Four things to help me find calm
as a Community Leader
As a community leader, I’ve felt overwhelmed from time to time in building, launching, and growing a network. The experience could be easier with someone there to guide the process, so I set out to do just that. I help my clients avoid these feelings of frustration by keeping community strategy, structure, and content as simple as possible.
Simple isn’t straightforward, but finding easier ways to communicate is essential, not just to our success but to our health. Since May is Mental Health Awareness Month, I’d like to share some strategies I use and recommend to fellow community leaders to help you find calm.
Burnout and being overwhelmed can seem inevitable, given the sheer amount of content creation required to maintain an active community. I can relate to those feelings. I’ve been feeling exhausted over the last couple of months.
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1. Create an SOP - Standard Operating Procedure
One of my main goals in Q1 of 2022 was to create a standard operating procedure for myself. An SOP is a simple, step-by-step, written process of how to do something. You can put it together within a day. Tasks I have captured in SOPs include:
- Scheduling a social media post.
- Editing a podcast episode.
- Creating written content for a blog.
- These are all part of my regular output as a content creator, community leader, consultant, and podcaster.
2. If your focus is profit, figure out how to get the biggest "band for your buck"
I had to realize that I was spending hours creating “pretty” presentations, writing elaborate blog posts, and committing a ridiculous amount of time to offer customer support. I was still building my authority after consistently demonstrating my value proposition. Focusing on these kinds of tasks was important when I was starting, but now I’m in a place where I am attracting more clients. To manage that, I need to be more removed from the day-to-day community management of the FCH Community. I’ve learned that my time is better spent focused on how I work with clients. This benefits the community as I bring case studies and examples of client work to share with them.
3. Use a tracking system for goals
I read the book The 12 Week Year by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington in 2020.
I picked it back up at the beginning of 2022 to refocus my efforts. I wanted to be accountable for my goals for myself and my business. I recommend reading it or listening to the audio version if interested.
The book’s method helps you identify goals you want to complete in 90 days. It then guides you in tracking them over the three months to ensure success.
Working with this book helped me get structured with my systems. In my “12 Week Year,” there were two business goals: to make an average of $5K per month with my business and to create an SOP for my business.
Both were accomplished in my set timeframe, but it wasn’t without doubt, uncertainty, and hard work. To meet my revenue goals, I had to meet the marketing goal of streamlining my client experience. I created packages on my website to do this, a process that took months to complete and one which I continue to tweak, fix, and adjust every day.
4. When all else fails, delegate
If I had to do it repeatedly, I’d hire someone to build the website. I can do it well, but I don’t enjoy it.
The third goal was prioritizing personal care. Did I lose that 20 lbs? No. Did I gain weight in the past few months? Yes. Is that OK? Yes. I must show up for myself as I do for my business.
Did I learn a lot during the past few months? YES. What was the biggest takeaway? DELEGATE.
It’s funny, but my business coach, Mary, made a good point. She told me, “Deb, I know as creators, it seems easier to create an event, system, or program instead of sending emails and calling clients, but that makes it a business. It is a part of the business; you have to sell.”
I came from almost five years in tech sales and knew how to sell—working for myself? I’d instead write blog posts, create marketing pieces, and plan elaborate events rather than make a “leads list,” However, once I stopped creating and started calling, the clients arrived.
So, I share this to tell you that sometimes you have to do things differently. Creating an online community is one of the many ways I generate revenue through my business. But there are other focuses two years in. Find Calm Here is a living thing that continues to evolve.
During our session, you can decide whether you want to focus on strategy or implementation as the primary focus. If you have a structure and a plan, we can discuss how to implement that better and improve your process. If you don’t have a structure or a plan, we can work to create a roadmap for the next 30,60 and 90 days.
Bonsai is an all-in-one business organization tool to help you organize proposals, contracts, leads, expenses, keep track of client projects, and more! Run your entire business in one place with the help of this business management tool that combines CRM, invoicing, accounting, and banking. Deliver an outstanding client experience and win more work!
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