By Chris Heivly, Managing Director at Build The Fort and Startup Community EIR @ Techstars

Stepping into or re-thinking your leadership role in your community? Being a leader in this space doesn’t mean calling all the shots. In fact, it’s the opposite. The best community influencers build trust, lift others up, and show up consistently. Influence here isn’t about control — it’s about connection. Congrats — and welcome to the influence game. It’s not your father's Oldsmobile or Buick or Cadillac.

Today, I am doing a deep dive on the small, more tactical ways you can optimize your influence game. One last meta-level thought — lean into the influencer role with intention and humility. Here are 10 actions you can start tomorrow:

1. Meet With Peers—Regularly and Authentically

Set up a casual coffee or lunch every week with a peer stakeholder in your community. Don’t just talk shop — get to know them as people. The trust you build in these one-on-one moments lays the groundwork for everything else. Note, you will have to do this a couple of times before trust kicks in.

2. Ask How You Can Help—Then Actually Help

Don't ask, “How can I support you?” and walk away. Ask, listen, then do the thing. Whether it’s making an intro, attending their pitch event, or reposting a job opening — follow through and quickly.

3. Be Vulnerable: Share Your Challenges Too

Influence is built on honesty. Talk about what’s hard for you. Ask for help. Let others see that leadership doesn’t mean having all the answers — it means having the guts to share your struggles and asking the right questions.

4. Show Up—Even When It’s Not About You

Support your peers by showing up at their events, demo days, talks, and celebrations. Your presence signals that their work matters. And in this game, presence is influence.

5. Pass the Mic

Invite others to speak at your events. Let someone else moderate. Hand over the whiteboard. Creating space for others to shine amplifies your influence while building collective momentum.

6. Highlight Their Wins—Loudly and Often

Whether it’s in a newsletter, LinkedIn post, Slack message, or local news write-up — celebrate your peers' progress. Make it a habit to find and amplify your region’s success stories weekly.

7. Collaborate on New Ideas

Have a new idea for a meetup or program? Don’t launch it solo. Bring your peers in early. Ask, “Would you want to co-lead this with me?” The best ideas get stronger when shared. Plus, the open collaboration is a great signal to everyone else.

8. Hold Regular “Open Office Hours”

Make yourself accessible. Set up a recurring time each month where anyone can grab 15–20 minutes of your time — no agenda needed. This signals openness and keeps you grounded in what people actually need.

9. Create Small, Inclusive Gatherings

Big events are great, but small gatherings build deeper relationships. Host a monthly breakfast or peer lunch with no agenda — just connection. Keep it informal and inclusive. The magic happens in small rooms.

10. Connect People Who Should Know Each Other

Become a human switchboard. If you meet someone impressive, immediately think: “Who should they meet next?” Make warm intros. Do this weekly. Your influence grows exponentially when others see you as a connector who expands opportunity.

Influence isn't a title, it’s a new behavior — you don’t need a badge to create an impact in your community. You need intention, consistency, and a willingness to build meaningful connections — starting with your peer leaders.

So get out there — show up, lift others up, put your ego to the side, and let your influence roll through your region like a tsunami.

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