
Community means different things to different people. But never underestimate its power. Find the right community for you and benefit from professional and personal social support that will increase your resilience, give you a team of cheer leaders and also valuable advice.
Never underestimate the power of community. When we work together and support each other we are, without doubt, stronger. Community means different things to different people and they come in all shapes and sizes. I value the community I have for several reasons, including collaboration opportunities, relationship building and support through networking. For a small business, it can be a lifeline in terms of growth and support.
When you stop and think about all that’s made available to us simply through our local community, it’s quite astounding.
Social support
Community can provide a sense of belonging and support. It allows us to connect with others who share similar interests, backgrounds or experiences. Surrounding yourself with a supportive community can provide emotional support, encouragement and a sense of security.
Collaboration and networking
Communities often bring together people with diverse skills, expertise and knowledge. This creates opportunities for collaboration and networking, allowing us to learn from each other, share ideas and work together on projects or common goals. Collaborative efforts within a community can lead to innovation, growth and success. Imagine the good this does for small, local charities!
Personal growth
Engaging with a community can boost your personal growth and development. Interacting with those with different perspectives and experiences can broaden our horizons, challenge assumptions and encourage intellectual and emotional growth.
Empowerment
Communities often serve as platforms for collective action and support. When we come together around shared goals, voices get louder and it becomes easier to push for change. Communities can empower individuals to challenge social, political or environmental issues.
Well-being and resilience
Being part of a community provides opportunities for social interaction, reduces feelings of isolation and promotes mental and emotional well-being. It can also provide a support system during challenging times, helping individuals navigate through difficult situations.
How can you use the power of your community?
Finding your community and knowing how to utilise it can be challenging. Like all groups, whether in business or your personal life, you will fit in better with people you have shared interests with, people you actually like.
If you are a small business owner and looking for guidance in how to grow or develop your business, and how to use your community to do this, speak to me. I can help with business coaching and your personal direction – your business and life can rarely be separated so we need to look at your life as a whole.
If you are feeling stuck or overwhelmed with all that owning a business can bring, talking will relieve the pressure. There’s absolutely no shame in asking for help. Mental health issues, unfortunately, still carry a stigma though they are becoming more openly discussed and addressed with workplace mental health policies and more transparent reporting. Take the first step to ask for help and it becomes easier after that.
And coaching genuinely works! So many clients have reported how much better they feel after a coaching session or chat. There’s no agenda (unless you want to set one) as talking freely is so beneficial, and leads you places you possibly hadn’t planned. You can speak to your coach without judgement and use them as a sounding board, an impartial set of ears who wants to let you find your own way through with some steering and encouragement.
Regardless of who I coach and why, by the end of each session I always see a change in body language to one of relief, more relaxed and smiling. There has to be an outlet for the pressure before it gets to the point of explosion. Talking to a coach is different to talking to your friends because they will say what they think you want to hear. A good coach is impartial. This is especially useful for people who think they haven’t got anyone they can talk to without fear or burdening them.
We all know how important it is to look after yourself first otherwise you’re no good to others – and that applies whether you’re running a business or managing relationships.
Contact me to find out more and we can arrange a free 30-minute session.
Amanda McCarthy is the owner of am:lifecoaching. You can contact her on www.amlifecoaching.co.uk.