Five Things Punk Rock Taught Me About Community Management

Punk rock and community management go together like Charlie Sheen and responsible parenting. But that won’t stop me from blogging about this unlikely mashup. Punk is as much about attitude as it is about music. With that in mind, here are five things punk rock taught me about community management:

Don’t be a poseurphoto © 2011 Nash Cook | more info (via: Wylio)

People can spot a community manager that is fake or insincere. Be honest. Be real. Be part of the community. Get people to engage in positive behavior by modeling that behavior. In other words: lead by example.

Don’t be corporate

Never forget that you share ownership of the community with its members. If you start imposing the corporate stamp on the community — either by using it to overtly sell your products or trying to force a conversation on the group — your community will fail.

Play it loud, play it fast

OK, so maybe this one needs a little translation. In community management terms, this means that you should be clear (loud) and concise (fast). When communicating with the community, avoid lengthy missives and fancy words. Respect people’s time and get to the point.

Play it like you mean it

The worst sin a punk rock band can commit it to look bored on stage. Punk rock demands enthusiasm. So does community management. If you want your community to be enthusiastic, you need to be enthusiastic too.

Don’t take yourself too seriously

To a great extent, punk was a reaction to rock stars that took themselves too seriously. A community manager that takes him or herself too seriously risks alienating the community…and looking like a jerk.