Episode 25: The Essence of Communities of Practice, with Stan Garfield & James Tyer

Oct 5, 2025

Stan Garfield, a seasoned knowledge management expert, and James Tyer, a Microsoft product team member, delve into the significance of communities of practice. They discuss how voluntary participation fosters engagement and the critical role of leadership and trust. James highlights how Microsoft’s Engage platform enhances these communities without replacing genuine interaction. Listeners will also get insights into Stan’s upcoming book on knowledge management and the evolving landscape of collaboration in the age of AI. A perfect blend of wisdom and light-hearted banter!

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ANECDOTE

SIKM Leaders: A 20-Year Community Example

Stan described founding the SIKM Leaders Community in 2005 which still thrives.
He cites it as a 20-year example of sustained community value.

INSIGHT

Communities Are Voluntary, Teams Are Assigned

Communities are voluntary groups where people choose to join and learn together.
Teams are assigned and mission-bound, while communities can last indefinitely and self-organize.

ADVICE

Seed Communities, Don’t Mandate Membership

Seed communities intentionally but avoid forcing membership into specific groups.
Encourage executives to recruit leaders and expect everyone to join at least one relevant community.

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With this extended (45 min long) episode, Rebecka Isaksson and Dawn Brushammar bid you farewell for now. We have decided to take a little break with this podcast for the time being - but we are likely to come back again in a not too distant (sci-fi) future... You will be the first to know!

We sat down with Stan Garfield and James Tyer to unpack the power of communities of practice in knowledge management. Thus closing the loop, as the very first episode of the show was on that same topic - and also how Rebecka started her KM adventure and career.

From voluntary participation to the role of leadership and trust, the conversation dives deep into what makes communities thrive. The guests share insights on fostering engagement, creating safe spaces for dialogue, and how technology—like Microsoft’s Engage platform—can support but not replace human connection. Stan also offers a sneak peek into his upcoming book, while the group reflects on the future of collaboration and community health in the age of AI and Copilot.

Our favourite quotes from this show:

💡 “You want communities to be voluntary.”💬 “Trust is essential for community engagement.”

About Stan Garfield: Stan is a seasoned knowledge management practitioner, author, and speaker with decades of experience leading communities of practice across industries. Passionate about collaboration, innovation, and leadership, Stan has championed knowledge sharing through enterprise social networks, intranets, and platforms like SharePoint. He’s known for his engaging presentations, insightful writing, and mentoring others in the KM space. Stan’s work spans consulting, systems integration, and professional services, with a strong focus on gamification, incentives, and recognition. A prolific blogger and tweeter, he continues to shape the conversation around community health and social business. His upcoming book promises fresh perspectives on the evolving landscape of knowledge management.

About James Tyer: James is a Customer Experience Program Manager at Microsoft, helping leaders turn strategic decisions into real-world impact. With over 15 years of experience in consulting, organizational design, and customer success, James specializes in enterprise adoption, executive collaboration, and scalable change facilitation. His work bridges silos to ensure AI and collaboration tools like Copilot drive measurable outcomes. James supports complex sales, aligns technical value with business goals, and fosters feedback loops that inform product strategy. He’s also co-author of Social by Design, a playbook for building connected, collaborative organizations. Whether working with global brands or startups, James focuses on driving traction, usage, and lasting behavioural change.