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#thankitforward – Present, past and forever

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By Ted McEnroe, The Community Roundtable.

New jobs bring with them some adjustments – to new roles, new responsibilities and new cultures. One of the many parts of the culture at The Community Roundtable I value greatly is the understanding that people are the heart and soul of everything we do. So when it came time for me to consider taking a part in a new (for me) tradition – thanking it forward (#thankitforward), I didn’t hesitate. Well, except for the part where I had to narrow it down to three people. I went with three groups, instead.

Thanks, friends.

Current colleagues: Thanks to my new colleagues – I’m fortunate to be married to one of them (more on her later) but for the rest of the team – Jillian, Shannon, Hillary, Maggie and Jim, I am a newbie, a rookie, and they have welcomed me with open arms and support. Thanks for your patience, your guidance, and for being a stunningly smart group of coworkers.

And thanks to the members of TheCR – whom I have always known from an outside perspective but now have gotten to engage on a more direct level. Rachel likes to talk about superpowers, and you each have them and in greater quantities than you realize. I’ve been working on a project for release at CMAD – and have already learned so much by listening that the biggest fear I have is that I can’t capture those learnings in the time and space allotted.

Past colleagues: I came to TheCR this fall from a different type of community environment – the staff of the Boston Foundation, one of the nation’s oldest and largest community foundations. To them, thanks for all the hard work you do on a daily basis to support groups across the city and region who are working to create a better Boston. If you don’t know your local community foundation – you should. They are remarkable, complex entities with the overarching purpose of supporting good causes. There is a lot business communities could learn from nonprofit communities – and vice versa.

Forever colleagues: As some things come and go, there are those that stay – I hinted at thanking Rachel Happe above, but my appreciation for her reaches far beyond TheCR. People ask how we could possibly work together, and the answer is because we know going in that no matter how contentious or challenging the work can be, we both know it’s an important but ultimately small part of our world. And if we forget – there is a 4-year-old with a head full of curls, a heart made of gold and a body full of attitude to remind us.

It feels good to say thanks – and it feels good to be thanked. That’s not just in your head – a Harvard study showed as much. Take a little time to #thankitforward. There are few phrases as powerful in any relationship – or community – as a simple “Thank you.”

#thankitforward – On community, collaboration and creativity.

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By Maggie Tunning, Learning and Culture Manager at The Community Roundtable.

Thank you to Shannon for highlighting the #thankitforward series again this year! My three picks:

#thankitforward

  1. TheCR Network members. Their experience and insight improves our research and programs. This year I especially enjoyed watching the leaders of our community maturity assessment working group apply the Community Maturity Model to create a roadmap and for internal consulting. They later contributed to a pilot training program for new members learning to apply the model, and not only shared their experiences but helped others working on new ideas for applications.

  2. Co-working spaces that encourage creativity and community. Two of my favorite spots to camp out for a morning or afternoon are the Kaneko Library and the Pilgrimer. The Kaneko Library is a speciality library dedicated to creativity, and in addition to shelves of journals and books in fields that thrive on creative input – science, engineering, advertising, business, design, architecture, the humanities and the arts – they have other resources to fuel creative minds like coffee, Scrabble and Legos. The Pilgrimer is a gathering space supporting local entrepreneurs, makers, artists and non-profit organizations that hosts a retail store for handmade goods and serves amazing pour over coffee.

  3. TheCR team. I feel lucky to collaborate with smart and supportive colleagues every day. One of our traditions that I appreciate this time of year is a Secret Santa gift exchange – the gift of giving and surprising another team member is as much fun as being surprised and receiving gifts, too.

Who are you thankful for this year? We’d love to hear who made a difference in your work and life – just tag it #thankitforward!

#ThankItForward – On Building Community and Finding My Place

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By Shannon Abram, Relationship Manager at The Community Roundtable.

Once again we are celebrating the concept of #thankitforward at TheCR this December (learn more here) and I wanted to be the first to share my picks. At the risk of veering off track, 2014 was an exciting year both personally and professionally for me. I got married in January, am having a baby any day now (!?) and got to spend the year working alongside a passionate, dedicated team of people that truly believe in the power of community. My one year anniversary with TheCR was in October, and I can honestly say my first year here flew by. I know I am very lucky to have found a group of people that make it a delight to get up and work with every day, so without further ado, my 2014 #thankitforward picks:

#Thankitforward1. The whole team at TheCR: Rachel, Jim, Hillary, Maggie, Jillian and Ted. 

