Individuals make a community

Recently, I came across a question asking for people’s number one tip on building a community.

For me, the answer is easy. I said something similar to, “Never underestimate the power of one-on-one conversations.”

For any professional skill, it can be tempting to feel like you need to have all the answers. Community building, however, extends beyond the “professional”; it’s relationship-building. For me, the purpose of community is, quite simply, to meaningfully connect with others.

A practice that I’ve incorporated into my work – and life – is simply setting reminders to check in with others, whether it’s a spontaneous connection via Slack or an intentional reminder in my daily calendar. These one-on-one conversations are often the most enlightening part of my work, and also end up being the most joyful parts of my day.