In the world of tech startups, building meaningful relationships inside and outside the company is essential.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the joys and challenges of managing the community at Mews, including how we bring people together, boost collaboration, and grow our community in exciting ways.
Our internal and external communities
Our R&D community management team focuses on two main areas:
Internal community: Our fellow Mewsers in the R&D department, which covers product, design, engineering, and their intersection in the form of cross-functional teams.
External community: People who attend our events and read our content, our partners, allied companies, and potential job candidates.
Our jobs demand good observation, empathy, and above all, a strong ability to connect with others. We need to stay alert, share insights and opportunities quickly, and guide our community through the complexities of tech relationships and networking. We focus on being consistent and responsive, making sure we’re always there for our community and every voice is heard.
The Mews Community Management team
Our team is a mix of people with diverse backgrounds, from international relations and diplomacy to molecular biology and coding. We have a comprehensive grasp of the technical stack and deep domain knowledge, enabling us to effectively integrate technological insights into relationship-building initiatives across the R&D department.
We’ve grown from focusing only on tech to covering all of R&D, known in other companies as EDP (Engineering, Design, and Product Management). Our role goes beyond technical skills; it’s about understanding and connecting with people inside and outside the company.
Our mission? To build a real network of relationships.
Scaling our community engagement
We’ve expanded our focus from tech to all of R&D and grown from a local (CZ) to a global presence — and that’s a big deal! This expansion means reaching new horizons alongside a bit of the unknown.
Our team’s success comes from knowing who to connect with and how to bring people together to spark new ideas and move projects forward. This is the strength of our community management team: turning connections into collaborations and ideas into reality through strong relationships and strategic networking.
Do you want to collaborate with our community management team?
Check the open positions.
The power of relationships and empathy
How important are personal relationships and empathy in organizations? In community management, knowing your community inside and out is crucial. This knowledge isn’t easily scalable, which is why our team has evolved to adapt. We understand the importance of recognizing individuals with special skills, whether it’s community activities, mentoring, public speaking, or unique hobbies like 3D printing and mechanical keyboard building.
Identifying the stars and ambassadors within our company helps us leverage their influence and enthusiasm to represent our team effectively. We invest more time in those individuals who show genuine interest and potential to maximize our impact and promote sustainable progress.
Equally important is understanding how to communicate with different personalities, tailoring each interaction to resonate best with the individual. Knowing who to reach out to directly and when it’s more appropriate to go through their manager is essential for making things happen smoothly. This complex network of connections and personalized communication is at the heart of our community management strategy, driving collaboration and an engaged community.
Why good communication matters
Good communication ensures everyone in the community knows about opportunities, procedures, and available resources. It’s fair to mention that this is an area where we, and likely others, often struggle. However, we’ve been actively developing our ambassador program, which promises to enhance our communication efforts and foster better engagement within our communities.
Clear and concise messaging helps people understand how to get involved and what steps they need to take. It’s important to provide detailed information and relevant data for transparency and informed decision-making. For example, sharing the processes and expected outcomes of community initiatives helps members feel more connected and motivated.
The Mews way
But not everything that matters can be measured. As the saying goes, “Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts.” This is particularly relevant in community management, where the intangible benefits of events and interactions often outweigh measurable metrics. Conferences, for example, may not lead to immediate hiring results but are invaluable for brand awareness and community presence. Skipping major domestic conferences would be a missed opportunity for any community leader striving to maintain a strong, visible presence. You can read more about our approach to events in my previous post here.
To showcase our profound impact on those around us, we’ve recently launched a Confluence page to share uplifting feedback and community moments. What’s particularly encouraging is that our leadership values these stories just as much as hard data — they understand the power of recognizing our collective efforts and the positive outcomes they generate.
Highlighting community impact
It’s important to share both the tangible and intangible perks of community participation. A big one is personal branding. By engaging in the community, members can boost their professional profiles, showcase their expertise, and build valuable connections. It’s a win-win for both them and the company. That means companies should support this without fearing employees will be attracted to other organizations. Though it’s a possibility, happy employees are more likely to stay and value these opportunities.
Finding opportunities
Finding opportunities requires looking everywhere. Drawing inspiration from other places, tapping into the local community, or using your network are all valuable. Platforms like LinkedIn and Meetup are great for discovering new ideas.
Ideas often evolve into something different, and that’s fine. The key is to stay open and adaptable, turning insights into strategies for the community. By exploring and experimenting, you keep the community vibrant and growing.
Here’s a list of resources we use to find speaking opportunities for our team members:
- Czech community of community builders
- PaperCall
- confs.tech
- Specific conference social media accounts
When it comes to selecting talk or blog post topics, the community team keeps a close track of our speakers’ expertise and preferred subjects. As previously mentioned, knowing which topics to approach everyone with is crucial. We also stay updated on trends and themes that capture the interest of our community.
Tips for meaningful relationship building in tech community management
- Find the right people and their strengths
Community activities aren’t for everyone, and that’s perfectly okay. Identify those genuinely interested and know when to step back, focusing your time and energy on those truly invested. Understanding who your key players are helps you build a more focused and effective community.
- Communicate clearly and often
There’s no such thing as over-communicating. Provide all necessary information so everyone is well-informed and avoid leaving anyone to figure things out alone. Set clear expectations for events, blog posts, and activities, and maintain an open dialogue to keep everyone on the same page.
- Sustain the relationship
Build trust by being reliable and approachable. As someone who supports and encourages others, you’ll become the go-to person in times of need. Consistent support solidifies your role as a dependable leader within the community.
- Provide opportunities to shine
Create opportunities for community members to showcase their skills and participate in events that foster positive relationships. Whether it’s speaking at a conference, writing a blog post, or leading a project, giving people a platform to shine boosts their confidence and strengthens their ties with the community.
- Reward and acknowledge contributions
Always recognize how individuals have contributed to improving your community. Whether through public acknowledgement or tangible rewards, showing appreciation motivates people and builds a culture of gratitude and mutual support.
Building our community, and our reach
Our tech community management strategy is about building real connections and embracing growth opportunities. With transparency, empathy, and clear communication, we aim to create an environment where collaboration and innovation thrive naturally. We’re building a dynamic and impactful community across borders and into new areas.
