It’s Time to Start Leading Your Community
Blogs have evolved into so much more than just random thoughts splattered onto the internet. They’re more than just words now. They’ve grown into communities and meeting places. They’ve become sources of information and discussion where people can rally together around things that they’re really passionate about.
Blogs are communities now. They’re villages of people banding together to learn and grow with friends.
People From Around the World Are Coming Together
They’re not villages in the traditional sense because they’re not bound or limited by geographical location. These communities bring people together as neighbors from opposite corners of the globe. A man from Iowa can share his passion for college with a group of people from India, Russia, Nigeria and Brazil as though they were all standing in a room together discussing their college experiences.
But although these villages are not limited by geography, they are still being held back from reaching their fullest potential. There are still restraints holding them back. These communities are limited by the lack of vision and leadership of those who would rally them together.
Communities are Looking for People Who Will Lead Them
People are looking for leaders. They’re looking for people who will draw them in and set on fire their passion for writing, for fences, for blogging, for football or for anything else that excites them.
If you have a blog then you have a community and it’s looking to you to lead them. It’s not enough anymore just to chase after blogging tactics and techniques. It’s not enough to quickly skim through the easy-to-read list posts.
It’s time to start transforming yourself into the leader that people want to follow. It’s time to start connecting with people. It’s time to infuse a fresh wave of excitement into your blog.
Simply put: It’s time to start leading your community.
Susan/TogetherWeFlourish said:
I think you’re on to something here. I’d love to see more information on actions to take to become a more effective leader.
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Nicholas Cardot said:
You can count on seeing more information about that here. I believe that being an effective leader is a powerful tool for bloggers. Blogging is all about creating and leading our communities. Thanks for the great feedback.
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izzat aziz said:
To lead community one need to show the proof that they are great leader by lead their blog into higher standard possible.
It important to start lead their own blog first before even try to lead its community.. every leader need to lead by example.
Nicholas Cardot said:
izzat aziz » That’s the opposite of my point. Being a leader isn’t just about having all the right blogging tactics in place. It’s about being real with people, connecting with people, and making a difference. Raising the standard of our blog is important, but it’s so much more than that. Having a cool looking blog and cool content isn’t what has allowed me to connect with people the way that I have. That’s been a result of me simply making friends and connecting with people the way that people do in high school.
izzat aziz said:
as for my perspective leader is about directing people, tell people what they done wrong, teach people something that they wanted to know.
for me people that want to lead the community is someone who people looking for when they in need.
they need to ask something, they looking for you. they need advice, they looking for your. if that so, than you actually lead your community.
that why it is important to at least show that they are good in whatever community they try to lead
MIke Rowell said:
Great post!
I found this idea articulated really well and more fully in Seth Godin’s book “Tribes.” If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend it. Really important reading.
Thanks again!
Nicholas Cardot said:
MIke Rowell » I have that book and I’ve found that he expresses the concept extremely well. In fact, he says it much better than I do. It’s a great book, actually.
Hesham @ FamousBloggersTips said:
I have been working with on online communities since a few years back, and actually I find your idea is true when you said that community need a leader, and of course this leader should be surrounded with a lot of wisdom and knoledge.
I am not assuming to have all required skills, but I am trying my best!
Nice post Nick.
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Nicholas Cardot said:
Hesham @ FamousBloggersTips » They really do need leaders. I’ve heard it said that everything rises and falls on leadership and I find it to be true online as well as off line. Leaders are needed.
Ed said:
yes i will lead. i will be the leader, no one will stop me i will UNDESTRUCTABLE! If only there was a safety manual for this. Anyways great post it made me want to start a Tribe. Can i start a nation or is that too far fetched? (:
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Nicholas Cardot said:
Ed » You should absolutely be reaching for the stars. Be reaching and dreaming, friend. Keep growing and improving and you’ll impact a lot of people.
Tim Zager said:
I agree people are looking for someone to lead them to their destination. However, I don’t think you have to be an expert to be that leader. You only have to be one step ahead of what they know to help them get there.
Reza Winandar said:
Yes, people need someone to lead them, but if we can lead ourselves to reach our goal, why depend on other? I think we should lead ourselves AND with other people’s help, then we can reach it.
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Eric said:
Hey Nick,
For some reason it’s as if we have forgotten what friendship is all about. I strongly feel that you want to get your point across on your blog, yes.
However, you also want to connect with your readers and build up a good relationship with them outside of the blog. Maybe bring in some new readers and show them you really care about their opinion by writing a blog post about it.
Be the leader and be a friend by letting your readers know you’re real and that you’re there for them whether on the blog or not.
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Aminul Islam Sajib said:
Leading community is a hard task and not everyone can do that. Plus, before someone starts leading a community, he needs to build a community first, which is the most difficult part.
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Nicholas Cardot said:
Aminul Islam Sajib » But a community that is being led will grow much faster than one that is not.
Dennis Edell said:
Never forget, to be a truly effective leader, you have to be equally effective at listening/taking advice from others you trust…
There’s no “ME” in community. A little corny but y’all get the idea. lol
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Nicholas Cardot said:
Dennis Edell » Ha ha. I completely agree with you. I believe that good leaders are good listeners. You’re absolutely right and your corny anecdote is the absolute truth.
Dana @ Blogging Update said:
I think we will become the leader if we offer new perspective in each our writing.
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Nicole/Woman Seeks World said:
So true – I finally read Tribes by Seth Godin recently and Im now a firm believer that if we are to succeed we must lead!
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