Making her community a better place to live
Individuals who feel encouraged to give input about an issue and who feel heard when they speak their minds are more likely to feel connected to their community. In contrast, dysfunctional communities tend to silence voices that diverge from those espoused by the majority or group leaders. At worst, they may harm their members by isolating them from diverse viewpoints or exerting undue control. Address member concerns with sensitivity Not only is it important to create a community that encourages the voicing of concerns, but it is also important to ensure that members feel their concerns are adequately addressed.
For community leaders, this means taking the time to listen carefully to any concerns raised and taking the necessary steps to assess risks and conduct further investigations when necessary. Throughout this process, community leaders need to act fairly, keep clear records, and maintain good communication with the member who initially raised the concern Whistleblowing Helpline, Set clear policies and obligations Strong and enduring communities typically set clear rules and expectations to guide the conduct of its members.
Doing so ensures that there is as little ambiguity as possible regarding what is and is not okay and will help minimize misunderstandings. Fairness With policies and expectations clearly in place, enforcement of these rules should be applied fairly. Therefore, a community that does not apply its rules fairly risks inadvertently driving away its members and producing feelings of disconnection. Positive communities embrace their culture by reminding members of the long way the community has come.
Promote interaction among members Positive communities work to foster a feeling of genuine connection among members by providing plenty of interaction opportunities. Doing this can motivate members to meet their obligations and work toward the established goals of the community. More specifically, crafting opportunities for members to experience emotional contagion in their interactions is key. Emotional contagion occurs when two or more people focus on a common activity and emotional experience, generating feelings of group solidarity Collins, Examples of activities that may induce emotional contagion feelings include protesting about a cause a community is passionate about or singing along to songs together at a karaoke night.
Elect leaders that stand by community values Individuals elected to leadership positions within positive communities should be fair and just in their focus. Their shared values should inform the decisions they make on behalf of the community. Where possible, leaders should be diverse and represent the full scope of views and identities present within the community, such as electing an equal balance of men and women to a board. Prioritize effective communication Communication is essential for any effective community.
Not only does this mean clearly communicating policies, rules, and expectations, but it also means keeping members up to date about ongoing projects, changes to policies, and upcoming events. Often, communities will set up their own customized channels to facilitate effective communication.
Examples of such channels include regular monthly meetings, circulated meeting minutes, digital social networking services, and newsletters. Make smart decisions Decisions made by positive and encouraging communities focus primarily on the promotion of its vision and aims. Members will inevitably disagree on some issues, but an effective community leader incorporates concerns from all sides of an issue to arrive at final decisions.
Let these quotes serve as reminders of the drivers and benefits of positive communities. As you read them, think about whether any resonate with you and the communities you are involved in. The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members. Coretta Scott King Every successful individual knows that his or her achievement depends on a community of persons working together.
Paul Ryan The power of community to create health is far greater than any physician, clinic or hospital. Mark Hyman Communication leads to community, that is, to understanding, intimacy and mutual valuing. Rollo May Empathy is the starting point for creating a community and taking action.
It is the impetus for creating change. At their core, positive communities generate this commitment because they are founded on a compelling and inspiring vision that members can identify with. Whether this vision is to eradicate world hunger or have the best Christmas lights display in the neighborhood, positive communities get members excited about interacting with one another and contributing. We covered ten factors that can help make a community successful, but did we miss any?
We hope you enjoyed reading this article. References Act-Belong-Commit. What is Act Belong Commit? When voice matters: A multilevel review of the impact of voice in organizations. Journal of Management, 41 5 , Butorova, H. The importance of: Fairness. Interaction ritual chains. Developing an organizational code of conduct.
Religious beliefs, faith community involvement and depression: A study of rural, low-income mothers. Greenberg, J. Voice and silence in organizations. Kaner, S. Lambe, J. Minority stress, community involvement, and mental health among bisexual women. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 4 2 , Mah, A.
Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology. MMO Populations. World of Warcraft. The organizational culture perspective. Perkins, L. A key risk factor for depression is social isolation. Working with pets and other animals has also been shown to improve mood and reduce stress and anxiety. Volunteering helps you stay physically healthy. Studies have found that those who volunteer have a lower mortality rate than those who do not, even when considering factors like the health of the participants.
Volunteering has also been shown to lessen symptoms of chronic pain or heart disease. I have limited mobility—can I still volunteer? Whether due to a lack of transportation, time constraints, a disability or other reasons, many people prefer to volunteer via phone or computer. There are many projects where you can help. If you think home-based volunteering might be right for you, contact organizations you like and ask what some of the possibilities might be.
Some volunteer organizations may require you to attend an initial training or periodical meetings. You also want to make sure that you are getting enough social contact, and that the organization is available to support you should you have questions. Volunteering: The happiness effect Helping others kindles happiness, as many studies have demonstrated. When researchers at the London School of Economics examined the relationship between volunteering and measures of happiness in a large group of American adults, they found the more people volunteered, the happier they were, according to a study in Social Science and Medicine.
Volunteering can provide career experience Volunteering offers you the chance to try out a new career without making a long-term commitment. It is also a great way to gain experience in a new field. Your volunteer work might also expose you to professional organizations or internships that could be of benefit to your career.
Volunteering can teach you valuable job skills Just because volunteer work is unpaid does not mean the skills you learn are basic. Many volunteering opportunities provide extensive training. Volunteering can also help you build upon skills you already have and use them to benefit the greater community. For instance, if you hold a successful sales position, you raise awareness for your favorite cause as a volunteer advocate, while further developing and improving your public speaking, communication, and marketing skills.
Bear in mind that the most valuable skills you can bring to any volunteer effort are compassion, an open mind, a willingness to do whatever is needed, and a positive attitude. Benefits of volunteering 4: Volunteering brings fun and fulfillment to your life Volunteering is a fun and easy way to explore your interests and passions.
Doing volunteer work you find meaningful and interesting can be a relaxing, energizing escape from your day-to-day routine of work, school, or family commitments.
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