The Lean Approach: Experimentation Over Implementation
Learn why community consultants advocate for a 'test and learn' approach, using small experiments to prove value before scaling budgets and technology.
- Published
- 7 May 2026
The Power of Small-Scale Community Experiments
In the high-stakes world of community building, the temptation is often to launch with a massive platform and an all-encompassing strategy. However, top consultants from London Community Week 2025 argue for a more granular, experimental approach. By starting small, agencies can mitigate risk and prove potential before significant capital is committed.
"We never promised that the community is successful before we did not any experiments, so we don't come and say wow, we have this plan and it will work... we really start small. We start with experiments and see if there's potential."
This "experimental" mindset serves dual purposes: it validates the community's core value proposition and facilitates internal buy-in. When consultants focus on high-impact, small actions—identifying the "smallest thing that would have the biggest impact"—they can demonstrate quick wins. These incremental successes make it significantly easier for internal stakeholders to justify larger budgets later in the project lifecycle.
Technology as an Accelerator, Not a Cure
This is a preview. The full piece is free for members (3 reads a day) and unlimited with Premium.
Read the full piece on Led by Community (free account, 3 reads a day)