Since childhood, the desire to be part of a community, to find that sense of belonging and experience harmony and balance, has been a fundamental human need. We search for this feeling in various places - with our family, friends, school, and beyond.
I didn't truly appreciate the significance of this until I embarked on my career in public relations. When I first joined the team at Volteo Digital, I was tasked with understanding what it takes to build a strong community. It was a challenge initially, but as my aspiration to be a leader and friend within the company grew, I stumbled upon Charles H. Vogl's compelling book The Art of Community. This book made me reflect deeply on our membership community and its profound implications.
What I've learned has shown me the value of meaningful connections. These connections transform our lives by allowing us to share ideas, engage in activities, and celebrate successes.
The Power of Connection
Being part of a community offers profound benefits, emotionally and practically, both personally and professionally. The connections and sense of belonging generate a positive state of mind, leading to increased happiness and a robust support network, crucial for professional growth and success.
The Harvard Study of Adult Development, conducted over several decades, revealed that those who embrace community and foster strong relationships tend to lead longer, happier lives. The fusion of professional success with happiness and contentment is a powerful combination.
However, building communities has become more challenging in recent years than it was a few decades ago. In the past, communities often revolved around businesses, which provided a literal community where people lived and worked. Working together in these company towns further solidified bonds that usually lasted for generations.
Navigating Community Building
With the rise of remote work and digital-first environments, we no longer share that physical proximity with co-workers or the same workspace. Fewer face-to-face interactions and physical proximity traditionally make it harder to form a sense of community.
1. Leverage Digital Tools: Choose effective digital workplace platforms to create a sense of community for remote employees. Additionally, intelligent communication strategies should be implemented, and an inclusive and equitable digital environment should be cultivated to boost team engagement.
2. Engagement Initiatives: Organize virtual get-togethers for your team to do something out of the ordinary. These routines give employees something to look forward to beyond work. Recognize and highlight the extra effort of an employee or team, share relevant articles or videos, and conduct fun surveys.
3. Virtual Meetings: Virtual meetings provide opportunities to discuss work and life. Whether they're casual catchups, coffee chats, or happy hours, they help bridge the gap between remote colleagues.
4. Centralized Information Hub: Ensure easy access to relevant resources and vital information through an innovative digital workplace solution. Create a central location where employees can find documents, training materials, and forms.
5. Communication: Keep everyone informed about what's happening in the community. A newsletter or monthly meetings can help people feel included. Establish rituals that foster positive energy and boost engagement, regardless of your unit's style or personality type.
We must invest time, thought, and effort into creating a positively oriented online community of professionals where peers support one another. Over the coming months and years, this community should be continually expanded and developed.
In conclusion, being part of a vibrant professional community can help you navigate the challenges ahead and thrive in your career. As Helen Keller aptly said, "Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sofia Lizarraga
As a seasoned public relations professional, Sofia excels at fostering meaningful connections and creating collaborative environments at Volteo Digital. Her deep commitment to nurturing team unity and belonging is evident in her planning and coordination efforts, driving brand visibility, loyalty, and professional growth. She is always looking for new challenges within our team, always willing to help overcome them, making her a a dynamic leader and go-to person for everyone at Volteo Digital.

Insights from Volteo Digital
© Copyright 2022 Volteo Digital. All rights reserved. ServiceNow, the ServiceNow logo, Now, and other ServiceNow marks are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of ServiceNow, Inc., in the United States ServiceNow www.servicenow.com 2225 Lawson Lane Santa Clara, CA 95054 and/or other countries. Other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated