3 steps to get from Isolation to Thriving Business Community!

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Have you ever heard the saying “It takes a village to raise a child”?

When my husband and I got married in 2005, we wrote it on our invitations, with the addition of an African proverb: “…and it takes a tribe to make a marriage.”

I was reminded of this phrase when I attended a friend’s wedding on the weekend. I had the honour of attending a women’s circle with the bride the night before.

Back in 2005, we had asked the 100 men and women who attended our wedding to write down on a piece of paper their wisdom and advice, to help us through any tough times in our marriage. These words of wisdom were presented to my husband and I in two beautiful boxes, by the oldest man and the oldest woman present… the elders in our “tribe”.

So on Friday night, I gave a copy of these “wisdom cards” to the bride to share with her husband. And I have given it to other friends who have married since our wedding too. As I gave her the cards, I shared with her that she should always feel free to call on her community… When times got hard, and also when times were good, because no couple is an island, and it is in community that we find the strength, support and love to grow full.

So, how does this relate to your business?

(Can you guess where I’m going with this…?)

I want to know – does your business have a community?

• Are there people who care, who’ll support you when times are tough?
• Are there people who know about your vision, and will celebrate with you when you have a win?
• Are there people who’ll spend time with your business and help you nut out the nitty-gritty problems that crop up?

Many business owners feel alone and isolated, like they carry the burden of the world on their shoulders. And for business leaders, there is a certain truth in that ultimately, you walk your path alone. Yet that doesn’t mean you can’t have friends to bring you food and water, and cheer you on.

So, how can you create a thriving community in your business?

Here’s a few tips – and some of them might surprise you…

1. Build your community from many sources.

In an ecosystem, it is diversity that makes the community resilient and sustainable. Your business community is the same. It is made up of friends, family, partners, mentors, clients, employees, contractors, suppliers, and others whose lives are touched by your business.

2. You don’t have to be the expert all the time.

I had a client the other day who is clair-audient. She hears things. She gets messages for other people, insights about their life. I know, it’s weird, but it’s true. Half way through her coaching session, she downloaded a message for me. It was helpful for me in my own personal life, and I thanked her. Just because I’m a business coach, doesn’t mean I’ve got it all worked out. And just because I’m a spiritual coach, doesn’t mean I’m enlightened, either. I’m just a human being, with successes and failures, who wants to help others – and myself – to grow. I don’t mind my clients seeing some of my vulnerabilities, because it helps make it safe for them to show me theirs. Then we can help each other. And that’s what builds connection, and community.

So, Take the time to notice your needs, vulnerabilities, and problems in business, then you can ask others for help. And take the time to notice the needs and problems that others are struggling with, so you can help them.

3. Be clear about the exchange.

Because this is about your business, and businesses operate in a commercial world, it’s important to be clear on the exchange:

• Some people will be happy to help your business because they love it, or they love you, and that’s it.
• Others want to help through a professional service – coaching, bookkeeping, personal assistance. They usually need – and deserve – to be paid.
• Others still might be business owners themselves, and they want to help you nut through your issues, in exchange for you helping them nut through theirs. Maybe you just take turns to shout each other tea or coffee at the local café where you meet.
• Sometimes, you just give to your community, because you’re feeling generous.

There’s lots of creative ways to find an exchange. The important thing is that the terms of exchange are communicated, so everyone gets to give, and receive. That’s what keeps the community alive.

These three elements work together. If you keep in mind who your business community can draw on, what problems you need help with (and what problems you can help others with) and you are careful to communicate a clear exchange with others, you can grow a healthy and sustainable community to support your business to grow.

Do you agree?

What’s your experience of community – within or outside of a business context?

And what have you learned about how to help your business community grow?