Experiment a Little...5 Ways to Build Your Community

Welcome to this month’s Experiment a little… newsletter. It’s great to have you here and part of the be. Community. For new joiners this is my monthly letter to you based on my musings, what is coming up in coaching conversations with clients and offer life, leadership and career inspiration. Plus activities and tools you can try. I appreciate your time to read along with me each month, and for the feedback I receive.  

So, whilst I acknowledge this wonderful community, this is the topic I’m exploring this month on my blog. Why? Because in many recent coaching conversations, I am hearing about people’s disconnection or search for it. For some, it may feel missing or lacking, where they have withdrawn or made other priorities. I’m helping others to find their people, or set up communities around shared interests. And never under-estimate the importance of networks in job searching and mentoring for growth.  

Through every phase and stage of my life, I have been a seeker of connection to different communities. The influence of community being important has one source for me, my Mum. It’s her #1 value, a consistent thread. I can remember her resonant words about contribution, importance of friendships, having hobbies separate from your husband, and the power of people assisting people (especially when in a time of need).  

I consider community to be critical when I am working with clients on career paths and leadership styles – when going through change or a new role, promotions, elevating the standards of industries we’re part of, we need support, champions and advocacy around us.

Being part of a community provides belonging, emotional support, and shared values, helping you navigate challenges with trust and understanding. It also offers access to resources, learning, and meaningful relationships that foster personal growth, well-being, and a sense of purpose. It can have pitfalls from time to time. Being part of a community can feel overwhelming if commitments become too demanding or if differences in values create conflict. Whilst belonging is a basic human need, true belonging isn’t validated by having to change who you are.  

If you’re keen to explore more, please read and explore 3 Ways to Build Your Community

Two communities I’ve loved being part of in the last year are FemmeCon and Chief Meta Chicks. You may have seen me post about on LinkedIn. I feel like I’ve intersected with their founders at a time in my life when I can offer support to other women on redefining their way of being and working. I’ve also gotten to amplify my mentoring through CMC, and veer into panel hosting and interviewing by collaborating with FemmeCon’s events. So they feel reciprocal, values aligned, and it’s great to work with some clever women who also know how to have fun, veer off the well-trodden path, and be supportive of each other.

Thanks for the feedback from last month on the content schedule for 2025, some great ideas for topics around the books I recommend leaders, how to relinquish control, and help with managing up and influence – they’re now all entered into the program for 2025. Let me know via DM if there is a burning topic you’d like my perspective on, and I can add it in.

Experiment a little...   

Here are some reflection questions to reaffirm or redirect you to the importance and priority of community in your life.

• What does community mean to you?

• Where in your life do you value being part of a community?

• What communities are you already part of? Which would you keep and which would you relinquish?

• When situations or moments do you need, or lean on, community?

• When do you retract or pull back from community?

• How are you willing to contribute to community (be it one, or many of them)?

• Are you willing to step out of your comfort zone to generate community in your life?

1-on-1 coaching sessions I will have two 1-on-1 coaching spots opening up each month in 2025. Here are some of the questions to ponder if you’re thinking about engaging a coach. I’d love to chat with you about what coaching with me is like if you’re keen. Send me a DM with Discovery Call in the subject line we’ll set up a complimentary time to have a 30-minute Zoom call.  

Once again, thank you for being part of the be. community and I do hope my monthly letters to you are both practical – giving you something to act on and, open you to different possibilities and ways of thinking and feeling – and therefore ‘be’-ing!  

Until next month,

Leigh