Strategic Community Engagement: A Unseen Power For Business Leaders

Outside of work, we have formal and informal opportunities to engage in not-for-profits, government entities and committees, neighborhood associations, and other groups in our areas of interest that operate in our local communities (or remotely). Volunteering, board memberships, elected positions, and informal advisories or promotions are all examples of Community Sphere investments. As a result of demographic and economic trends, as well as the many outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic, communities are weaker than ever. And there’s an epidemic of loneliness to prove it.

For busy professionals and parents, who seem to get even more busy, adding a third realm of involvement can feel daunting. But properly structured, community activities can be a healthy and productive complement to our work. This is particularly true for professionals seeking more purpose or transition, whose current situation doesn’t provide the impact, learning, or fulfillment we seek. These “extracurricular activities” are also a great chance to expand our networks, build new skills, learn new industries, and have more of a positive influence that creates a meaningful life. So let’s consider some risks and opportunities of investing in our Community Sphere of Impact, to achieve more of the impact we seek.

Overcoming Challenges in Community Involvement

1. Get Beyond Your Comfort Zone

Susan McPherson, a social capital billionaire, stands as a beacon of successful community engagement. By diversifying her involvement, including mentoring young women from diverse backgrounds, she not only made meaningful contributions but also expanded her professional community. McPherson reflects, “Building bridges across differences enabled me to pay forward my privilege and connections, helping young women find jobs, internships, and career advice.”

2. Surpass Limits

Reflecting on personal comfort zones, business leaders share stories of breaking professional limits in community engagement. Oren Heiman’s journey provides insight, as he notes, “More than half and probably closer to 80 percent of our firm’s business ultimately came from my community relationships.” Heiman, like many other professionals, discovered new skills, built unexpected networks, and explored innovative ways of working beyond traditional roles.

3. Build Human Relationships

The 21st century’s individualism challenges the sense of community, prompting leaders to overcome orthodox views. By building bridges across racial, socioeconomic, and religious divides, business leaders contribute to the creation of bridging social capital. A testament to this is the story of Oren Heiman, who remarks, “Because we got to know each other as humans, aware of what drove us in our work and lives, it was natural for me to see a need that my firm could serve.”

Strategic Community Impact: A Blueprint for Business Leaders

Optimizing community engagement involves thoughtful problem-solving, finding ideal matches, and creating win-win-win scenarios. Aligning contributions with organizational values and addressing urgent societal issues forms a strategic approach for business leaders seeking a broader impact beyond their immediate spheres. The Community Sphere also offers great opportunities to contribute to those urgent human and/or environmental problems that you care about but aren’t equipped to address in your Job or Workplace Spheres.

Diverse options along the Spectrum of Impact beckon business leaders to contribute beyond traditional not-for-profits. Volunteering in government roles, serving on for-profit boards to increase the company’s positive impact, or buying and sourcing from social enterprises offers a chance to align their skills with critical issues, often more closely and at a larger scale than the not-for-profit space allows. Just ensure that in contributing your skills you are patient and open-minded in learning about the problems and best-known solutions from the people they affect.

In sum, strategically crafting Community Sphere investments becomes strategic for business leaders, unlocking untapped potential for personal and professional development. As leaders actively engage in communities, they position themselves as catalysts for positive change in a world that thrives on interconnectedness and collaboration.

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