The Importance of Community and Connection
The Dean Ornish quote that we shared earlier this week has prompted some interesting conversations at ICC HQ this week.
“The need for connection and community is primal, as fundamental as the need for air, water and food”
We shared the increasing reports of loneliness last year, and how so much of the research tells us that people experiencing loneliness are lacking a community, and connections within that community – something we all need, even if our community numbers only two or three people.
One relevant news story that caught our eye was that of 16-year-old Josh from Swindon, UK who had experienced bullying throughout his time in school, for being ‘different’. His Dad made an appeal on social media for a couple of dozen motorcyclists to come along and escort him to his school prom to celebrate the end of his GCSE exams, and to leave school on a high. What resulted was a huge swell of support from the biking community, and an escort of approximately 1,000 motorbikes taking Josh to his prom! The BBC article quotes Josh’s mum: “It shows Josh that there is support from so many people… Even if he feels alone some days, he doesn’t realise how many people have his back”.
Josh, and many others, have undoubtedly experienced some very real lows but, when a community pulls together like this, it reminds us why connection and community are such important aspects of our lives:
Connection: as humans, we are social by nature and we crave closeness and interaction. Psychologists have demonstrated that connection reduces stress, improves mental health and even helps our immune systems.
Resilience: communities help us through the tough times. We gain a sense of security and a collective approach to problem-solving.
Collaboration: whilst there are the lone entrepreneurial geniuses out there, most of us happen upon our best ideas and innovations when we tap into diverse minds – collaborating to learn and grow together.
Purpose: being part of something bigger – whether it’s a team, a movement or a club – grounds us. It reminds us that we are not alone in what we care about and that ‘these people are my people’
Communities are not unique to leisure activities. We have worked with organisations which have developed fantastic communities, encouraging team members to collaborate, achieving extraordinary outcomes as a result. In fact, one of the questions we ask in the ICC Cultural Analysis is, ‘Would you say there is a sense of community in your organisation?’.
How would you respond?
If you are veering towards ‘no’, then you might be facing challenges that impact short-term collaboration and long-term productivity and performance. Get in touch today, we can help you!