(At right – TheCR takes a break from building community to make snow angels.)

The team behind the scenes at TheCR is pretty small – there are just seven of just spinning the hamster wheels. With the amount of content we produce, partners we support and members we serve that could be a nightmare, but this team makes working hard a delight. I can honestly say I’ve never been part of a team where every member not just pulls their weight, but champions each other, lends a hand whenever needed and contributes to an overall feeling of “team” that makes each work day exciting, challenging and fulfilling. Sounds pretty Pollyanna – but it’s true. Certainly there are stressful days, but the other six people on my team make the challenges we face seem surmountable and I simply can’t thank them enough for just being themselves.

2. The Members of TheCR Network

I spend a lot of time sharing news, ideas and tips here on the blog, so you might not know that another part of my job is to work with our members to get them out in the wider community industry sharing their expertise and generally letting the world know how awesome they are. I am grateful to have such an accomplished pool of community talent to showcase. Over the last year I’ve been lucky enough to learn from a wide array of community folks and can’t wait to continue the work we’ve started to show the world what a unique, diverse and smart group of people that make up TheCR Network.

3. Jeff Ross

This is almost a 2b answer for me, since Jeff is a member of TheCR Network, but I couldn’t help singling him out this year. Jeff, in addition to his day job in community at Humana, founded #ESNchat and is one of the most passionate community builders I’ve met. Jeff was one of the first members I got to spend time working with when I joined TheCR team last year, and his positive attitude, willingness to share his time and knowledge and overall awesome attitude made him a no-brainer for this list. Recently Jeff handed the reins of #ESNchat over to our team, and I’ve gotten to work both with him to continue the amazing program he’s single-handedly built, but also interact with the dozens and dozens of community professionals around the world that make up the #ESNchat community, and without exception these folks have nothing but wonderful things to say about Jeff. So – thank you Jeff! Your hard work and passion is an inspiration to me!

I hope my #thankitforward list inspires you to take a moment to reflect on the past year and reach out to the people in your life that have helped you survive and thrive in 2014. We’d love to hear who inspired you, kept you sane or sparked an a-ha moment this year – just tag it #thankitforward!

Finally, I’d like to sneak in one final #thankitforward to you. Thank you for coming back and spending part of your day with us here on TheCR blog. Here’s to a happy and healthy December, I can’t wait for 2015!

Thank It Forward 2014 – Looking Back and Giving Thanks in Your Community

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By Shannon Abram, Relationship Manager at The Community Roundtable.

snoopygratefulLast year we explored the idea of #thankitforward here on TheCR blog, and in TheCR Network and we loved the outcome so much we’re back for year two. This is our official kick off to our second year of looking back and giving thanks to those that helped us work, grow and thrive in the past year!

In the spirit of reflection and gratitude we encourage you to look back at 2014 and identify three (or more!) people who made a difference in your work and life this past year and send them a thank you via email, snail mail, or Twitter, (or whatever medium works best for you.) 

Think about:

  • Who inspired you? Brought on a “aha moment”?
  • Who was unwavering in their support of your work?
  • Which exec made a difference with their sponsorship or participation?
  • Which community member or advocate showed up in a big way?
  • Who covered you so you could unplug for a vacation — whether a day or a week?
  • Who talked you through a tough situation?
  • Whose blog posts or Twitter handle kept you well informed? Or laughing!

You get the idea! We’d love if you tag any social thanks #thankitforward so we can see the gratitude spread. Of course – some thanks yous are private and we 100% encourage those as well. Our goal is to inspire reflection on your journey this past year, and help identify those that helped make it possible.

So tell us. Who will you be thanking it forward to this year? We’ll be sharing our #thankitforward posts over the next three weeks and we can’t wait to see yours!

