Three Principles of Community Building

Three Principles of Community Building

 

1. The Diffusion Effect

The diffusion effect as it relates to psychological research is described here:  “Within-class experimental designs (with experimental and control groups in the same classroom) are subject to diffusion effects whereby both experimental and control students benefit from the intervention [emphasis mine], thereby contaminating the control group and biasing evaluations of intervention effects. “

The diffusion effect, that is sometimes referred to as a “contamination” in psychological research, is welcomed in community-building work.  The community building mindset will gradually diffuse into the entire environment even though only a percentage of the members participate in the program – that “contamination”, where the people that are not involved in the program benefit from the intervention, is something we want.

 

The Diffusion Effect – An Example

I had been working with a group of supervisors in an insurance company for ten sessions when two new supervisors joined us.  It was not possible to catch them up on thirteen and a half hours of interactions so we did brief introductions and carried on with the program.  

During our discussion, one of the new members volunteered to share.  She began this way, “Since this is a safe space…”

I was surprised.  I hadn’t told her it was a safe space.  I hadn’t heard anybody else tell her it was a safe space.  How did she know it was a safe space? 

Because, of course, it was.  In the time we had worked together, we had created a safe space and even though she had just joined us, she sensed this and felt safe in that space.  

Community building, at its essence, is a process of building relationships that create a welcoming environment of authenticity, trust and security. 

 

2. The Voluntary Nature  

Thanks to the diffusion effect, no members need to be coerced to participate in the program.  Community-building programs must be voluntary – because community building begins with a choice, willingness and commitment.  

 

3. The Sustaining Effect 

Kalliergo programs foster the growth of a community culture; an environment that naturally includes new members.  Participants in the program also become versed in methods of community maintenance so they naturally become community-building leaders in the organization. 

 

Let’s Get to Work!

Imagine how the world will change when we really get it that we are all in this together, and we learn how to express this through authentic community building!  In the three years it took me to refine and create a step-by-step outline of the community building process and frameworks in a book, I have endeavoured to create a resource for anybody to teach people how to do just that.  Check it out!

And/or contact me so we can talk about how to build a community culture at your workplace.  I am also available for consultation and speaking engagements.

 

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About The Author


I have always loved writing and community building. I’ve written a book about healing and happiness, The Happy Place, as well as a Community Building book, Sounding the Drum: Community Building in the Digital Age,both available at any Amazon store. I’ve been through life changes that I thought were the end of my world, but I’m still here. You never know what will happen next. Isn’t that what makes life interesting?