When building a community, it’s natural to want to learn from others and take inspiration from their successes. After all, if someone else has already figured out what works, why reinvent the wheel? However, there’s a danger to relying too heavily on benchmarking, or comparing your community to others to identify best practices and areas for improvement. Benchmarking can sometimes do more harm than good.

One of the biggest dangers of benchmarking is that it can stifle creativity and innovation. When you’re focused on copying what has worked for others, you may be less likely to experiment and try new things. This can lead to a lack of individuality in your community, and a failure to truly connect with your members. To build a successful community, you need to be willing to take risks and think outside the box.

Another problem with benchmarking is that it can be too narrow in scope. When you’re comparing your community to others in a similar niche or industry, you may be missing out on valuable insights from other communities that could be applied to your own. Additionally, every community is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. By relying too heavily on benchmarking, you may be missing out on opportunities to tailor your approach to the specific needs and preferences of your members.

Benchmarking can also be problematic because it can be difficult to fully understand the strategies and tactics that other community builders have used to achieve success. Without access to all the relevant information, it can be challenging to accurately assess the effectiveness of different approaches. Additionally, what works for one community may not work for another due to factors such as community size, demographics, and culture.

Another danger is that it can create unrealistic expectations for growth and engagement. When you’re comparing your community to others that are much larger or more established, it can be easy to feel discouraged if your own community isn’t growing as quickly or generating as much engagement. However, it’s important to remember that every community has its own unique journey, and that growth and engagement take time and effort.

Finally, benchmarking can lead to a loss of authenticity in your community. When you’re too focused on replicating what has worked for others, you may be less focused on creating a space that truly reflects the interests and values of your members. This can lead to a lack of genuine engagement and community spirit, which can ultimately harm your community in the long run.

I’m not saying to abandon benchmarking altogether. As I mentioned - why reinvent the wheel? But let’s not get crazy.