 

 

Being Supportive, Even When That Means Goodbye

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By Shannon DiGregorio, Relationship Manager at The Community Roundtable.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the #thankitforward movement as I watched the rest of my team write up their lists and I’m going to be honest: I had a hard time. I’m fairly new (or, recently back?) to the community world and as such my #thankitforward targets didn’t all align with my current role. I decided that didn’t matter and forged ahead with my thanks!

My 2013 #thankitforward list:

1. My old team at Intuit. I spent a little over a year at Intuit after an acquisition brought me there. I have nothing but great things to say about the company, and especially my team. They are easily the most employee-centric workplace I have ever encountered. A lot of time and effort is put into making sure people are happy, comfortable and productive, and I think that shows in the work they do. Sadly, Intuit wasn’t a great fit for me – mostly because my team and role were located on the west coast. I logged a lot of JetBlue miles in 2013! I am grateful for a team and a boss who were supportive of my best career path, even when it wasn’t with them. None of that team are on Twitter (!!) but I’ve sent them each an email letting them know how important they were to me this year.

2. The whole team at TheCR. I’ve worked with Jim and Rachel before and actually went to high school with Hillary so I knew the team was going to be great, but I’ve been blown away with how smart, driven and just all around awesome the whole team is. “Going” to work everyday is a pleasure and I can’t wait for 2014 and all the cool stuff we’re going to do.

3. My longtime friend and once upon a time co-worker Emile Daigle. Emile and I met at a start-up way back in…2004! We have a lot of things in common and even more things that are different about us but he is a wonderful sounding board and cheerleader, both personally and professionally. I’m lucky to know him and to pester him on IM whenever I need a truthful answer about anything. You too can pester him on the internet: @emiledaigle.

Friday Roundup – Let It Snow? Edition

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By Shannon DiGregorio, Relationship Manager at The Community Roundtable

snowy boston

The weather people are predicting snow in Boston this weekend, which to me is a mixed blessing. I love the holidays, and growing up in New England a white December makes things a little more jolly. My commute is also from the kitchen to the living room of my house, so nasty traffic isn’t a concern. I do however have a 16 week old puppy who likes to take her sweet time outside – I think a cold snap and a little snow might speed her up – we’ll see!

I really enjoyed seeing so many #thankitforward tweets from so many different people. I’ve included a few below as part of the roundup in addition to my favorite links from this week. Have a wonderful weekend, whether you’re covered in snow or on a sunny southern beach!

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Credit: Snowy Boston Photo by Arthur C. Mills

Making Friends Into Co-workers, & Vice Versa

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By Jillian Bejtlich, Community Strategist at The Community Roundtable

First and foremost, I’ll be thanking Hillary (Boucher). See, back a couple of years ago she kept sending me messages letting me know about TheCR lunches in my area. Well, I finally went to one and met Jim. Then, I went to another a few months later and met Rachel. Next thing I know (a year later), I’m part of this fantastic team of community gurus…all because Hillary was persistent, authentic, and cared about the experience of each individual in her community. So thanks, lady! I’m happy to be part of TheCR!

Next, I’ll thank Jerry Green of H&R Block. I’ve been working very closely with Jerry over the past few months to help get their community ready for the next tax season. I hope all of you get a chance to meet Jerry someday as he’s just the nicest and most laid back guy I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. Even when the worst of the worst is staring him in the face, he remains positive, upbeat, and knows there is light at the end of the tunnel. And man does he know where to eat in Kansas City, MO. I’m so thankful Jerry considers me a part of his team and I’m looking forward to more!

Finally, I’ll have to find a way to say I’m thankful for an entirely different community. I focus mostly on Lithium forums so the folks who spend their time in the Lithium Lithosphere make my life so much easier with their energy, experience, and ideas. I’m thankful to be a part of it and I’m thankful they are there for users like me!

Thanking it Forward – Fostering an Attitude of Gratitude

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By Rachel Happe, Co-founder of The Community Roundtable

At The Community Roundtable we like to celebrate Thanksgiving instead of other end of the year celebrations. It both fits our ethos of articulating our thanks and it better fosters a sense of community than any gift ever could. We’ve been using the #ThankItForward tag to encourage our community to thank those that have made a positive impact on their lives this year. For TheCR team everyone on the team has the name of one other team member and a check to spend on thanking that person in whatever way they choose.

