The Stories That Reveal True Community Values
The Limits of Stated Values
Communities often claim to stand for certain values. They put them on websites, frame them on walls, and mention them on stage.
But those words alone don’t mean much.
What really communicates the values of a community are the stories that members share. Stories show how values are lived, not just claimed.
Let’s look at an example that has stuck with me for years.
Cheering for the Last Athlete: A CrossFit Story
For years, my wife and I have been part of the CrossFit community. One story that embodies its values still resonates with me today.
In a CrossFit regional competition, a woman was struggling to finish the course. She was out of shape, moving slowly, and by far the last one still competing. But what happened next reflected the deep values within the then CrossFit community.
The crowd didn’t just cheer for the winners and move on. Instead, they gathered around her, cheering just as loudly — maybe more — as she pushed herself to complete the challenge last.
In the early days of CrossFit, there was a saying: The biggest cheers are for the last athlete.
The reason? CrossFit doesn’t just honor performance. It honors effort, commitment, and perseverance.
That story, more than any mission statement, shows what the community valued.
Vulnerability in Leadership: A Twitch Story
Another kind of story that builds strong communities is one where leaders acknowledge mistakes.
While researching for my book, I spoke with Marcus Graham, a former executive at Twitch. He told me about a major failure the company experienced.
Twitch had made an upgrade that accidentally erased thousands of hours of content from its Pokémon community. This was a devastating loss, and for good reason Twitch members were furious.
Marcus could have responded with defensiveness. He could have minimized the issue. Instead, he immediately reached out to the leaders of the Pokémon group and admitted, We messed up.
He told them:
The mistake was real.
He didn’t know how long it would take to fix.
He was committing engineers to restore the lost content.
That act of honesty kept trust intact. Even though Twitch had made a serious error, being upfront about it built credibility instead of resentment. Members saw Twitch leadership wanted to honor the community demands, even when it was hard and expensive.
The Power of Personal Stories
In a healthy community, official leadership messages aren’t the only stories being told. The most compelling stories come from members themselves.
If I’m considering joining a community—whether it’s a podcasting group, a gym, or a school—I don’t just want to hear what the leadership says. I want to hear from the members:
How has this community changed your life?
Why does it matter to you?
What have you gained from being part of it?
Those real experiences are what resonate so others are inspired to participate.
The Invitation to Share Your Own Stories
If you’re building a community, don’t just focus on stating values. Focus on sharing and amplifying the stories that prove those values exist in life and in action.
Ask yourself:
What stories reveal what we truly care about?
Are we creating space for members to share their own experiences?
Are we willing to show vulnerability and honestly about the mistakes and lessons learned?
In many ways, the stories we tell will define who we are when we gather.
Watch the full episode here: The Art of Community Conversations Episode 5
Get free resources on building the community you long for at www.charlesvogl.com
