Even well-intentioned community building can fail through predictable mistakes:
The Extraction Trap
Approaching communities with extraction mindset—taking value without giving—destroys trust and potential.
Better approach: Lead with contribution, let value flow naturally.
The Scale Obsession
Pursuing growth for growth's sake dilutes community value and cohesion.
Better approach: Optimize for value per member, let scale follow quality.
The Homogeneity Drift
Communities naturally drift toward homogeneity, reducing innovation potential.
Better approach: Actively cultivate diversity across all dimensions.
The Governance Vacuum
Avoiding governance decisions creates power vacuums filled by wrong people.
Better approach: Design explicit, evolving governance from start.