Ever had one of those moments where something just clicks? During our recent Community Leadership Core (CLC) huddle, we heard some incredible leadership insights from top community managers. These moments not only shaped how they lead their communities but could also help you become a more effective leader.
In this post, you’ll discover five actionable leadership hacks shared during the huddle that you can use to elevate your community leadership skills.
1. Lighten Your Load with Cognitive Overload Management
One of the most enlightening “aha moments” from our huddle was about managing cognitive load—the mental strain that comes from juggling too many tasks. A community manager shared how identifying and understanding cognitive overload allowed her to declutter her focus and avoid burnout.
She streamlined her workload by using task management tools like Trello, automated repetitive actions, and set clear daily priorities.
Takeaway:
Understand and reduce cognitive load to manage your time effectively. Use tools like Trello and automation to help streamline your workload.
2. Filter Ideas Effectively: Not Every Thought Needs Action
As community leaders, we’re flooded with new ideas from members and teams, but acting on every idea isn’t always productive. One member shared how she learned to filter out unnecessary ideas by aligning them with the community’s goals.
By creating a simple filter—does this idea support long-term objectives?—she could focus on high-impact actions and avoid getting overwhelmed.
Takeaway:
Learn to filter ideas based on whether they align with your long-term goals. Prioritize only those that drive your community forward.
3. Define the Perfect Candidate: Navigating Talent Acquisition
When it comes to hiring for your community, defining the perfect candidate upfront is crucial. One attendee highlighted how her team struggled with recruitment until they created a detailed profile of their ideal hire, including key skills, attributes, and cultural fit.
This made the hiring process smoother and helped them identify the right candidates faster.
Takeaway:
Define your ideal hire by creating a detailed candidate profile before you begin recruiting. This ensures a smoother hiring process.
4. Prioritize Self-Care: It’s Essential
Self-care often takes a back seat for community leaders, but one huddle attendee shared how prioritizing himself helped him lead his community more effectively. Taking regular breaks and setting boundaries ensured he didn’t burn out.
Takeaway:
Self-care isn’t a luxury—it’s essential. Taking time for yourself will help you show up as a stronger leader for your community.
5. Manage Urgency: If Everything Feels Important, Nothing Is
Urgency is a common issue among community leaders. One member shared how she managed this by prioritizing tasks and learning that when everything is urgent, nothing truly is.
By setting clear priorities and managing expectations with her team, she created more focus and less stress.
Takeaway:
Set clear priorities and communicate them to your team. When everything feels urgent, learn to focus on what truly matters.
These five leadership hacks are just a glimpse into the practical insights shared during our huddle. Whether you’re managing cognitive overload, filtering out distractions, or focusing on self-care, implementing these steps can make a significant difference in your leadership journey.
Looking for more strategies to strengthen your community leadership skills? Book a call to explore how we can help you level up.
If you’ve been struggling with burnout while managing your community, check out this video: