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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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The Art of Community summary
Charles Vogl
Seven Principles for Belonging
21 mins
Brief summary
The Art of Community by Charles Vogl outlines a framework for building resilient and inclusive communities. It emphasizes fostering shared values, traditions, and clear stages of development to strengthen connections and enhance collective well-being.
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The Art of Community
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Key idea 1 of 7
What is community?
Three million people across 150 countries all do the same high-intensity CrossFit workouts. They’re united by shared routines, symbols, and goals. But only some belong to a true community.
That’s because while the global CrossFit network connects millions, most members are still strangers. At CrossFit Oakland, though, something different happens. Members don’t just train together; they genuinely care for one another. Trainers prioritize helping struggling athletes and explicitly welcome novices – those who “don’t know where to begin.”
Beyond mutual concern, communities are distinguished from normal groups by five key features.
First, communities are built on shared values. CrossFit Oakland attracts people interested in high-intensity workouts. But members stay because of the community’s deeper emphasis on health, safety, and respect for personal growth over pure competitiveness.
Second, communities provide membership identity. They help individuals answer questions like, “Who am I?” “How should I act?” “What do I believe?” In a cycling community, for instance, are members drawn in by fitness or adventure? Is the group for beginners, adults only, or serious racers?
Third, communities require generosity. In enriching communities, people don’t track favors or calculate cost-benefit ratios. They respond to late-night calls for help or show up when someone is struggling – because generosity signals true mutual concern.
Fourth, strong communities carry moral prescriptions for behavior. These unspoken norms govern how members treat each other and uphold shared values. They answer questions like, “What is intolerable?” and “Who do we protect?”
Finally, communities create shared emotional languages. Melissa’s firefighter community, for example, uses dark humor as emotional release. They can express that freely among themselves – but temper it around outsiders. These “insider understandings” create bonds and trust that don’t require constant explanation.
At the heart of every thriving community are these five key ingredients. Without them, what might look like a community is just another group of strangers sharing space.
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What is The Art of Community about?
The Art of Community (2016) distills seven ancient principles – Boundary, Initiation, Rituals, Temple, Stories, Symbols, and Inner Rings – to show how leaders can cultivate belonging in the workplace. It blends three thousand years of history and modern insight to help communities thrive while also providing practical tools to defeat loneliness and build lasting connection.
Who should read The Art of Community?
- Team leaders and managers looking to foster a sense of community and belonging
- Startup founders and entrepreneurs seeking to build strong internal cultures
- Anyone interested in community-building and experience design
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