“Only in community do we feel confidently vulnerable about opening up and being courageous enough to tell our truth.” – Christa Williams, Executive Director, Sophia Partners

Being a part of a community is an integral part of society. But how do we build community?

At our July 2024 Servant Leadership Community of Practice, Christa Williams led discussion of building community. In this blog we will explore:

• Community through the lens of servant leadership
• Workplaces as community
• Building community – necessity and “how to”

Personal leadership reflections

To start this exploration, take a look at the following questions for yourself and what you believe in relation to leadership:

• What is community?
• What communities mean the most to you?

Community & servant leadership

When you look up the definition of community in the dictionary, it gives examples such as:

• People with common interests 
• People living in the same geography
• Society at large 

Our Community of Practice (aka free educational leadership sessions) is also its own community where servant-leaders have:

• Joint ownership or participation
• Intentional connection with others
• Commitment to society at large

When Robert Greenleaf wrote his essay, The Servant as Leader, he did not lay out a neat and tidy “how-to” list for building community.

Instead, he gave us concepts and aspirational messages for us to create our own road map. One of those is “Community – the Lost Knowledge of These Times.” He says, “The opportunities are tremendous for rediscovering vital lost knowledge about how to live in community.”

When we reflect on living in community in the past in comparison to today’s world, one might immediately call out the busyness, distractions, complexities, or speed of change around us all. 

But, at its core, community = love. Not just any love, but love that has unlimited liability. It’s generous. It’s caring.

“All that is needed to rebuild community is for enough servant leaders to show the way, not by mass movements, but by each servant-leader demonstrating his or her own unlimited liability…love.” – Robert Greenleaf

Now as you view different communities (workplace, home, neighborhood, etc.) through the lens of servant leadership, what do you…

• see? 
• hear? 
• say? 
• do? 
• feel? 
• believe?

Building community at work

We tend to think of community as the place where we live but workplaces are also a type of community. 

In the past, the workplace was often seen as a purely transactional setting, where employees clocked in, did their jobs, and left at the end of the day. Today, many employees entering the workplace are seeking something deeper and more meaningful in their professional lives.

People yearn for a sense of belonging, mutual respect, and shared purpose within the workplace.

Why does having community at work matter?

Many leaders tend to look solely at business KPIs and targets to assess if the company is on the right track. If you scratch below the surface, you may find a completely different story. 

Loneliness in businesses manifests as diminished productivity, higher rates of illness, increased absenteeism, and a greater turnover rate.

The degree to which employees feel valued, connected, and fulfilled in the workplace has important implications for both the workplace culture and the business’s overall health or success.

When your employees feel they’re part of a community, you see a happier, healthier, more engaged workforce—and a better bottom line.

Finding community at your third place

We spend most of our lives at work or home, but what do you do when you need a third place — somewhere you feel happy and comfortable, with friends, fun, and no judgment?

The “third place” is a term coined by US sociologist Ray Oldenburg in his 1989 book, The Great Good Place. It describes a place outside your home or work where you can relax and hang out. For example:

1. Your first place is your home, a private and domestic space.
2. Your second place is your work, a structured social experience and where you likely spend most of your time. 
3. Your third place is somewhere you can connect with others, share your thoughts and dreams, and have fun.

We need places outside our family and workplace to be social! 

In a time of loneliness and community polarization, Richard Kyte, Director of D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, proposes that finding your third place will help build happier communities and nurture relationships along the way.

His book, Finding Your Third Place: Building Happier Communities (and Making Great Friends Along the Way) explores the need for third places today.

“We have forgotten how to build thriving communities because we have forgotten who we are…We are social animals, and we thrive only when we create conditions suitable for the cultivation of friendship.” – Richard Kyte 

Essential Characteristics of third places:

• Neutral: People are there because they want to be there. They are free to come and go as they please with no consequence. 
• Leveling: Accepts people from all walks of life where economic and social status does not matter, and there are no prerequisites for participation. 
• Accessible and accommodating: Conveniently located and have long hours with no reservations needed. They often have free or inexpensive offerings. 
• Regulars: Easy to find a familiar face, although they’re also open to newcomers. Regulars are there to help new people feel welcomed and encouraged.
• Keep a low profile: Comfortable and approachable — like a living room for the community.
• Atmosphere: Mood that makes you want to come back time and time again. 
• Home away from home: The same feelings of warmth and belonging as you’ll find in your own home. 

Think about your ideal third place.

Everyone has a different idea of a perfect third place. The best way to narrow down your search is to think about what you’d like to experience. Take this opportunity to get out there and identify your own third place!

How does being attentive about third places in your life help build community for you?

Inventory of activities exercise

Try this personal leadership exercise as a way to explore where you experience a thriving community that supports you personally, professionally and socially. 

• Draw three circles with these categories: Professional, Personal, Social.
• In each circle write down all the activities you’re doing throughout a week.  
• By each activity put a + for the items that give you energy and – by those that don’t.

What do you need in all three circles for functional work-life balance?

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What have you learned from this blog? Let us know!

Don’t miss your opportunity to join our next conversation! Community of Practice sessions are amazing opportunities for any and all leaders to gather and learn from one another in a supportive, comfortable environment, right from your computer. August’s topic is “Leading through Conflict.”

Additional Resources:

1. Finding Your Third Place by Richard Kyte
2. The Great Good Place by Ray Oldenburg
3. The Servant as Leader by Robert Greenleaf

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This blog post wraps up July 2024’s Community of Practice conversation. To join us during the live discussion for future months, register at https://www.sophiapartners.org/events/. This program occurs the fourth Tuesday of each month from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. CT via Zoom.