"The first thing you would design for is handles (profiles) the user
can invest in"--Clay Shirky, from A Group is Its Own Worst Enemy
Shirky talks about online communities but this design principle applies to building movements. He says a group that lacks a meaningful identity will not last. I wonder how many movements either wither or never get off the ground because the "ideal profile" is not worth investing in.
The "ideal profile" in a Campus Crusade movement is that of the student leader. Some ways a student leader can be "unideal"
- Does not participate in evangelism
Although there are many student leader qualities this one is really the only one that I have seen matter. I see a direct relationship between the quantity and quality of evangelism amongst the student leaders and the health of the overall movement.
Shirky goes on to say this:
"Three, you need barriers to participation... You have to have some cost to either join or participate, if not at the lowest level, then at higher levels. There needs to be some kind of segmentation of capabilities."
If I were to start a movement I would have only one cost to join (for believers):
- Participate in evangelism
You do not have to be "good" or "gifted" in evangelism; you do not even have to say anything (assuming you can go with a partner. I have been amazed at how many people this one requirement weeds out (in a good way).
If you had to pick one requirement for your "ideal profile" what would it be?
photo courtesy of danielygo
