Our jobs are no longer solely a source of income; they are a source of social interaction, support and guidance. As a result, organisations need to create a vibrant and supportive community around themselves if they are to thrive and flourish. 

As humans, we require a sense of belonging. We are all, traditionally, part of different communities, involving our family and friends, our neighbourhood, our running or exercise buddies, and considering how much time we spend working, it only makes sense that organisations should also be a community for us. 

The benefits of building a community

M. Scott Peck defines community as “a way of being together with both individual authenticity and interpersonal harmony so that people become able to function with a collective energy even greater than the sum of their individual energies.”

Being part of a community positively impacts our mental and physical health. We become more engaged and accountable as a result of it, and we are more likely to act when we have shared beliefs, interests, and goals.

Additionally, being a part of a community involves feeling free to speak up, share our thoughts and ideas, and express our feelings and emotions. It’s a safe environment where we can be ourselves. 

It also improves collaboration and communication. It may even encourage healthy competition and knowledge sharing.

Furthermore, from a business standpoint, creating a community around our organisation helps to ensure employee engagement and satisfaction, which can positively impact employee turnover and productivity.

Building a community is about bringing people together

There are many reasons why individuals would like to go to the office, but we’re confident that sitting in front of a screen to perform a job that they could accomplish at home isn’t at the top of the list. Some people may be more productive in the office because there are fewer interruptions, but most of us go to the office for social interactions.

It’s about being together, the spontaneous conversations, the friendly jokes, the quick answers to questions, and even the banter about whatever is going on in our lives. We’re looking for a sense of belonging, the support of others, and the bonds formed by spending time together.

The aim of creating a sense of community around your company is to bring people together, and it will undoubtedly be a compelling incentive for people to go to the office. However, building a community must be about creating deeper connections wherever people work from. 

Tsedal Neeley says “to treat the office as a tool and not a destination is a mindset shift that’s going to be really helpful in using the space in a way that’s productive for all.”  

While working onsite is a terrific approach to develop a community around your company, it is far from the only option. People who work remotely, for whatever reason, should never be forgotten. They probably need their community even more.

4 basics when building a community

First of all, we must ask people and listen to what they want and need. Don’t waste your time thinking up great ideas just to discover that they aren’t what people truly wanted in the first place.

Also, be certain that your community is built on the foundations of trust and authenticity. As previously stated, a community is a safe place for people, thus it won’t operate unless it’s genuine.

Build your community around shared values, interests and goals. Just working in the same organisation doesn’t mean you all share the same values or interests; it doesn’t even mean you all have the same goals. 

Involve everyone in the process. A community is a place where everyone has a voice and it has a positive impact because everyone is involved in the process and has a sense of belonging. People want to be heard and seen. To ensure that everyone is moving forward with the same goals and values, everyone needs to feel confident in voicing their opinions and concerns.

Some tips to build your community

Focus on bringing people together. Whether it’s for an away day, a daily activity or an after-work time out. Even if you do it in person or online, the essential part is that you centre your efforts around getting people together for a social time that they can use to create deeper connections.

Promote shared learning. The ability to learn from colleagues is one benefit people often miss out on when working from home, so promote the benefits of time and space for shared learning. Pair a senior employee with a new colleague, or schedule some time for learning and knowledge sharing during the week.

The Optimist View

We value community because we understand that things are always better when they are shared. And while we don’t spend a lot of time together in the same room, we have made it our mission to become closer together by sharing our day to day activities beyond the realms of our jobs. We know what our values are and what we are trying to achieve, so we don’t lose sight of our goals and motivation. 

At Optimist Performance, we also help other companies to achieve their full potential, to build that community that will allow every individual to be their best.

We create unique experiences for you and your team. Also, our programmes focus on providing safe spaces and constructive environments in which people feel they can express themselves and voice their opinions. 

If you would like to know more about how we may be able to help, get in touch for a free consultation. We are always happy to hear from you. 

The post Our jobs as a source of community – By Optimist Performance appeared first on Optimist Performance.

When we don’t belong, we feel guilty, rejected, anxious, depressed, angry, alone, jealous and isolated. We are more inclined to show behaviour problems, commit crimes and have suicidal ideation.

This means that a sense of belonging is essential for your mental health, and work can be a great source to find it. However, considering that many people are still getting used to working remotely and that travel restriction might make us feel more alienated from family and friends, now is an excellent time to begin focusing on our sense of belonging.

The good thing is that according to a study, we don’t need to be together in the same room to reap the benefits of feeling part of a team. 

But why is belonging to a group so important?

Why do humans need a sense of belonging?

According to Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, belonging is part of one of the fundamental needs that motivate human behaviour.

