Community Building (Peck Model)

Purpose

M. Scott Peck's Community Building model describes a predictable journey that groups must travel to reach genuine community. Most groups get stuck in Pseudocommunity (polite avoidance) or Chaos (conflict and attempts to fix each other). The facilitator's role is to guide the group through Emptiness — letting go of expectations, judgments, and the need to control — into True Community, where authentic connection and collective wisdom become possible.

At a glance

How to run

1. Opening and guidelines (15 min). Introduce the four stages. Guidelines: speak personally ("I" not "they"), speak when moved to (not obligated), avoid advice-giving, embrace silence.
2. Begin the circle (ongoing). Open the space with a question: "What is on your heart?" or "What brought you here?" Then let the group self-organize.
3. Pseudocommunity (emerges naturally). The group will initially be polite, share surface stories, look for commonalities. The facilitator names this gently: "I notice we're being very agreeable."
4. Chaos (emerges naturally). As authenticity rises, differences surface. People try to fix, convert, or organize each other. The facilitator lets it happen without rescuing: "This discomfort is part of the journey."
5. Emptiness (facilitated). The facilitator invites: "What would you need to let go of to be truly present here?" This is the hardest stage — letting go of expectations, the need to be right, judgments. Silence often deepens here.
6. True Community (emerges). When emptiness is entered genuinely, the group shifts. Speaking becomes more authentic. Listening deepens. Differences are held with compassion. The facilitator mirrors this: "Notice what is happening in this room right now."
7. Closing (15 min). Each person shares one thing they experienced and one thing they will carry forward.

Materials needed

• Circle seating (no tables)
• Minimal — the method is about presence, not materials
• Tissues available
• Bell for transitions (optional)

Pitfalls & common mistakes

• Facilitator rescuing the group from chaos. Chaos is necessary. If the facilitator smooths it over, the group never reaches emptiness.
• Forcing emptiness. Emptiness cannot be manufactured. The facilitator can invite it but must not demand it.
• Participants treating it as therapy. Community Building is a group process, not individual therapy. Redirect overly personal disclosures gently.
• Too short a time. Community Building needs time. Squeezing it into 60 minutes usually stalls at chaos.

Inclusion & accessibility

• The circle format equalizes power.
• Emphasize that speaking is invited, never required.
• Be sensitive to cultural differences in emotional expression and silence.
• Ensure the space is comfortable for extended sitting (provide cushions, allow standing).

Variations

• Extended Community Building: Full 2-day residential experience.
• Organizational Community Building: Apply to leadership teams to build capacity for difficult conversations.
• Virtual adaptation: Possible but significantly harder — requires cameras on, small groups, and extended time.

When NOT to use this

• When the group needs task completion, not relational depth.
• When psychological safety is too low for vulnerability — chaos without safety creates trauma.
• When participants are mandated to attend and resent being there.

Source & further reading

• Peck, M. S. (1987). *The Different Drum: Community Making and Peace*. Simon & Schuster.
• Foundation for Community Encouragement (FCE). Community Building guidelines.
• Peck, M. S. (1993). *A World Waiting to Be Born: Civility Rediscovered*. Bantam.