What is workplace community?

‘Workplace’ and ‘community’ are words that don’t often get associated. A workplace is not very often referred to as a community, and a community is rarely referred to as a workplace. I have often been told not to use the term ‘community’ in the corporate world, yet I believe that community in the workplace is very important. So what do I mean by workplace community.

In my experience it’s this: if you are on communication level that is open and frank with your colleagues at work then you have an important element of a workplace community. Being able to openly talk and discuss your experiences, thoughts (and dare I say ’feelings’) about the issues and things that are of concern and importance to you, is a rare thing at work. Colleagues are mostly focussed on doing their job “and so should you so buckle up and fly straight”. That’s the usual message I have almost always received from most workplaces. Ignore your inner thoughts, responses, reactions and inspirations. That workhouse ethic has served us well up to now but the world is changing and with it are the expectations of what a workplace should be.

If you can laugh with your colleagues and at yourself then you have an important element of a workplace community. Laughter is often frowned upon in the workplace. It occurs in small quiet bursts, “but don’t let the boss catch you or you may have to explain yourself”. Laughter is considered unproductive and inefficient. Yet there is a growing number of books and research that attest to the contrary. The authors of the recently released book "The Levity Effect" (Adrian Gostick and Scott Christopher) say that if you lighten up the workplace you'll be "laughing all the way to the bank". They explain that fun at work "can provide a competitive advantage, help attract and retain employees, and provide the spark to jumpstart creativity." Laughter can create bonds where nothing else will work.

If you know your colleagues beyond their name rank and serial number, if you know what inspires them, what is inspiring about them, their strengths and weaknesses then you have an important element of a workplace community. If you know what they hold to be important and dear in life. If you know their frustrations and disappointments. If you know something of their existence outside work, then you have an important element of a workplace community.

At anthill we seek to develop and enhance workplace community through creative exercises and story sharing forums.

It is only by having the opportunity to laugh together, to drop the workplace role and simply enjoy the freedom of interacting in a creative and dare I say playful environment that silent barriers can be broken and communication channels opened. We have experience in getting people to laugh and interact with each other in a novel way.

Then through our story sharing forums we create the space for hearing the stories of inspiration, learning, experience and whatever else is needed to open the doors of communication and deepen the sense of community mindedness in your workplace.

The workplace where you can laugh regularly and loudly, where you can take creative risks without fear of being judged a failure, where you are known as a person, where you can speak freely, where you know others and can talk openly, that is the workplace where you will give more of yourself, where you will stay longer and perform better.

Want to know more.
Find us at www.anthillckd.com.au
or send an email to max@anthillckd.com.au
or joh@anthillckd.com.au

Welcome to the first blog from Anthill culture and knowledge development. Anthillckd www.anthillckd.com.au had its inspiration in 2006 when Johanna and myself got together and decided to create something unique. We had a vast collective storebank of knowledge and experience in storytelling, performance, creativity, communication and relationships. So we created a forum, a platform that uses the experience of individuals, creative exercises and storytelling techniques in the areas of teamwork development, workplace community, knowledge management and soft skill development. We develop working groups of people and individuals who are able to better utilize their own knowledge/experience storebanks as well as those of their colleagues, who are able to communicate their uniqueness and take advantage of difference, who can be more creative and communicate better. We help people to enhance their listening skills, to become better communicators, to laugh; play; work; talk and cooperate better. We have a range of programs from half day ‘creative burst’ workshops to programs designed to your needs, using our creative and storytelling platform. Want to know more. Find us at www.anthillckd.com.au or send an email to max@anthillckd.com.au or joh@anthillckd.com.au