Belonging is not only a want but a necessity, according to research by psychologists Baumeister and Leary. A need that is almost as intense as the need for food in humans.

In addition, a recent MIT study discovered that we crave relationships in the same brain region that we crave food and that we experience social exclusion in the same brain area that we experience physical pain.

A lack of sense of belonging at work can also lead to job dissatisfaction and health problem, and it’s a strong predictor of depression.

We define a sense of belonging as that feeling of connectedness to a group or community. It’s the sense that you’re part of something. You feel attached, close and thoroughly accepted by your people.

While there is no consensus yet on how to define a sense of belonging, some factors have been proven to be critical in achieving it. These are:

• Acceptance
• Attention
• Support

While been together in the same room can help, none of these are impossible to accomplish from a distance. Surely we all can remember a person we saw daily but with whom we didn’t feel any connection. 

Create a sense of belonging for yourself

Relationships require time and effort, and in order to build them, the work needs to start with you. 

Using the three aspects above, we’ve compiled a list of tips that can help you, as an individual, to feel like you belong:

Work on acceptance. Validation is one of the most effective ways to convey acceptance. Validation is the recognition that someone’s internal experience is understandable, and it helps you stay on the same page, feeling like you belong, even if you disagree.

Look for similarities instead of differences. Try to find things you have in common with your peers. 

Be open to new possibilities and avoid judgment. Participate in activities with others, even if it’s not something you’d typically do. Be willing to try new things and form new relationships.

Be aware of nonverbal communication. Keep a close eye on your nonverbal communication. When we don’t feel comfortable, our nonverbal signals can appear unfriendly. 

Ask for support. Don’t be hesitant to seek help when you require it, even if it is minor. Asking someone’s opinion or input can be a terrific way to start a relationship and can help you discover mutual interests.

Speak up and be seen. On the other hand, don’t be scared to speak up if you have anything to say or add. Everyone has something to contribute, and you will have skills and expertise that others will undoubtedly value. This might also assist you in achieving acceptance.

Make an effort and be patient. It takes time and effort to form connections with other individuals. Be patient and give it your all.

Help your team to create a sense of belonging

Creating a feeling of belonging is not something we can do for others, but we definitely can help. 

Want to help the people in your team to achieve a sense of belonging? We have gathered some tips here:

Create opportunities for people to connect. It can be challenging to find things in common when working remotely or with someone you have never met in person. However, as a company leader, you can help. Create events outside of work to foster connections based on shared interests, even if they are remote. You can also build forums where people can discuss various topics. (Read more about team building activities here)

Set up a mentoring programme. According to research, encouragement of mentorship can help with the development of a sense of belonging. This is excellent for new employees or people who have a hard time making connections.

Foster alliances. The same study shows that even having one ally inside a group can improve our sense of belonging. A way to do this is to connect two people you know can help each other or have shared values and goals. 

Ask about people’s views on what they would do. Even soliciting suggestions on how to foster a sense of belonging can be beneficial, which is helpful to newcomers and those who feel excluded. (Read more about how to use questions to empower your team)

Create psychological safety. It’s critical to create an environment where people feel safe and can be themselves. As we said before, a sense of belonging is based on acceptance and support, and it would be challenging to feel accepted if the environment doesn’t allow you to be yourself. 

Allow freedom and autonomy. While sharing common goals and values contribute to a sense of belonging, autonomy is also essential. It’s nice to be a part of a group, but we must maintain our individuality and freedom.

Practise recognition and appreciation. Being able to express one’s thoughts and feeling respected, as well as being appreciated, are crucial parts of experiencing a sense of belonging. As a company leader, you must help ensure that your employees are at ease with one another and with the organisation as a whole.

Reimagine the recruitment process. You can start helping your team to create a sense of belonging from the start by choosing people who you know would fit with the rest of your team. Wes MD uses the “speed dating” style as part of their interview process. When they have a candidate they like, they arrange for them to meet different people from the team. This ensures that they are a good fit and that you are selecting the best applicant for the job. (Read more about their experience here)

The Optimist View…

We all belong somewhere, we just need to find our tribe. Likewise, finding our tribe will require some effort on our part too. 

At Optimist Performance, we have our tribe too. A tribe of Optimists! 

The post Do you or anyone in your team lack a sense of belonging? Check out these tips appeared first on Optimist Performance.

This new way of working has real potential and can be very positive but it also comes with some challenges. Especially considering that what was supposed to be a few months has now become our new norm. 

On top of that, we need to consider that, it can affect you differently depending on your personality or your position.

Research suggests that there are two types of people; segmenters (who like to separate work and personal life) and integrators (who feel content bouncing from one to another). 

