Community building is key within any organization or team. The best teams feel like something each member wants to be loyal to. They should be committed to making the group as a whole succeed, not just themselves. Three very important parts of creating a community are shout-outs, strengths, and support.
Shout-outs:
Make people feel great about their accomplishments. Every time someone does something good, within the group or in their own life, share that with the group as a whole, so you can all celebrate together. This makes each person feel valued as a member.
Strengths:
Every group has individuals with different backgrounds and talents. Use these differences to create a unified team. When a person feels that they are using their unique skills and points of view to benefit the group, they feel that they “count.” Take time to get to know each member and give them the opportunity to shine where they shine best, as well as learning new skills.
Support:
Finally, a community should feel like a place where friends are. Work to create connections and friendships throughout the larger group. (Warning: avoid cliques, though!) In the end, we stay loyal and excited about the human connections we make. Would you show up weekly for a group of strangers?
