Recap notes from CMX 2023 Summit session. Grammatical errors and typos are my own 🙂

Abstract:

Learn how to show up and build a community from the ground up when your personal life has hit the fan. This talk will apply specifically to earlier-stage start-ups and communities. Hear what to keep, what to drop, what to share, and how to get through each day. – Evelyn Wiseman, Head of Community, Youshd

Notes:

Community at an early-stage startup

• Wear a lot of hats, but what should you take on?
  • You should do all of the community things as well as the things that you’re good at and can do quickly.
• What can you take on?
  • Whatever they ask you to do within reason.
• What can you firmly say no to?
  • Avoid anything that will take a long time to do.
  • Don’t say yes to sales (avoid lead gen). Once you do well, they will give you more to do which will take you off your focus.

Definitions save lives, data doesn’t.

• At an early-stage startup, there’s not much data yet. You are a data point.
• Choose a north start metric (at least 2). Ensure that you and your CEO and head of product know the definition of “engagement” and “active member”. It will allows you to be more persuasive and get things where you need to go.

Grief happens. Smile! You’re in Community

• Stop, drop, and figure it out.
• Don’t be afraid of human resources
• If you happen to move to a new company after your time of grief, you will be a different person and have different boundaries.
• When something bad happens, who cares about work. It can be stressful, but it doesn’t matter as much as your mental health does.

At an early-stage startup, define the context

• Define what is community?
• Ask the same questions:
  • What do you want to take on
  • What can you take on
  • What can you firmly say no to
  • What do you need to share and with whom?
• When something horrible happens, you re-evaluate your time.
  • Stick to what you’re good at and what you like.
  • Setup your boundaries and be consistent with them. People will pick up on your patterns.
• Communicate and ask for what you need and advocate for yourself.
  • There’s no such thing as a community emergency, but there is about a human emergency

How to manager others through grief

• Ask questions and listen (empathize)
  • How are you doing?
  • Do you need more time?
  • Can I help you with anything?
• If things are hitting the fan, wait 24 hours.
• Save conversations in real-moments (not in Slack, email, etc.) but see their eyes