to take leadership roles, which can lead to more sustainable and resilient communities.
• Inspiration and Motivation: Through real-life stories, the book inspires readers to take the first step in community building and shows the impact of collective action.

What are the key takeaways of "Get Together"?

• Build With, Not For: The central theme is to build communities with people, involving them in decision-making and leadership roles.
• Stages of Growth: Understand the three stages of community development: sparking interest, maintaining engagement, and empowering leaders.
• Importance of Identity: Cultivating a shared identity through rituals, language, and symbols strengthens community bonds.
• Role of Leaders: Identifying and developing leaders within the community is crucial for long-term success and sustainability.

How does "Get Together" suggest sparking a community?

• Identify Your People: Start by pinpointing who you want to gather and why, focusing on shared interests or goals.
• First Activity: Organize an initial activity that is purposeful, participatory, and repeatable to engage members.
• Encourage Dialogue: Create spaces for members to communicate and connect, fostering relationships and collaboration.
• Overcome Fear: Address fears of low turnout by being a courageous leader willing to take the first step.

What strategies does "Get Together" offer for maintaining community engagement?

• Attract New Members: Use a compelling origin story and shareable content to draw in new members authentically.
• Cultivate Identity: Develop a strong community identity through badges, rituals, and shared language.
• Track Participation: Monitor who keeps showing up and why, focusing on retention and understanding member motivations.
• Spot Hand-Raisers: Identify and nurture the most engaged members who can take on leadership roles.

How does "Get Together" define the role of leaders in a community?

• Develop Leaders: Focus on creating more leaders rather than managing members, empowering them to take ownership.
• Genuine and Qualified: Look for leaders who are genuinely passionate and qualified to take on responsibilities.
• Feedback and Growth: Establish a feedback process to help leaders grow and transition roles as needed.
• Catalysts for Change: Recognize that a small group of passionate leaders can drive significant impact and growth.

What are some best practices for community celebrations according to "Get Together"?

• Clear Purpose: Define the intention of the celebration, aligning it with the community's overall purpose.
• Relevant Format: Choose a format that resonates with the community's identity and goals, whether in-person or online.
• Incorporate Identity: Use the community's badges, rituals, and language to enhance the celebration's impact.
• Reflect Achievements: Use celebrations as an opportunity to reflect on and acknowledge the community's accomplishments.

What are the best quotes from "Get Together" and what do they mean?

• "Build with, not for": This quote encapsulates the book's core message of collaboration and shared ownership in community building.
• "Fires can’t be made with dead embers": Emphasizes the need for active, passionate participation to sustain a community.
• "A community isn’t a community unless it’s organizing itself": Highlights the importance of empowering members to take initiative and lead.
• "Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity": Stresses the value of listening and understanding members' needs and motivations.

How does "Get Together" suggest handling challenges and missteps in a community?

• Monitor Sentiment: Pay attention to community feedback to detect issues early and address them promptly.
• Ownership and Transparency: Take responsibility for mistakes and communicate openly with members to rebuild trust.
• Engage Key Members: Involve long-term and emerging leaders in discussions to navigate challenges effectively.
• Learn and Adapt: Use missteps as learning opportunities to improve future decision-making and community resilience.

What is the significance of rituals and language in "Get Together"?

• Foster Connection: Rituals and shared language help members feel connected to each other and the community's history.
• Strengthen Identity: They reinforce the community's identity, making it more cohesive and attractive to new members.
• Encourage Participation: Rituals provide structured opportunities for members to engage and contribute.
• Adapt and Evolve: As the community grows, rituals and language can evolve to reflect new members and changing dynamics.

How does "Get Together" address the concept of social capital?

• Definition: Social capital refers to the value of social networks and the benefits that arise from them, such as increased productivity and support.
• Community as Asset: A thriving community is seen as a form of social capital that extends individual and collective capacity.
• Collaboration Benefits: By joining forces, members can achieve more together than they could alone, enhancing both personal and community growth.
• Fun and Fulfillment: Building social capital through community involvement is not only productive but also enjoyable and rewarding.

What resources does "Get Together" provide for aspiring community builders?

• Practical Tools: The book offers checklists, prompts, and principles for each stage of community development.
• Real-Life Examples: It includes stories from various successful communities to illustrate key concepts and strategies.
• Online Resources: Readers are encouraged to visit gettogetherbook.com for additional interviews, transcripts, and involvement opportunities.
• Community Support: The authors invite readers to connect and share their community-building experiences for mutual learning and support.