Scaling a cohort-based community using hidden curriculum
Jan 14, 2025
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Paz Pisarski, Co-founder of The Community Collective, dives into the secrets of scaling a successful cohort-based community. She discusses her journey from a small meetup to a thriving membership, revealing how a 'hidden curriculum' has kept participation growing across five cohorts. Paz shares insights on building authentic relationships during the pandemic and the importance of alumni engagement in community programs. Her strategies for fostering collaboration and choosing the right technology tools highlight her innovative approach to community building.
The Community Collective has successfully scaled its cohort size from 37 to 102 by emphasizing organic, word-of-mouth promotion and fostering a strong community presence.
Establishing authentic connections among participants, facilitated by alumni hosting events, has been crucial for creating a sense of belonging and enhancing the overall community experience.
The dual curriculum approach, combining essential skills with a focus on emotional support and inclusiveness, ensures participants feel valued while gaining knowledge.
Deep dives
Growth of the Community Collective
The Community Collective has experienced significant growth, starting with 37 participants in its first cohort and expanding to 102 in its fifth. This growth is attributed to the organic promotion through word-of-mouth and the establishment of a strong community of over 700 individuals across 18 countries. The focus on building credibility through in-person experiences and meetups has played a crucial role in fostering trust among members. This emphasis on community connection has resulted in an ever-increasing demand for participation in the program.
The Importance of Connection
Establishing authentic connections among participants is deemed essential for the program's success. The community provides opportunities for in-person interactions, with alumni hosting dinners and workshops to create meaningful relationships. Furthermore, the program encourages early introductions amongst new members to ensure that they feel welcomed and connected from the outset. This focus on building a sense of belonging helps reinforce the community's value and impacts the overall experience positively.
Balancing Hard and Hidden Curriculums
The curriculum for the program consists of both 'hard' and 'hidden' elements. The hard curriculum focuses on teaching essential skills like community strategy and public speaking, while the hidden curriculum emphasizes making participants feel seen and valued. By designing experiences that foster inclusiveness and friendship, the program ensures that attendees not only gain knowledge but also feel personally connected and supported. This dual approach addresses participants' professional needs while simultaneously fulfilling their emotional and social requirements.
Creating an Unforgettable Experience
Delivering an unforgettable experience for each member is highlighted as the foremost growth strategy. The focus is on over-delivering value, motivating members to advocate for the program based on their personal satisfaction. By making every participant feel important and supported, alumni are inspired to return for multiple cohorts, cementing the program's reputation as an invaluable educational resource. This strategy of prioritizing participant experience over traditional marketing efforts demonstrates the effectiveness of community-driven growth.
Innovative Tech Tools Usage
The community utilizes a blend of tech tools tailored to the habits and preferences of its members. While Slack serves as the primary communication platform, Disco provides a cooperative space for resources and content. This thoughtful selection of technology aims to meet members where they are, avoiding potential barriers to engagement. By assessing which tools enhance their experience without overwhelming them, the community has effectively streamlined communication and resource-sharing, fostering a supportive environment.
Paz Pisarski has cracked the code on growing a cohort-based community business. She has taken The Community Collective from a meetup group to a community membership that had 102 people in its latest cohort.
While most cohort based programs struggle to find customers after the first cohort, her cohort size has been consistently increasing for 5 cohorts.
Her secret? A "hidden curriculum". In this episode, she shares her magic sauce.
This episode is brought to you by Curated Connections - the tool to create automated connections in your community. Check it out at https://curatedconnections.io/
Links and resources:
• The Community Collective - https://thecommunitycollective.co/
• Paz's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/paz-pisarski/
• Nityesh's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nityeshaga/
• Magic sauce of 25 top community creators - https://beginnermaps.com/
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
02:56 Origins of The Community Collective
05:55 Starting in the Pandemic
08:48 Transition to a Cohort-Based Program
09:55 From free to paid
14:20 Masterclass: How to grow a cohort-based program
17:12 The 3 questions
20:30 Recruiting alumni as hosts
23:22 The hidden curriculum
29:22 Best decision in 3 days
33:30 Reflecting on Community Building
34:02 Steady Growth and Success
35:30 Delivering Unforgettable Experiences
38:00 Discovering Lifetime Memberships
41:21 Scheduling downtimes
46:26 Tech Tools for Community Management
53:48 Team of 45
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