Community-Led Orientation : How to Control That Which Cannot Be Controlled

Karl-Johan Spiik

Ice swimmers, families with young children, CEOs, newspaper editors, dog enthusiasts, coders. Humans form networks among themselves, both unofficial and official ones. We talk of social i.e. community-oriented networks: in them, people receive help, ideas, peer support, springboards upwards, and tips regarding new and interesting networks.

During my life I have been part of several different community-oriented networks. The networks have taken shape as I have needed them. When I have wanted something that I have felt I could not attain on my own, I have started creating a network with which I have been able to advance the matter. Networks for various different interests, professional goals, hobbies, and entrepreneurships have appeared in my life.

All these human networks work the same way, because the contributing factor are humans themselves.

In primary school I formed friendship networks so that I could express myself and make friends, even though I didn't yet know anything about networking. In upper secondary school I created study and hobby networks, so that I could find a counterweight to my studies. During my military service I formed support networks, so that I could be able to live happily within the army's leadership system. During my studies I created a peer network by taking photographs and bringing people together in the nightlife.

My career was headed towards the IT field, where people worked in networked and community-oriented ways. As my career progressed, I started to understand how important it is to give people responsibility and power, because then people become motivated by what they are doing. Having acted in networks for over three decades, I wanted to write a book about how networks are led and what they consist of.