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28d (edited) • Discussion 💬
Four basic types of communities
When I tell people about my intention to leave mainstream social media, stay only on Skool, use WhatsApp, and once again start building connections in real life, I often hear the argument that I am simply replacing one set of social networks with another. Here I must disagree. Skool is not a typical social network, it is a community platform. And I believe this term will become increasingly common in the near future.
Since not only on Skool but also in Nonbusy there are people who are either building their own communities or considering creating one, I thought I would share a few ideas that are useful to know or at least remember. Let us start with a simple diagram. On the X axis we have collective engagement (CE), a concept that most of you are probably familiar with. On the Y axis we have collective intelligence (CI), a term that is not as common yet, but one that I believe we will encounter more and more often. A collective field that emerges when individuals come together forms its own character, consciousness, unconsciousness, energy, and even traumas. For me this unexplored world remains a great mystery, but we can discuss it further later. For now, let us focus on the four basic types of communities.
1) MARKETPLACE
The goal of this type of community is to connect supply with demand. Engagement is minimal. People come only to offer or request something. They do not feel the need to discuss, share personal matters, or help one another. As a result, no real discussions or collective intelligence arise. People arrive, get what they need, and leave just as quickly.
A good example of this type of community is Yachts ⛵ on Facebook, which I acquired some time ago. This group generates 50 - 60 posts per day with 110K members, which might seem like great engagement, but it is not, because most posts are commercial in nature. The group, however, is full of commercial entities, brokers, and yacht owners, whom I can gradually connect over time. I use the group to monitor B2B activity in this market, and I invite active members with high-quality content to Yachtusiasts, which I am setting up as a Forum (see below).
2) AUDIENCE
An audience always requires a leader, guru, or performer. Engagement here is high, but members do not feel the need to have deeper discussions with each other or form strong relationships. Their main motivation is to receive new information or external inspiration and then take action for a while, until the motivation fades. The disadvantage is that if the leader becomes silent, the community often disappears even if it had been very active.
A good example on Skool is the High Vibe Tribe community. It has more than 75K members, and its engagement comes in waves whenever its “guru” Aron launches a new challenge. Otherwise, while members may occasionally show up, there is little real networking or connection happening.
3) LABORATORY
Unlike an audience, in a laboratory members form deeper relationships and share at a high level of collective intimacy. People are willing to disclose sensitive information, sometimes the kind they would only share with close friends or even a therapist. Laboratories often emerge when the leader of a large audience begins to feel tired, steps into the background, and starts connecting members with each other so that the community becomes more autonomous. The leader then usually observes discussions quietly, collects insights, and develops new theses or studies from what is being shared.
A strong example of a laboratory is Functional Human Design by and . Members openly share their HD charts, and the discussions often go very deep, including highly intimacy comments. I am convinced that Jes studies every chart with great dedication, looking for insights that even the original creator of Human Design might not have discovered. It is similar to how Einstein built on Newton’s theories and eventually went beyond them.
4) FORUM
A forum has both high collective engagement and high collective intelligence. It is open to discussions, ideas, and even disagreements. Members may not always agree, yet they still respect one another, because the collective field itself creates a culture and unwritten rules. Individuals simply sense what is acceptable and what is not, without needing to be told. This type of community is highly autonomous and does not need a leader. In fact, excessive control or intervention by a founder often weakens the collective field. The creator of such a space is usually just one part of the whole and often acts as a silent observer, appreciating the way the community thrives on its own. Just like a flower grows or a river flows.
Now let me ask you. Have you ever been part of such a forum, where you felt that the collective did not need a leader at all? If yes, I would love your recommendation. I would like to study such a community in more detail
Thank you for your attention. I see it as you giving me not just a bit of your time but above all a significant part of the most precious thing, your life 🪴
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Four basic types of communities
