Communities Are A New Leadership Currency

I recently spoke with a member of one of my communities who recently lost employment, and is temporarily renting her house and relocating a short distance away while she conducts her job search. I lent a sympathetic ear and words of understanding when she told me her story, but I also reminded her that she was still part of our community, and her value in our community did not change just because her employment or housing status did. In fact, because she has been so proactive in responding to the recent changes in her life, she may have planted a seed of community with her new tenant, one that may prove to be very valuable to both in the future.

Creating and sustaining a community can be one of the greatest challenges we face during rough times. People often feel disconnected when they experience both large changes (employment status, income, housing, family) and small changes (the closing of a favorite restaurant, the turning of a calendar page, or even the weather). Reminding people that they can be, and are, part of an entity that accomplishes more and increases in value when the entity's members are connected - this is the essence of community.

As leaders, we step forward to create and sustain these communities. We understand that our communities are a viable currency for investing in our ideas, and earning success for all involved. As such, we must continue to remind others that we are part of something that can accomplish more when we are connected. We must make clear that those involved in the community are investing in a currency whose value rises rapidly the moment that they step forward to become involved. No other investment market can provide such an immediate rate of return.

Whether your community is in your family, in your place of business, or a non-profit in your community (all three in my case), remember to remind others that they can and do belong in your community. Be the leader that invests in and promotes the currency of community, and reap the near-term rewards now while understanding that the long-term rewards will be even richer.