Exploring what it means to belong

Well, it's finally time to dive into the world of LinkedIn newsletters. I've only been deliberating on the topic for about 6 months. But today is the time to be brave and commit to some writing goals. If you've just received an invite to follow this newsletter thank you for your curiosity and for clicking the link. You see, LinkedIn invites all of a user's connections when a newsletter publishes its first edition, so here we are. If reading newsletters isn't for you then I won't be offended if you choose to ignore the invitation. It's not my intention to bombard you with useless information. But if you're curious about the whole idea of belonging, connection and understanding the relationship between the two then please read on and select the Subscribe button. _________________________________________________________________________

I was recently asked the question as part of a facilitation exercise: are there certain themes that come up in your work, your reading and in conversations you have with others? It was at that moment that I realised that the common thread was belonging. It's a word that has always fascinated me. Almost 5 years ago I received a message from someone on the other side of the world to say that they had attended a LinkedInLocal event in their city and wanted to express their gratitude to me for starting the idea, as it was the first time they had felt like they had truly belonged in a very long time. Ever since then I've been exploring the idea of belonging in online groups and networks and in our local communities.

Belonging is a human emotion that stands the test of time, but the way we build connection and relationships is constantly evolving. It is vastly changing due to technology but it also changes as an individual with age. From childhood into adulthood, the way we experience and build connection and belonging differ greatly. How we show up in community is also changing, as society evolves, as we personally grow and as technology advances. These are just some of the themes I will endeavour to explore in this newsletter; the idea of belonging, how to recognise it, how to build it, and foster it in the communities in which we exist.

Brene Brown recently explained the difference between belonging and 'fitting in';

“We are wired to be a part of something bigger than us so deeply, that sometimes we will take fitting as a substitute, but actually fitting in is the greatest barrier to belonging because fitting in says, ‘Be like them to be accepted.’ Belonging says, ‘This is who I am. I hope we can make a connection."

Well said but I wonder, do connection and belonging always go together? They are extremely synonymous with one another, but does one always lead to another?

This synergy does also make me wonder, on LinkedIn we talk a lot about connection. It is a network that lets us accumulate 'connections'. 30,000 in fact, but we by no means will ever feel 'connected' to this number, just a small handful of them. Does online connection help us find a way to feel like we belong? In a sense yes it can, I have found some lifelong friends through a LinkedIn connection. But how does the larger network contribute to a sense of belonging? After over 2 years in isolation, how do we build belonging in real life when we may have forgotten how to connect with others?

After years of studying community building and digital connection, I'm also integrating some of these new ideas into my coaching work. These are digital body language, equity and diversity in the newsfeeds we build, our relationship with technology, the patterns of human connection, and social permaculture. So expect to see some more on these topics, and stick around if you're curious.

I also intend to intersperse some interviews in this new corner of the internet. Your stories, if you're game to share why, how and where you feel a sense of belonging. Or perhaps you'd like to pose an interesting question for readers to answer.

I'll also share some Magpie Moments in each newsletter. After all, isn't everyone sometimes distracted by shiny objects? These will be connected to the theme of the newsletter. Yes, I am well aware that magpies don't, in fact, collect shiny objects and it's a myth but according to the urban dictionary, the phrase still has meaning (and a hat tip to Jocelyn K Glei for the idea). I also like the continuation of the bird theme. A few years back I published an article on community building that pictured birds on a wire and a stream of DMs ensued. Birds feature a lot in my life so why not more in my work?

So until next time, I'll leave you with a few questions:

• How does your organisation build a sense of belonging?
• What creative or sporting pursuits bring you a sense of belonging?
• In which spaces over the past two years have you unexpectedly found a sense of belonging?

Talk soon, Anna

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Magpie Moment

See above for a description of what makes a Magpie Moment.

The most distracting thing worth a mention that I've found recently has been Erica Dhawan's book on Digital Body Language.

If you work in or manage remote teams, or have ever sent a message to someone saying "I know you're really busy but..." it's worth a read/listen.

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Hi there, I'm Anna. Thanks for checking out this newsletter. If we aren't yet acquainted I am a Community Educator, LinkedIn Trainer and the creator of the #LinkedInLocal movement. I am the co-author of How a Hashtag Changed the World: Stories, Lessons and Reflections of the #LinkedInLocal movement. Community building is my passion and skill. You can read more about me on my LinkedIn profile or website, or if you're interested in joining my upcoming masterclass on LinkedIn Content for Small Businesses you can sign up here.