210: Building a Community of Support
Building a Community of Support
with Michele Williams
Lately I have been thinking about the value in building a community of support for your business. We really are not in business alone. In this podcast I am going to share some of my community, how I chose it, how it supports me – and how you can do the same.
Topics Mentioned:
Community
Needs
Alignment
Listen to the Episode
Last month I attended the Custom Workroom Conference, hosted by Susan Woodcock and Rodger Walker, owners of Home Dec Gal and Custom Workroom Technical Center. I have been to this conference for many years, and it was refreshing to return to an in-person conference after the delays and cancellations of the pandemic.
One of the biggest conversations that kept taking place around the tables in Hampton, Va, was the support that everyone was giving and receiving. There were new business owners, seasoned business owners, and some coming out of an interest in even beginning a business.
This community conversation prompted me to consider my community. Is it what I need, how did I build it, where do I go from here? So, I am sharing a bit of my community with you.
In no particular order, here are some of the communities I am a part of:
Professional Organizations. These professional organizations are created and centered around common goals. I find that when I am part of them, the professionalism of my own business grows. Here are a few to consider: WCAA, ASID, IDS, IFDA. There are many others, and none of this is exhaustive. It is meant to give you a starting point to find the community that works for you.
Local Organizations. Local Organizations help me get in touch with what is happening in the community in which I live. These can be civic or professional in nature. I am a member of our local chamber of commerce and a local church. Both of these support me in different ways.
Conferences and Webinars. I speak to many groups throughout the year. Chapters of ASID, IDS, HPMKT, WCAA, IWCE, along with webinars for various summits, vendors or organizations. Each of these allows me to share and to learn from a group of people that I might not have had access to before. Sometimes I even go a little outside of my norm to mix it up to meet more people and broaden my horizons. This year I spoke at a Women’s Life Coach Summit and at the Happy Healthy Home Show – as well as many podcast interviews.
Online. Yes, I know being online can be overwhelming and take up a lot of time, but I also know that I have met some of the most kind, supportive and wonderful people in an online environment and when we actually meet in real life – something special occurs. This could include Facebook groups, groups like the Curtain and Soft Furnishings Resource Library, hosted by Ceil DiGulglielmo, or LinkedIn and Twitter groups.
Each of these is special and different from the other. Early on in my career, and probably life, I thought that I had to find the one best friend or the one resource, or the one online tool to solve my problems or meet my need. Instead, what I found was that each community and person I meet can fill a different role or need in my life or business.
Putting all the pressure on one element in your life to solve a multitude of challenges is a heavy load. Just like with friendship. I have a few extremely close friends, and a lot of great friends. I know exactly who to call if I want to go on a shopping spree or a hike. Another friend may get a call if I need a laugh, yet another if I need prayer or a spiritual focus to my conversation. I am sure it is similar with you.
The same holds true for community.
We probably need more than one to meet the current and future needs of our business.
When choosing a community to be involved with, here are a few things I check out:
Do their values align with mine? Yes, keep going. No, back away.
Are they moving in the same general direction as I am with my company, and do they see the same issues/challenges I do?
Are they a kind community? One that uplifts and does not tear down?
Is it a multi-generational or multi-experience community? I enjoy hearing and learning from different ideas and experiences. If everyone is just like me, I get bored.
Can I share in this community, and will they share with me? One way giving is not a great form of communication. One of the definitions of community is this: a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.
Do I feel safe enough to participate and invite others?
Am I willing to admit I am part of this community?
Is it a learning community – growing and addressing concerns when they arise?
What do you look for in a community? What types of community are you trying to build in your firm, your client group, and in the areas you have influence?
I aim to create communities that are safe for everyone. Communities that hear a wide range of voices and respond in kindness. Communities that welcome others and when the room gets too full, we get another room and build a bigger table. A community that does not hold back out of fear but shares out of love and a firm conviction that we are here to help each other. A community that celebrates the wins and the losses and learns from both. A community that is curious.
This is exactly the community of listeners I have on this podcast, that means YOU! This is the community I have built at Scarlet Thread Consulting in my team and in my clients. This is the community we are building at Metrique Solutions.
Doesn’t this sound like a community for you? I hope so. I hope you feel welcome. If you are interested in getting more involved in your business either my understanding it better or gaining a better grasp on your financials, reach out to us at Scarlet Thread Consulting and apply for a Discovery Call. We would love to share about our community to see if it aligns with yours. And at Metrique Solutions, we would be honored to help you visualize your numbers so you can make decisions about how to spend and invest the money you make.
Reach out – meet someone – do business together. Create your community carefully which will create a profitable environment to work. And we all know, profit doesn’t happen by accident.
Key Thoughts:
Early on in my career, and probably life, I thought that I had to find the one best friend or the one resource, or the one online tool to solve my problems or meet my need. Instead, what I found was that each community and person I meet can fill a different role or need in my life or business. Michele (4:28)
We probably need more than one to meet the current and future needs of our business. Michele (5:26)
I aim to create communities that are safe for everyone. Communities that hear a wide range of voices and respond in kindness. Communities that welcome others and when the room gets too full, we get another room and build a bigger table. Michele (7:14)
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Website: MetriqueSolutions.com
LinkedIn: Michele Williams