Cultivating Connection: Building Belonging and Community in a Virtual World

The Power of Connection

Humans are social animals; we are made to connect. Yet we live in a more isolated world than ever before, especially with an uptrend in virtual work.

How do you as a leader build connection within your organization and with the world around you?

Building Belonging

Resilient companies that overcome isolation, creating belonging. Belonging is to be a part of something and something belongs to me.

Belonging is made by three key elements:

1. Purpose – you need to believe in what you are doing and the impact you are making.
2. Safety – an environment where everyone is heard and encouraged, rather than shut down to open their mouth with create a much higher sense of belonging.
3. Future – linked to the purpose, you must believe in the future vision.

Belonging is the most powerful form of connection; people will fight for where they belong.

Build Communities

Community is everything around you. Your business needs to extend beyond the boundaries of your business and into your community. You need to be giving back and making an impact in your community.

Both as a company and your team individually need to be giving to their communities. This helps to create a powerful sense of belonging and connection with those around you. Further to this, a company that has the support of its community will go much further than one who does not.

Three simple ways to impact your community:

• Hire locals – hiring people from your local community, where possible, allows you to get the support of your community.
• Give and donate to local organizations – giving both time and money to local organizations and charity drives can make a huge impact in your community.
• Educate – have education days, invite schools to visit your business and learn about your industry, and provide traineeships. These can all help to inspire and grow your community.

Communities really help to grow the sense of belonging.

Do Your People Experience a Human Connection?

Besides a sense of belonging, do your people feel a sense of connection within your organization. Do they enjoy working with you, feel like they fit in?

The easiest way to connect with people is to find common ground. This could be through mutual interests, similar personal goals, or speaking the same language.

Politicians use this a lot! They learn the home languages of the people they are trying to reach, helping them to better communicate and understand the people they are trying to serve,

Creating connections within your organization, both internally and externally, is powerful. Start with belonging and watch your business grow.