Why do great leaders work to build community?
If you know me well you may know I am a big fan of community and community building. Some of my heroes are known for building community as part of their bigger mission.
Martin Luther King Jr was passionate about building a Beloved Community and Thich Nhat Hanh spent most of his life focused on building what is called Sangha in the Buddhist tradition. This was at the core of both of these leaders’ work.
“We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”
Now Let's Dig In To The Big Question - What Does It Mean To Build Community?
Building community involves fostering connections, relationships, and a sense of belonging among individuals who share common interests, values, or identities.
It’s about creating a space where people feel supported, valued, and empowered to engage with one another, collaborate, and contribute to a shared purpose or goal.
Here are some key aspects of building community:
1. Connection:
Facilitating opportunities for people to connect with one another, whether through in-person gatherings, online platforms, or shared activities.
2. Communication:
Encouraging open and transparent communication within the community, where individuals feel comfortable expressing their thoughts, ideas, and concerns.
3. Inclusivity:
Creating an inclusive environment where people from diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences feel welcome and respected.
4. Support:
Providing support networks and resources to help community members thrive, whether through mentorship, skill-sharing, or emotional support.
5. Shared Purpose:
Establishing a common purpose, vision, or goal that unites community members and gives them a sense of direction and motivation.
6. Empowerment:
Empowering individuals within the community to take on leadership roles, make decisions, and contribute to the growth and development of the community.
7. Celebration:
Recognizing and celebrating the achievements, milestones, and contributions of community members, fostering a sense of pride and belonging.
Building community requires ongoing effort, collaboration, and commitment from all members involved. It’s about creating a supportive and nurturing environment where individuals can connect, grow, and thrive together.
Here is a wonderful TED Talk related to how to connect and lead and how to build community. It is wonderful. Enjoy it!
“What should young people do with their lives today? Many things, obviously. But the most daring thing is to create stable communities in which the terrible disease of loneliness can be cured.”
My Communities…
I participate or lead in several different communities. Some are interest-based like a few yoga communities I participate in. Some are religious in nature – church and Buddhist Sangha. Some are business-based – mastermind groups, educational groups, and support groups. But then there are also neighborhood groups.
I run a virtual book club which may be one of my most successful communities I created and run. The Hope & Inspiration Book Club started in April of 2020 as a way to overcome the loneliness that we could have ran into during the pandemic. We now have over 4 years together as a pretty much weekly group meeting via Zoom.
I participate in a bigger Beloved Community in my Buddhist practice where I am connected to Sangha’s throughout the US and the world actually. I practice firsthand and help lead my local Sangha as well as attend regional retreats that other sangha’s create as a way for many sanghas to unite for a few days and practice love and healing work to make the world a little better.
Here are a few quotes l like about community…
“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”
“We have all known the long loneliness and we have learned that the only solution is love and that love comes with community.”
It is possible that the next Buddha will not take the form of an individual. The next Buddha may take the form of a community -a community practicing understanding and loving kindness, a community practicing mindful living. This may be the most important thing we can do for the survival of the earth.
"Whether we like it or not, we have all been born on this earth as part of one great human family. Rich or poor, educated or uneducated, belonging to one nation or another, to one religion or another, adhering to this ideology or that, ultimately each of us is just a human being like everyone else: we all desire happiness and do not want suffering. Furthermore, each of us has an equal right to pursue these goals."
So these are some different ideas to inspire or educate on the concept of building community.
CONCLUSION…
We all need connections to live our best lives. So where can you find a community that serves your needs/desires? How can you support that community? Once you find a community you like… get engaged. Attend regular meetings or events.
Share it on social media and invite other friends that might like this space. Start stepping up to lead or even just clean up from time to time. Cheer on and support fellow members. If you are able you could make donations to help support or grow the community.
I love being with my different communities. My friends bring me such joy.
I know a healthy community will serve and grow you as well.
Share in the comments about your favorite communities or what you do to build community.
Stay tuned as I am planning a new community building strategy that will be partly inperson and partly virtual. I think it’s going to be fun.