You Need an Excellent Community Now.

Today's focus:

Autonomy is not Isolation. Technology pushes us to believe that they are similar.

Why You Need Community?

• Loneliness and Social Isolation are Risk Factors for Mortality. Social isolation, loneliness, and even living alone can increase your possibility of death by at least 26% for people younger than 65.  See this paper.
• Gender, length of time, and region of the world didn't matter in that same study.
• Connection is the Opposite of Addiction, according to this.

What is Community for Smart, Ambitious Women?

• Your community is your social group.
• Community of excellence comes when you make time for it. 
• Set your standards
• Make time for that
• Encourage, empower & uplift your community

 

 

"Networks are only as valuable as those they bring together and what happens as a result. The innate value of a network and what you get out of it can make or break your chances for development." Athena Vongalis-Macrow, Harvard Business Review

 

Ask Yourself These 4 Questions When Evaluating a Network Group

1. Who is in the network?

You want valuable members who are: part pack rat, part librarian, and part Good Samaritan. 

"The pack rat brought a range of resources that could be accessed and used to create new and fresh ideas. The librarian brought information and knowledge. And the Good Samaritan had the attitude and practice of sharing. A network built on relationships between talented, knowledgeable, and supportive members is worth joining. If that rel ationship doesn’t exist, you may need to look elsewhere." HBR

2. How well does the network connect?

Consider the frequency and quality of communication.  

Find out if it's an invitation-only group.

Ask about mentoring options within the group.

3. Is there functional communication?

"Care and concern create network value because they are resources that help build trust and support. Ask yourself, does your network offer support that enables you to overcome difficulties?"

4. Who are you talking to?

Find out if the network gives you access to more influential people. 

 

How to Create a Support Network

1. Join a group.   

2. Create a group. 

3. Volunteer in the community.

4. Start an online group.

  

The many resources for today's episode:

• Why Women's Networking Groups Fail, Forbes
• This post from Brie Gowen
• Why does being lonely make you ill? BBC
• Assess the Value of Your Networks, HBR
• How Extreme Isolation Warps Minds  BBC
• Caring and the generation of social capital: Tow models for a positive relationship. Johansson, Leonard and Noonan.
• Connection is the Opposite of Addiction, by UpLift.
• Mark Slemons, Leader to Leader podcast.

Let’s connect!

Want to join the group of smart, ambitious women working together? Want to be part of the Team?  Join here.

 

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