What I have learned about building communities in the workplace – and why success depends on it

If you met me when I started my career three decades ago, a lot has changed since then. As a woman just entering the corporate world, I wanted to show that I was smart, competent, fierce and decisive. While I had learnt the importance of operating as a team during my many years playing soccer, I also started to experience the corporate expectations of “self-advocate and stand out” to drive my career. While these two skills are important in a career, and even in life, it cannot be at the cost of the benefit of the team. It was very common for companies, striving to establish a high-performing culture, to rank colleagues’ performance and potential, driving internal competition and focusing on individual accomplishments rather than those of the team. Professionally, I grew up thinking that success was a zero-sum game with clear winners and losers, and that one should rise above any and all competition. Looking back, it’s clear that I was letting my brain take the lead, and my heart fall far behind.

With time, I felt the need to connect more deeply with who I am and what I stand for. I also had the fortune to work with extraordinary leaders whose superpower was to show humanity and bring people together. I realized that hiding what was in my heart was not only making me unhappy, but it could prevent me from being the kind of leader I wanted to be. Progressively, I began to embrace my whole self: I am driven, rational, firm and can make tough decisions, while at the same time I am caring, compassionate, kind and supportive. Some people call it blended leadership, but in essence, I do my very best every day to lead with my heart, execute with my brain and express myself authentically. In addition to making my purpose and the value I offer more clear, this blended approach taught me a lesson that has been central to my own professional development:

The most successful leaders and corporations are those that move from competing, to creating and connecting with others.

For years, the traditional corporate world held tight to Darwin’s “survival of the fittest” theory; we hear countless stories of internal strife and toxic workplaces among companies of all sizes. Thankfully, we are starting to see more companies evolving their culture to foster a sense of community, both internally and externally. I am convinced that the most successful business leaders are those who actively look for ways to engage authentically with those inside and outside their organizations, helping colleagues rally around a common purpose and contribute to making a bigger impact in the world. Similarly, the most successful colleagues are the ones who embrace community in the workplace.

These are the “community builders,” and they are helping shape the future direction of corporate leadership for the better.

Honoring the community-builders

Growing up in Spain, I remember being the only girl in my school who played soccer, a “boy’s sport.” It was an isolating experience, but still I dreamed about playing competitively, a dream that came true years later. When I went to university to pursue science, it was a male-dominated field, which became even more clear as I entered an industry where very few women held leadership roles.

The corporate world, sports, politics – these and other fields historically have been represented by men, and still are in many places. Lack of diversity stands in the way of an open culture, limits creativity and increases judgement of what is different. Now, this is not to say that men don’t build communities, but rather that, traditionally, women have thrived in the role of community-building.

(As a personal sidenote, I’ve certainly learned from many remarkable women in my life who are natural communicators, collaborators and nurturers. Even though Women’s History Month is coming to an end, I will continue to honor those who helped me grow into a community-builder.)

When we all become community-builders, as women have done for generations, our work becomes more collaborative, fulfilling and purpose-driven. We feel more secure in our roles, and inspire colleagues and team members to support one another and fulfill each other’s needs. That’s the magic of connection, and I firmly believe that a community-first approach to leadership can revolutionize industries and our world.

The business case for building communities at work

For years, many viewed community-building as a “soft skill” as opposed to a core responsibility. However, when employees feel they are part of a community, they feel valued and more willing to contribute ideas. There is data to back this phenomenon up, with research showing that those who work and live in strong communities release more “feel-good” hormones like dopamine, endorphins, serotonin and oxytocin. These hormones influence how motivated we are, how much we trust others, and can greatly improve our well-being and overall mood.[i]

When we feel motivated by our purpose and can trust our peers and leaders, we naturally become more creative, adapt a more solutions-oriented mindset and take more calculated risks. We also are more driven to help others within our communities be successful, which I believe is one of the most important aspects of strong leadership. So instead of a zero-sum game, where everyone is fighting for their own piece of the pie, our goal as leaders should be to expand the pie, if not find a new pie entirely!

Creating community from the inside-out?

Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to help build (or at least be part of) communities, and have witnessed the extraordinary results we achieve when we truly work together. Recently, when I joined Zoetis in July 2023, I was energized by the strong connections both inside and outside the company. From my first days, I engaged with purpose-driven, creative colleagues who proactively supported each other and celebrated their contributions to making a difference for customers, pet owners, livestock producers and each other.?

I am thrilled to be part of this team, and I am deeply grateful for the community-builders who, over the years, have helped me grow into the leader I am today.

With time, it’s been made so clear to me that everything around us – from nature to the neighborhood – is all about community. The workplace should be no different.

[i] Ghosh SK. Happy Hormones at Work: Applying the Learnings from Neuroscience to Improve and Sustain Workplace Happiness. NJRD Network Journal. 2018;11(4):83-92.