Kick Spark

Share your passion. Ignite Your Community.

Kick Spark: Real World Community Management

Kick Spark: Real World Community Management

I started Kick Spark in 2009 to provide a resource for any and all interested in starting, maintaining, expanding or reviving a group of…like-minded people. Wrangling in-person events is hard, often thankless work. It’s also one of the most personally rewarding that I’ve found. ¶ Kick Spark provides recommendations, tips and tricks alongside a view of the trials and tribulations that come with organizing a community. While most articles center on groups that have a significant physical component, many of the techniques can be applied to online communities and loose social networks.

Alex JonesDec 26, 2015

Kicking Off with Two Questions

Kicking Off with Two Questions

The hardest step is the first one, but it doesn’t have to be. Let’s start with two key questions that will help you roll forward.What Do I Do First? ¶ Have you defined the purpose of the group? It doesn’t have to be fancy, but you need some semblance of purpose. Not sure? Fill in these blanks: “I want to hang out with other people interested in _______ to talk about _______.” ¶ Next, set a date, decide on a location (preferably with food and/or drink), call a meeting and spread the word by inviting the people you know who are interested in the topic and ask them to spread the word too.

Alex JonesDec 26, 2015

Step Up and Lead

Step Up and Lead

Yes, you.When no one makes decisions, nothing gets done. Having a strong voice, or a set of unified voices is key for setting and achieving goals. This is as true when organizing groups as it is in corporate board rooms and government offices the world over. ¶ The foundation you put into place is key to your success. Build a group that you would be proud to join if it already existed. What do you want to gain from the group?

Alex JonesDec 26, 2015

Consistency, Communication & Experimentation

Consistency, Communication & Experimentation

Setting consistent meeting times and regular communication is key to the success of your group, but without a bit of experimentation, you…may not find what works best. Each compliments the other. ¶ Consistency ¶ Set up a regular schedule for your meetings. <a href=”http://refreshaustin.org">Refresh Austin</a> has met the second Tuesday of every month from 7:00 to 9:00pm for over seven years. Those few times when we’ve had to find a new venue, we’ve made sure to get a guarantee from the new spot that we will have that day and time every month.

Alex JonesDec 26, 2015

Alex JonesDec 26, 20152 min read

Tips, Tricks and Resources for Public Speakers

Tips & Tricks for Public Speakers

In my time recruiting, coordinating and observing speakers, I’ve witnessed a wide array of speakers. An interesting topic cannot survive a bad speaker, yet a boring subject can come alive…

Alex JonesDec 26, 20151 min read

Benevolent Dictatorship

If you can get a dedicated group of people to sign up for the work involved and consistently meet their responsibilities, then you’re good to go. But if that doesn’t happen, it’s time for you to become a benevolent dictator. You may not want to be the sole person in charge, but…

Alex JonesDec 26, 20153 min read

Organizing Leadership: Boards and Councils

As we covered in Step Up and Lead, leadership requires you make some key decisions and put in some effort to kick-start a group if you want it to exist. This may all be on your shoulders to start, but there are many ways to ease the weight by crafting a…

Alex JonesDec 26, 20151 min read

Don’t Try to Please Everyone — You Can’t

The reality of the situation is that you can’t please everybody. Any decision for a group larger than five (if not smaller) is likely to work out poorly for at least one member. Someone may feel slighted, or worse no matter what you decide. Depending on that…

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