On Communicating Your Wins

[JoelR]

This is something that I struggle with.  I may have done an amazing thing with my community.  Maybe we hit a new milestone.  Maybe we hit a major achievement.  Maybe we've been quietly building one of the world's largest dictionaries contextualized for online communities: https://invisioneer.org/index.php?/cmxdictionary/

In my head, I have already acknowledged those milestones as another step in my community journey, so nothing more is needed. It's one of many achievements laying before me.  But if it's not communicated out to the membership or to the public, is it worth anything? What does it matter if you hit that milestone if no one else acknowledges, celebrates, or shares in that success? 

Perception is everything.  And if there is nothing to perceive because you're not communicating your wins, it's a lost opportunity to shape and share in your community story. 

• People derive part of their self-concept from their membership in social groups. Celebrating shared wins strengthens the "we" feeling, reinforcing a positive social identity and bolstering a sense of belonging. Members feel more connected when they perceive the group as effective and successful, increasing their commitment and engagement. Even if you - as the community manager or forum admin - did all of the heavy lifting, letting members share a part of the win builds their tribal identity.  
• The "norm of reciprocity" is a powerful social principle that dictates that people feel obligated to return favors and acts of kindness. Sharing successes and acknowledging contributions triggers this norm, prompting members to "pay it forward" by contributing their own time and expertise. This creates a positive cycle of prosocial behavior.
• Stories shape our understanding of ourselves and the world. By sharing stories of success, you provide members with a shared narrative that reinforces the community's values and goals.

So go ahead.  Post an extra term in our CMX Dictionary and help us build the world's largest database of dictionary terms for community management 😉. You'll feel better, I'll feel better, and all the other people who didn't do anything will also feel better because ultimately we all win.