Community: The first principle

Conversations with strangers can make all the difference.

I was stepping onto a plane earlier this year to travel toward my next work-related event. As I settled in my chair and buckled in, I began to share small talk with the gentleman next to me. It wasn't long before we were exchanging names and diving into a genuine conversation. We discussed professions and the purpose of our travels for that day. My new friend happened to be an experienced therapist. So there I was about to indulge in a free session. I shared the recent reality that I had felt a void in my schedule since finishing graduate school. I still didn't know how to fill my time or where my focus needed to go next. He began sharing the idea of 'communities' with me, and that I had just lost one of my mental 'communities'. He expressed that we should have at least three digital or physical communities in our lives. By having these communities, we can feel more joy and fulfillment. Individuals are most commonly involved in communities such as work, religion, school, family, athletics, and so on. These communities enable us as humans to feel a sense of belonging.

It didn't take long before I was able to fill my void of time, however, I still ponder my main communities and the impact they have on me. Is it possible to expand upon current communities or even deepen their level of influence and meaning in our lives? Do our main communities fluctuate from time to time?

I suppose the answers may vary from person to person. That being said, nearly all individuals share an overlap of communities, one being community in the workplace (or lack thereof). 

What is community?

A community is a group of people with a sense of fellowship and common purpose. Communities can easily be created, but difficult to maintain if members do not feel a belonging or interest. For example, I recently attempted to create another community within my workplace. I put together a company book club! Although nearly 30 people requested to join, only a third of the members participated in the in-person events. Do they not have total buy-in or motivation? Is creating, executing, and reinforcing a sub-community harder than it sounds? Or was the book voted on simply not a good fit?

Although the book club may not be a priority community for many of the members, community in general is imperative to happiness. Whether it be personal or professional, community gives us purpose. Deep down, people yearn for community. Having this desire makes us human. This is why people look for community everywhere they go. Without even recognizing it, people seek community even if only on digital platforms. Regardless of personality type, everyone wants the feeling of love, affection, comfort, support, and common ground. Individuals can truly be themselves when amongst their tight-knit community.

Communities produce results. People are more inclined to contribute and collaborate when associated with a community. This is why companies strive to create community within the walls of their organization. According to Edenred's HR blog, "Building a sense of community at work leads to higher engagement levels as employees feel motivated to contribute to the success of their workplace." When employees feel connected to their colleagues, trust their leaders, and work together towards common goals, magic happens. It's no wonder why so many companies enjoy the idea of community, but are any actually reinforcing this cultural change? 

Creating a sense of belonging and connection among team members

Creating a sense of belonging and connection among team members is paramount in fostering a strong workplace community. Encouraging open communication, recognizing individual strengths, and celebrating team achievements are key ways to nurture this bond. Emphasis should not only be placed on completing tasks but on building meaningful relationships that drive success. By prioritizing a supportive environment, employees feel valued, respected, and motivated to contribute their best work.

Creating this connection may be the most difficult thing to do in an organization. It is something that I hope to better understand through my findings. Employees may not feel that avenues have been created to establish genuine relationships. Perhaps they feel that discussing anything aside from work on company grounds is taboo. If this is the case, measures ought to be taken to better allow employees to know each other personally, not just professionally. 

Encouraging open communication and transparency within the organization

The cornerstone of community is both understanding and trust. The most effective teams that I have ever been a part of have had a strong foundation of trust. I knew the goals and interests of my teammates. I knew about their families and their hobbies. Due to my knowledge of their personal lives, we never failed to have conversations. I have also been on the other end, where no one was familiar with one another. Everything felt forced and enjoyment in team gatherings was lost. Nothing was being done to promote the building of relationships. Here are a few simple ways that I have come to feel more connected to my teammates:

--> Have a daily or weekly Ice Breaker. Ask simple questions for everyone to share such as, "If you could be famous for anything, what would it be?".

--> Schedule more offsite meetings: Take the team to a coffee shop to collaborate on ideas. Have your weekly team review while on a walk. Spend some time together barefoot in the grass. Be creative instead of mundane. One of my favorite ways to meet with my manager is while riding our longboards around the parking lot.

--> Create opportunities for team-building activities. A few of my favorite activities with my team have been go-karting, escape rooms, axe throwing, and top golf.

When employees and team members recognize the efforts their manager puts into building community, bonds will begin to build at extreme rates. Trust will increase, and results will be through the roof. 

Celebrating achievements and milestones together as a community

Have you ever been recognized by your employer? How incredible did it feel? Some of my most fond memories have been when recognition was received. If this works for me, I know it'll work for you too.

Recognizing individual and team accomplishments not only boosts morale but also strengthens the bond within the workplace community. Whether it's meeting a challenging deadline, reaching a sales target, or celebrating work anniversaries, these moments of triumph deserve to be highlighted and shared with the entire team. Records do not need to be broken to celebrate. Organizations ought to find more reasons to recognize achievements. Would it be such a bad thing to be happy about the accomplishments within your company? A few simple forms of recognition may include:

--> A Kudos channel for everyone to see. I use Slack for this, free versions are available. Did someone help solve a problem for the team? Give them public Kudos!

--> Send a company-wide email to recognize someone. Did you recently promote your employee? Make sure everyone knows how hard they've worked to get there!

--> Create tangible awards. Reward people for excelling. Reinforce positive behavior. Just like we read from the book, 'Whale Done!', we need to catch people doing the good, not the bad. Tangible rewards not only act as a higher level of recognition, but are also a constant reminder of your appreciation.

Take more time to give credit to those who truly deserve it. The negative side-effects of not being appreciative far outweigh the vocalizing of efforts by others. I tend to believe that your positive thoughts of others mean nothing unless vocalized. 

Ensure a common goal is achieved

There are countless reports of people arriving to work to simply get through the day. Many people do not understand or believe in their purpose as an employee. This may not be their fault. Many managers and companies fail to relay the mission of the team, let alone reiterate its importance. Think of it this way, when someone asks what you do for a living do you respond with, "I work as a...." or do you respond with "I/We help people with..." There's a difference. One of these responses understands their purpose.

If a common mission or goal isn't written, that must be prioritized. Next, it must be discussed, understood, and believed amongst all team members.

When everyone understands what they are working toward and who they are helping, a community is formed. When people feel appreciated and celebrate the victories of one another, a community is formed. When there is full participation in activities, a community is formed. When teammates know one another personally, a community is formed.

Many of the world's most successful teams have been established on the foundations of community. And good news, it's never too late to create a stronger community in your own workplace. Try one of these methods or add a variation of your own, you are bound to see results.