The Value of Professional Community

Each week, I spend time with people who request meetings. Sometimes people want to sell me something, sometimes people want to use my consulting services, and other times people just want to connect.

What I can't stress enough is the importance and value of just taking a meeting.

Over the past year, I have made invaluable connections. The only thing that changed on my part? I hardly ever decline a meeting that I think can make a meaningful connection. Having shared experiences and professional connections is valuable. Meeting with others so frequently has helped me expand my knowledge, grow my network, and even take on new and lasting perspectives that make me a stronger professional overall. I hope that I, too, can contribute to other's professional lives with ideas, valuable contributions, and solutions to tough problems.

Professional community isn’t about collecting contacts or positioning yourself for what’s next. It’s about maintaining relationships that allow for honest conversation and shared understanding over time. I’ve noticed that the professionals who grow in the most meaningful ways are the ones who stay engaged. They take the call. They reach out. They check in. They are willing to learn from others and willing to offer what they’ve learned in return.

This kind of connection is simple, but it requires intention.

In a field built on people caring for people, building community with one another is one of the most valuable things we can do

How are you building your community? What's the last great thing you learned from a new connection?