If You Build It: Creating a Community of Connection
If you build it, they will come (Together, right now)
What does this late-1980s cinematic agro-baseball masterpiece and John Lennon’s mighty wisdom with a funky beat have to do with your team’s success?
Well, everything.
All the Lonely People
A decade ago, Christine Porath, author and professor at Georgetown (Go Christine!), set out with a team to look at all the lonely people (at work) and where they [could] belong. (See what we did there?)
Christine and her team asked 20,000 people from all different industries a fundamental question: What stands in the way of being more satisfied and productive at work?
Her research found that 65% of people don’t feel any community at work. Connection, Christine says, is one of our three most fundamental needs.
When your team feels a sense of community, amazing things can happen!
Christine’s research also showed that when people felt connected through a community at work they were:
58% more likely to thrive at work
55% more engaged
66% more likely to stay with their organization
Sure, math is cool and all, but each number represents a person who was struggling with feelings of loneliness and isolation. What was the catalyst for improvement? Connection! How powerful is that?
Christine’s research emphasizes the significant impact of community and civility on mental health and well-being in the workplace. Her findings consistently show that fostering a sense of belonging and respect can enhance employees' mental health both inside and outside the office.
“IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME” – Christine’s research and also Shoeless Joe Jackson.
The solution is clear. Build a baseball field. Ha! Kidding.
What you’re building is a sense of community—which really means you're building and fostering human connection.
Giving Back
Finding ways to unite as a team and rally around an important cause is a stellar start.
In 2021, Leadership Delta partnered with MATTER— a Minnesota-based organization that empowers people to launch projects that improve their communities.
Through this partnership, Leadership Delta rallied the troops (our powerhouse community) to join the fray. Over the last few years, Leadership Delta has spent time volunteering in the MATTER warehouse by preparing pallets of kits for healthy snack packs.
Our community voted on where to donate 750 snack packs our Leadership Delta community had assembled— potential beneficiaries included communities that serve women overcoming domestic violence, underprivileged and at-risk children, and the unhoused.
Your response was inspiring—the majority of the votes went to helping at-risk kids, but each category received votes. Fortunately, when the Leadership Delta team applied the number of votes to the level of need, they were able to support each organization at 100%!
But then, in an effort to ensure we are walking the walk, we took our efforts to give back one step further.
Last year, before diving into service work with MATTER, Leadership Delta offered complimentary coaching to our community: Our transformative Fresh Start curriculum, live and in-person.
This program is centered on setting goals with intention. Leadership Delta offered to be an accountability partner for each participant and even emailed attendees throughout the year to help them take inventory of their progress.
If the call is coming from inside the house, answer that first. Strong teams blossom from the inside out.
Community Drives Connection
Your community is the beating heart of your organization. It’s essential to nurturing human connection.
When people feel connected, they are more likely to be engaged, motivated, and loyal to the organization. This sense of shared purpose and camaraderie creates an environment where people are comfortable and excited to uplift one another.
A strong community fosters a sense of belonging, support, and a shared purpose. It’s basically your team’s superpower. Wield this power for good!
Remember, with great power, comes great responsibility. Here are a few ideas for building your community:
Informal Connection
Start by creating spaces—both physical and virtual—where employees can connect informally.
Think:
Break areas
Chat channels
Team lunch spaces
Intentional Activities
Encourage team-building activities where employees can interact outside of work.
Think:
Brainstorming sessions
Group lunches
Shared projects
Social Events
Organizing regular social events helps people bond and break down barriers.
Think:
Holiday celebrations
Team-building activities in and out of the office
Community service
Structured initiatives
Intentional, structured initiatives create supportive networks across different roles and levels.
Think:
Mentorship programs
Accountability partners
Cross-departmental collaboration
Build your community and be prepared to see how your team comes together. And remember, you are not alone. If you need support in creating these opportunities for your teams, please reach out. We would be honored to partner with you!