Personally, the #ThankItForward challenge is daunting to me – to pick just three individuals is nearly impossible. I feel literally overwhelmed with support, inspiration and friendship from so many people. It is an embarrassment of riches that is both amazingly gratifying and sometimes a bit confounding – at least to me. There are some people and things that stood out this year, however, in no particular order:

  • J.J. Lovett who asked me to edit his book with Margaret Brooks and Sam Creek, Developing B2B Social Communities.
  • Claire Flanagan who has continually advocated on behalf of The Community Roundtable and encouraged me personally, culminating in a partnership with Jive this year.
  • CheeChin Liew and Marlene Wolf who saw potential to extend the work that we do and supported that effort.
  • Sandy Carter for her support and advocacy of my work.
  • David Carr who included our research and work in Social Collaboration for Dummies.
  • Maria Ogneva who has so willingly and openly shared and collaborated to move the community management discipline forward.
  • Ted Hopton who supported and enabled us to write the UBM Case study.
  • TheCR Team – Jim, Hillary, Maggie, Jillian, Shannon and Leanne all make the work we do amazing. They surprise and delight me often and I couldn’t ask for a better team with whom to work.
  • Sue Feldman who has supported me since I worked for her at IDC and continues to mentor me. I learned from her that it is initially more important to focus on having interesting conversations than what I’m trying to get out of an interaction. If you do that, business will follow. She was right.
  • Bill Synder – someone I hardly know and yet, through one conversation, let me see my work in an entirely new way with an implicit assumption of its potential value in a whole new area and for Mark Bonchek who made that conversation possible.
  • CV Harquail who is generous with her expertise and continues to prod in ways that make me re-think our potential and what we do.
  • TheCR Network members, who collaborate with each other, rally around each other and are committed to making the work that we all do more meaningful.
  • TheCR clients who collaborate with us to deliver results for their organizations. We are very fortunate to have client relationships that have never felt like transactions.
  • My husband, Ted McEnroe, who I like to think of as both my personal partner but also as an investor in The Community Roundtable who has exhibited unwavering support of the work I do, despite its small and large impacts on his life.

Not included in this list are the hundreds of people who have made introductions, riffed off and added to our work, advocated for what we are doing, contributed to events and discussions, become clients or members, invited me to events and generally helped nudge my success along.

As TheCR has grown, I’ve realized that while it’s taken a lot of work for a few people, it has also taken a little work from a great many people. One of the things that I am most proud of is that we’ve collaborated with our community to advance the discipline of community management and while The Community Roundtable is doing well, our ultimate goal is to enable the success of those in our community and that is and will be the true measure of our success.

Thanks to all of you for interesting conversations – here’s to more of them!

Thank It Forward 2013

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gratitude via https://fellowfellow.com/words-gratitude/

Building community — no matter your end goal — depends on gratitude and reciprocity. Since we’ll be celebrating Thanksgiving later this week in the US our own team has been reflecting on the people who made a difference in our community work in 2013.

In the spirit of reflection and gratitude we encourage you to look back at 2013 and identify three people who made a difference in your work and life this past year and send them a thank you via email, snail mail, or Twitter, (or whatever medium works best for you.) 

Think about:

  • Who inspired you? Brought on a “aha moment”?
  • Who was unwavering in their support of your work?
  • Which exec made a difference with their sponsorship or participation?
  • Which community member or advocate showed up in a big way?
  • Who covered you so you could unplug for a vacation — whether a day or a week?
  • Who talked you through a tough situation?
  • Whose blog posts or Twitter handle kept you well informed? Or laughing!
  • Which TheCR member made a difference in your work via email, Roundtable call or discussion thread?
  • Which Roundtable facilitator(s) helped or inspired you?

You get the idea! We’d love if you tag any social thanks #thankitforward so we can see the gratitude spread. If you want to keep your thanks anonymous of course that’s fine, but we’d love to hear some stories about the ways people contributed to your success ad community initiatives in 2013 – please feel free to share any shout-outs in the comments here as well.

So tell us. Who will you be thanking it forward to this year? We’ll be sharing our #thankitforward posts over the next three weeks and we can’t wait to see yours!

note: gratitude image via https://fellowfellow.com/words-gratitude/