Here's a step-by-step guide on how to find the right community in 2022.

Communities give you a space to connect with people who have shared experiences, provide accountability, resources for your work/hobby, and the networks that drive new opportunities.

Unfortunately, with so many out there offering "the best value", it can be hard to find the one right for you.

Communities are rocket fuel to our goals

The benefits of a community cannot be overstated. They can be a catalyst to our goals when we join the right one.

Many of us join the wrong community when we...

• Don't define our goals

• Go too broad

• Give minimal engagement

But in 2022 we are experiencing a "community boom" where opportunity is abundant and finding yours is a few steps away.

Here's how, step by step:

Step 1: Define your goals

The trick to finding communities is knowing what you're looking for.

So what kinds of communities should you look for? Obviously, you'll want one that fits your interests, but this turns out to be trickier than it sounds. Let's be more specific.

• Are you looking for friends or collaborators?

• Specialized interests or broad ones?

• Does engagement level matter to you?

All of these questions will help you align your priorities and find communities that suit your needs.

Step 2: Make a list of best-fit communities

When looking for a community, it's easy to assume that shared interests will be enough to discover the right one.

This approach may not work very well in some cases. If you want help or advice with programming, for example, you might want to skip the general programming sites and go straight to the ones devoted to your language of choice; the people on those sites will know more about what you're talking about.

Each community that you add to your list should align with each question you answered in defining your goals.

Step 3: Join and go all-in

You can now see that opportunities are within your reach.

If you're going to spend time on something, you want to make sure it's worth it. In communities, this requires some level of commitment. Whichever you join, give them the time to win you over. You get as much as you give. This means going through their content, meeting the members, and participating in discussions or events.

Once you do, you'll have a better sense of their fit.

Lastly, remember to have fun and embrace others. There are countless communities out there ready to welcome, befriend, and give to you.

Go find yours!