Unleashing the co-creation power of communities
In earlier posts, I’ve referenced mutuality and agency as the cornerstones of thriving communities. Mutuality, or reciprocity, refers to the alignment of purpose and benefits between the community and its members. It means that the goals and objectives of the community are aligned with the interests and needs of its members, and that any benefits generated by collective agency are shared among the members in a fair and equitable way. Agency on the other hand, involves turning community members into active participants, stakeholders, and principals who are able to contribute to and shape the direction of the project. As agents, they are able to take action and make decisions that shape the direction of the project. As stakeholders and principals, they are able to exert influence and have a vested interest in the outcomes of the project. This can help to empower members and foster a sense of belonging, agency and self-determination within the community.
The whole is greater than the sum of all its parts
Community co-creation is often seen as something where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, because it brings together a diversity of perspectives and skills, promotes collaboration and communication, and can foster a sense of connection and support among members. By fostering these elements, communities can create outcomes that are more valuable and effective than they would be if each member contributed independently.
When people with different backgrounds and expertise come together to get stuff done, they can combine their unique perspectives and skills to generate new ideas and approaches that would not have been possible if each person worked independently. Also, by working together, members can share and build on each other’s ideas, which can lead to more creative and comprehensive solutions to problems. This can also foster a sense of connection and support among members, which can help to create a stronger and more cohesive community. When people work together on a shared project or towards a shared purpose, they develop a sense of camaraderie and mutual support. This can create a strong bond within the community, which can in turn lead to increased collaboration and co-creation in the future.
Fitting in and standing out
Community co-creation requires alignment between members and cross-pollination of expertise and viewpoints. Alignment refers to the degree to which the participants in the co-creation process share the same goals, values, and expectations. In order for co-creation to be successful, participants must be aligned in their vision for the project and must be able to work together effectively towards a common goal.
Cross-pollination of expertise and viewpoints, on the other hand, refers to the process of bringing together diverse perspectives and skills in order to generate new ideas and approaches. In co-creation, participants with different backgrounds, experiences, and expertise can contribute their unique perspectives and ideas to the project, which can lead to more creative and comprehensive solutions.
This means that co-creation often involves a balance between fitting in and standing out. On the one hand, members must be able to work together effectively and build on each other’s ideas, which requires a minimum level of conformity and alignment with the community’s purpose and expectations. On the other hand, co-creation also requires members to be able to think outside the box and contribute their unique perspectives and skills, which may involve standing out and deviating from the community’s norms and practices. As such, successful co-creation involves a balance between conformity and uniqueness, and a focus on creating something new together.
Stewarding for co-creation
Community leaders play a crucial role in fostering thriving and co-creating communities. They are responsible for setting the vision and direction for the community, as well as creating an environment that supports co-creation and collaboration.
Some specific ways that community leaders can steward their members towards effective co-creation include:
- Establishing a common purpose and shared objectives for the community to work towards. Members of the community must be working towards a common goal or objective in order for their efforts to be cohesive and effective. This could be a long-term vision for the community, or a specific project or challenge that members can collaborate on.
- Encouraging diversity and inclusion within the community. A community that brings together people with different backgrounds and expertise is more likely to be successful at co-creation. This could involve recruiting members with different backgrounds and experiences, as well as creating an environment that is inclusive and welcoming to all.
- Fostering a sense of connection and belonging within the community. Co-creation is more likely to be successful in a supportive and inclusive environment where members feel safe to share their ideas and contribute to the project. This could involve creating opportunities for members to get to know each other and build relationships, as well as providing support and recognition for the contributions of individual members.
- Providing resources and support to facilitate communication and collaboration among members. In order for co-creation to be successful, members of the community must be able to communicate and collaborate effectively. This could involve using specific tools and technologies to facilitate coordination, collaboration and co-creation, as well as establishing clear guidelines and processes for working together.
The SPACES framework is another great leadership reference for facilitating co-creation in communities. It is based on the idea that co-creation is most successful when it takes place in a supportive, participatory, and collaborative environment, where members are empowered to take ownership of the process and the outcomes. The SPACES framework is made up of five key components:
- Support: Providing resources, guidance, and support to help members overcome any challenges they may face in the co-creation process.
- Participation: Encouraging and enabling all members of the community to participate and contribute to the co-creation process.
- Autonomy: Empowering members to take ownership of the co-creation process and the outcomes, allowing them to make decisions and pursue their own ideas and approaches.
- Collaboration: Facilitating collaboration and communication among members, so that they can work together effectively and build on each other’s ideas.
- Empathy: Fostering a sense of connection and empathy among members, so that they can understand and support each other’s perspectives and needs.