Even more, we know that depending on your position you will find different challenges. People who supervise teams; managers, team leaders, supervisors; are working longer hours and are having more difficulties when finding a work-life balance. 

Whatever your case is, the important thing to remember is that we are all learning, so we can find creative ways to make the working-from-home situation more effective for each one of us. 

If you have read our previous posts, you will know how important communication and a healthy company culture are. This situation is just another example of how demonstrating these values can help you, your team, and your company. 

We want to share with you some tips on how to make the best of this situation and also some examples of how we do it inside our team. 

5 Tips that will help you find the right solution for you

Find out what your needs are and be honest about them

Everyone is different and has different needs, but one thing is true for everyone: The only person who knows what you need is you.

So take some time to think about it: what are you missing, what could help improve your life. If we ask the right questions we will find the right answers. 

After that, it is about being honest and talking to your team, your boss, and your family and asking for help whenever you feel you need it. 

Remember: We are all living in the same situation so we can empathize with each other even more now, than before. 

Create relationships outside of work

Taking into account that we are not only working from home but mostly isolated in it. It is crucial that you make your best effort in creating relationships and having conversations around topics other than work. 

Make sure you block out 5 or 10 minutes before or after your meetings to ask how someone is and chew the fat over something other than work.

Organise a video call with your colleagues on a Friday after work or plan Zoom lunches during your day in which you just talk about stuff so that you keep your relationships strong and healthy.

Organise your day

Being organised is critical for everyone who wants to stay productive, and positive. Have an agenda, a schedule, write down your to-dos, your breaks, etc…

Being organised will help you focus therefore you will be more productive. 

Take time for yourself

If you are a “segmenter” you are probably already focusing on differentiating work and free time. But probably “integrators” are finding it more difficult or managers are spending more time at work than ever before.

So don’t forget about yourself, make time for things you enjoy. 

This is equally important during and after work hours. During your day at work, you can take some breaks to walk around the room, prioritise some stretching exercises or even just go outside for a bit of fresh air.

After work, you also need to have that designated time for yourself. Pick a hobby, something you love, something that makes you feel relaxed, and make sure you stick to it. The physical, mental, and emotional break will do you so much good. 

Make work suit your life

One of the benefits of working from home is that we have more freedom. As much as your job allows it, you just have to find the right style for you.

So, don’t be afraid to use this freedom to your benefit. 

If you are in a creative role and inspiration finds you better in the afternoon, organise your agenda so you dedicate this time to the more creative activities.

Or pick a time to go for a walk to brainstorm and come up with new ideas, something that just gives you time and space to think. Watch this TED Talk about how walking helps creativity if you need more inspiration to go out in the rain! 

We practice what we preach

At Optimist Performance, we take these points very seriously, and we try to implement them on a daily basis. Here are some examples of what we do:

We know our needs and we are honest

We have a morning call every day with the whole team. A few weeks ago, a member of the team mentioned she needed some extra time in the morning to exercise, so we all agreed to have our calls a bit later.

Also, we try to be as flexible as possible. So if someone needs to change the time for our call, we always try to accommodate our agendas together. 

We care about relationships

We got together last Friday to have a farewell party for one of our colleagues. We were still looking at our screens but it was nice to talked about something different and got to know each other better.

Maybe these types of relationships are not ideal, but they are still relationships that will accompany you for a long time if you nurture them. 

Organisation

Another member of our team spends the last 15 to 25 minutes everyday organising the next day’s agenda. She writes down everything she has to do, from main projects, to what she wants to mention in the next day’s meeting. 

Writing down your thoughts, to-dos, and ideas help bring peace to your mind. Every time you start thinking about work, just say to yourself “everything is on the agenda, I won’t forget it and I will do it tomorrow, so I don’t need to worry now”.

Otherwise, your mind will be reminding you about the same things over and over again, which will make it impossible for you to relax. 

We take advantage of our freedom

We sometimes have our morning calls while walking outside. We still get together and talk about what needs to be done, but we enjoy each other’s ‘views’ and it gives us new conversation topics to talk around. 

We understand that everyone has different circumstances. Maybe what is possible for us is impossible for a company with 50 people on a call, but the message is the same.

It’s all about being honest, open, empathetic, and being willing to work together. 

There are no wrong answers, all this is new and we are in the learning process. But we need to allow ourselves to be creative and have the courage to speak up and be honest. 

What you need to remember is that “You are working from home, not living at work”. 

We would love to hear from you, leave a comment and tell us what your tips and tricks are. 

The post 5 Tips to stay productive and positive while working from home appeared first on Optimist Performance.