Why we're better together
Ten reasons why it's easier to grow in community than going it alone
Though every day I count my blessings that I run my own business and get to spend a lot of my time alone, doing my own thing, I know that I also rely on and have benefited from the groups and the networks that I have built around me over the years.
I simply wouldn’t have got half the stuff done that I have without the support, accountability, input and perspective of the people I have connected with in various communities, right up to this day.
For me this has looked like: my cohort when I was training as a coach with CTI , various networking groups I have been a member of, Facebook groups I have been a part of, masterminds/ coaching groupings, co-working with likeminded people and WhatsApp groups with other small business owners. and a LOT of instagram DMs!
We humans are a social species - even introverts (like me) and those who identify as HSP (ditto) need connection, support and a sense of belonging, a way of finding and being with ‘our people’. We are just wired that way. And whilst thousands of years ago that was driven by our need to survive, now it’s how we can thrive.
And if we are really interested in growth, of ourselves and of our businesses and careers, this is where being in community really becomes crucial.
Because we really cannot grow on our own, not truly.
And even if we could, why wouldn’t we want to make the process of growth and change easier, less lonely, more comfortable, by doing it within a supportive community?
There are so many ways that we can be in community with other - often without leaving the house thanks to the online world. (though leaving the house is nice sometimes too ;) )
Here are ten reasons why being in community, finding your tribe (or tribes), can be crucial to your success and wellbeing:
Social Support: quite simply, communities provide support that can help us navigate life's challenges. Whether it's emotional support or practical assistance in life, in business, having a community to rely on can provide an outlet for worries and frustrations and a source of ideas, feedback and support
Learning and skill development: When you’re in the right community or group, you find opportunities for learning and skill development through shared knowledge, experiences, and resources. I see this in my group offerings all the time, women exchange ideas, teach one another, benefit from each others experience and collectively grow.
Accountability: It’s a biggie! And often having a space for accountability is what makes the biggest difference to your grow and your willingness to make change. Plus, when you have peers who share similar goals or values, you are more likely to stay committed and motivated to achieve them.
Perspective: Most groups contain people with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Even in my group programmes there are women of different ages, business sectors, career experience and life experience which makes the mix so much more interesting and valuable. Being exposed to other opinions and outlooks and having different perspectives offered on your current dilemma or opportunity can broaden your horizons and challenge your beliefs, by exposing you to new ideas and viewpoints.
Emotional Well-Being: Cannot state the importance of this enough. Running your own thing is tough at times and being alone whilst we do hard things can feel just terrible. We all need and benefit from social interactions, they are crucial for our emotional well-being. The feelings of belonging, connectedness, and happiness you get from being part of a group or community can massively contribute to personal growth and a feeling of safety and wellbeing.
Collaboration and Cooperation: Groups and networks often encourage collaboration and cooperation, which can lead to the achievement of shared goals and projects that would be difficult or even impossible to achieve individually.
Identity and Belonging: Again, basic human needs! Being part of a group can provide a sense of identity and belonging which in turn can boost your self-esteem and self-worth.
Networking and new opportunities: Being part of a community makes you visible to that group of people who can then can open doors to various opportunities, new connections which can really help you to grow too.
Social Comparison: Not in a bad way! We all compare ourselves to others, all the time, but when that’s done in the right community, this can be motivating rather than feeling bad. When we see (and help!) others to achieve their goals, this can help us to believe that the same is possible for us.
Collective Impact: Communities and groups have the potential to create collective impact beyond what you can achieve on your own. Just the ability to help one another and also help others outside of that group by what happens when we come together, can have a lot of impact over time.
Being part of the right community or group has so many benefits for us as we seek to improve ourselves, our work and our lives; social support, learning opportunities, accountability, new perspectives, emotional well-being, collaboration, identity, networking, social comparison, and the potential for collective impact.
We all thrive when we are in community with people who match our values, our need and commitment to growth and our desire to support and be supported which is really what it is to be human.
JOIN ME THIS AUTUMN!
If you’d like to find out more about joining MY community this October, please pop over to my website HERE and read about my new group programme, Believe & Achieve. It’s an ongoing container for growth, support, new ideas, goal setting and achieving through coaching, mindset work and more!
To discuss the programme with me 1:1 (with no hard sell at all) please book in for a discovery session HERE.
With love,