Co-creation incentives and benefits
There are many different incentives that can be effective in getting community members to participate and contribute in co-creation. The key is to find incentives that align with the goals of the project and the interests and motivations of the members. Some examples of member incentives that may work well include:
- Recognition and appreciation: Providing recognition and appreciation for the contributions of individual members can be a powerful incentive to get them to participate and contribute. This could involve publicly thanking and acknowledging members for their efforts, or providing rewards such as badges or certificates.
- Personal growth and development: Many people are motivated by the opportunity to learn and grow, and may be more likely to participate in co-creation if it offers the chance to develop new skills or knowledge. Providing resources and support for personal growth and development can be an effective incentive to get members to contribute to the project.
- Sense of accomplishment and pride: People are often motivated by the desire to achieve something, and may be more likely to participate in co-creation if it offers the chance to accomplish something meaningful. Providing regular updates and progress reports on the project can help members feel a sense of accomplishment and pride in their work, which can be a powerful incentive to keep contributing.
Ideally, intrinsic motivation should be the primary driver of member participation. Intrinsic motivation refers to the motivation that comes from within an individual, and is driven by the individual’s own interests, values, and goals. When communities are built on the principle of mutuality and shared purpose, co-creation often involves working on projects that are personally meaningful or interesting to the members, and therefore provides an inherent sense of motivation and fulfilment.
However, extrinsic motivation can also play a role in driving member participation in co-creation communities. For example, leaders and stewards of the community may provide rewards or incentives to members who contribute to the project, or may recognize and appreciate the contributions of individual members. These external triggers can provide additional motivation for members to participate and contribute to the co-creation process.
Gate & Gain
A ‘gate & gain’ membership framework is a model for managing membership in a community that involves both barriers to entry and rewards for participation. In the context of co-creation, this framework can enable community co-creation by providing a structured and controlled environment for collaboration and idea generation.
The ‘gate’ aspect of the framework involves setting barriers to entry for the community or for certain aspects or utility offered by the community. This could involve requiring members to apply for membership, or to demonstrate a certain level of skill or expertise in order to join the community or access some of the community services and activities. By setting these barriers, the community can ensure that only members who are truly interested and able to contribute to the co-creation process are allowed to participate.
The ‘gain’ aspect of the framework involves providing rewards or incentives to members who participate in the co-creation process. This could involve offering recognition or appreciation for contributions, or providing tangible rewards such as access to exclusive benefits or even monetary rewards.
Overall, a ‘gate & gain’ membership framework can enable a community co-creation flywheel by creating a structured and gated environment for ideation and collaboration, and by providing rewards and incentives for participation, which, in turn, can unlock additional gated activities and privileges.
Building a co-creation flywheel: turning gravity into energy and impact
Community co-creation is the process of working together with others to create something new. In this sense, community co-creation can be seen as a way of turning the collective energy and power of the community into something tangible and valuable.
Community gravity refers to the forces that draw members of a community together and create a sense of connection and belonging. These forces could include shared interests, values, or goals, as well as social bonds and relationships. By participating in co-creation, members of the community can harness the energy of these forces and use them to generate new ideas, products, or services that benefit the community and its members. Or in flywheel terms, converting potential energy into a kinetic force that propels itself …
In technical terms, a flywheel is a device that stores and converts energy. The more it’s revved up, the more energy it stores and the longer it can spin unaided. And the bigger it is and the faster it spins, the more energy it stores and the longer it takes to slow down.
https://www.andyjohns.co/essays/flywheels-and-how-to-create-content-communities
The journey is (half) the reward
In co-creation, the journey is often seen as being just as important as the final outcome or reward. This is because the process of working together to create something new can be rewarding in and of itself, and can provide a range of benefits to the participants.
One way in which the journey of co-creation can be rewarding is by building a sense of belonging and connection among the participants. By working together on a shared project, members of the community can build relationships and social bonds, and can develop a sense of connection and shared purpose. This can help to foster a more vibrant and engaged community, and can also provide a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction for the participants.
In addition, the journey of co-creation can also foster meaningful connections and collaborations between participants. By bringing together people with diverse backgrounds and expertise, co-creation can provide opportunities for members to learn from and inspire each other, and can facilitate the exchange of ideas and perspectives. This can lead to more creative and comprehensive solutions, and can also provide a sense of personal growth and accomplishment for community members.
Belonging + Utility + Ownership
Overall, community co-creation is closely related to the three core pillars of community, as it can foster belonging, provide utility, and promote ownership among members.
Belonging: Co-creation fosters a sense of belonging within a community, as members work together on a shared project and develop strong bonds and connections.
Utility: Co-creation provides utility to a community, by generating new ideas, products, or services that benefit the community and its members.
Ownership: Co-creation also promotes a sense of ownership among members, as they are empowered to take ownership of the co-creation process and the outcomes.
Altogether, community co-creation fosters a stronger sense of belonging and leads to increased member participation and engagement, resulting in increased utility and value creation, while helping to build agency and self-determination within the community.
