Communities of practice

Define Communities of Practice

Wenger Trayner - https://www.wenger-trayner.com/introduction-to-communities-of-practice/

Collective Learning & Shared Practice - people drawn to outcomes, not concept

Resource link: Leadershiplearning.org

“Practice” = practitioner

“Community” = people who are joining have other communities as their priority. They are showing up to strengthen their own communities. Think of it as a network instead. Community framework is helpful when people join.

Roles & Audiences

Waxing & Waning of members’ contributions

Active vs inactive - share vs take - learn vs teach

Figure out why people show up and support them

Success story

Group that has met weekly consistency

10 min community - people randomly pair up to talk

50 min presentation

Maintained by a consultant

Amount of information being shared in person is massive

Convener (behind the scenes organizing) + Host (practiioner holding the actual space)

Examples

Capacity Builder’s Convergence

• Come up with topic
• People show up and discuss
• Ask people what they want to see

Hubbable

• Intentional space to actively connect

How do Define Outcomes

Processes & Products you get

Potluck

Need enough food for everyone but don’t know how hungry people are

• Too many dishes and you can’t try everything
• Potluck needs redundancy and flexibility in case someone cannot follow through

Words of Wisdom

You are a Dock and they are boats on their journeys, stopping at your dock

Build solidarity, get what they need and move on

Minimum Viable Structure for a group

• Start with Values to determine outcomes
• Outcomes
  • What do you want to accomplish short term vs long term
  • Transparency
  • Building stronger solidarity, and understanding between different communities