I am fiercely proud of being a Canadian. I vote and pay my taxes. Hey, I even pay for an outdoor rink that I didn’t want. I live in a community, but have never really been a neighbourhood organizer, neither do I go out and march for a cause. So, am I alone -a deadbeat community member? Of course not. Over the years, I have depended on various communities to get me through the day.
So what makes community so special for me? One word, support.
For me this support has mostly come from a Community of Practice. I have found throughout the years that a community of practice has helped to build my sense of psychological safety. Within these communities, I could be vulnerable, ask questions, take risks or try something new. I could leave the anxiety zone and enter the learning zone without penalty. Communities of Practice have enabled me to clarify work instructions, better understand how to approach particular issues and find a safe space for experimentation. These are options that are not always available in the day-to-day grind or, at times, in the workplace at all.
There is something very comforting about trusting in your fellow community members.
With my current community of practice, I no longer have that constant nagging feeling that I am not good enough, that I have it wrong, that there is something else I should be doing. And the list goes on… There is something very comforting about trusting in your fellow community members. You know that you can reach out to them to say “Hey, what do you think about this?” or “Wow, I am overwhelmed and at a standstill on how to go forward”. It is an even better feeling to know that they will share their knowledge, experience and support without reservation. Just as I would for them.
Bye-Bye to the sinking feeling that the buck stops at me, that I have to have all of the answers. In a community, I am never truly alone.