In the world of startup communities, leadership is often defined by two competing forces: authority and responsibility. Many organizer-founders are drawn to authority — it feels good to be the decision-maker, to have control, to be the person people look up to. But responsibility? That’s something we tend to kick down the road.

Authority in a startup community is often linked to ownership. If you started the local incubator, launched a networking event, or funded a startup accelerator, it’s natural to feel like you should have the final say. After all, you put in the work. You took the risk. You made it happen.

But here’s the catch: authority doesn’t build a community. Influence does. And influence comes from consistent action, not from lofty titles or ownership. 

In many cases, holding onto authority too tightly actually stifles the growth of the community because it limits participation, collaboration, and fresh ideas.

This is what we call "the illusion of control." You might think you have power because you own the space, run the events, or decide the agenda. But true leadership — the type of leadership vital for growing your ecosystem — isn’t about control, it’s about giving space and enabling many others to lead too.

Responsibility, on the other hand, is where real impact happens. It’s easy to focus on big-picture authority, but the communities that thrive are the ones that naturally and organically break down responsibility into tasks and sub-tasks, ensuring that action is taken instead of arguing who has control.

Let’s put it in startup terms:

• Authority is saying, “This is my startup community.”

• Responsibility is saying, “These are the three things I’m going to do this month to support founders.”

There’s an ongoing tension in startup communities between power brokers (those who try to own and control the ecosystem) and community leaders (those who distribute and take responsibility and build momentum through action and influence).

The best community leaders focus on:

1. Collaboration – Bringing people together instead of keeping tight control.

2. Giving First – Asking, “What do you need?” instead of “What can I get?”.

3. Storytelling – Sharing wins and lessons from the entire community.

4. Inclusion – Making sure leadership opportunities are available to more than just the usual suspects.

5. Celebrating - Showcasing the founder successes over their organizational successes.

If you want to lead a startup community, don’t chase authority. Chase responsibility. Break down the work, involve others, and measure success by your actions taken, not the power held.

Ownership might make you feel like the leader, but true leadership comes from empowering others. So, what’s your next task?

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