John Graham’s Post

Ever felt like you're on the outside looking in, wishing you could be part of a community but too daunted to take that first step? If you're nodding your head, this post is for you. 👇 As a Community Manager, I've witnessed firsthand the immense power of human connection and how it transcends our job titles, accolades, and perceived influence. Beneath these surface-level identifiers, we're all humans first. Insecurity can sneak in, forming a barrier to this genuine connection. We've all had moments of self-doubt, comparing ourselves to others, thinking they've got more experience, they're more successful, they fit in more than we do. This mindset skews our perception, causing us to view others not as fellow humans but through the lens of their achievements. This shift can lead us to feel isolated and disconnected. But here's the reality: creating a safe and inclusive community means acknowledging that we're all human, we're all on unique journeys, and we all muck up at times. Regardless of background or expertise, everyone started somewhere. Everyone has asked those 'daft' questions, only to find someone kind enough to guide them. Feeling daunted when stepping into a new community is completely normal. The secret, however, lies in building connections on a human level, not merely as professionals, but as individuals on personal journeys. So, how do we cultivate this vital human connection within our communities? We can: 🗣️ Keep conversations open and supportive. ❓ Encourage questions and the sharing of experiences. 🎉 Celebrate progress, no matter how small. 🤝 Most importantly, constantly remind each other of our shared humanity. Remember, we're all on this journey together. Let's lift each other up and transform our communities into safe spaces for growth, learning, and connection. Jump in, the water's fine! #CommunityManagement #HumanConnection #OvercomingInsecurity #CommunityEngagement #Agencynomics

Rethinking "Comfort Zones" Are they Cozy Couches or Career Coffins?   Let's debunk some common career myths... ❌ Stick only to what you know - Comfortable? Yes. Growth-inducing? No ❌ Waiting for opportunities to knock - Spoiler: They won’t. ❌ Playing the lone wolf - Teamwork makes the dream work, remember?   Now let's flip the script   Here's how I turned my career from 'meh' to 'wow': ✅ Embracing new challenges like a boss ✅ Creating opportunities instead of waiting for them - be the go-getter! ✅ Collaborating and expanding my network - It's about building bridges, not just crossing them! ✅ Committing to ongoing personal and professional development - The best investment you'll ever make   What's your take? Are you ready to push beyond your comfort zone this year? Or perhaps you've already made strides towards that ‘wow’ factor?   💬 Share your experiences or inspire others by commenting on this post - let's foster a community of growth-minded professionals!

Teamwork doesn’t just contribute to achieving external goals; it also nourishes our emotional, social, and cognitive needs, forging deeper connections and enriching our human experience. Humans are wired for connection; it’s in our DNA! 🧬 • Social media promised to bridge distances… but sadly it’s left us more isolated. 🌉 • Real connections thrive on empathy, understanding, and presence – not just likes and shares. 💬 Maybe now’s a great time we reevaluate and reshape our virtual world to reflect our human values. 🌎 What are your ideas for a more connected and compassionate online community? How can we create a world that understands that our best human nature is nourished by connecting and collaborating? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Have a happy day!

I'm excited about expanding my professional network and would love to connect with you this holiday season! Let's share in mutual learning, collaboration, and community building. If this resonates with you, please send a brief, personalized message about your professional interests when connecting. Your insights matter, and what better time than the holidays to forge meaningful connections? Looking forward to connecting with you. 🦃 #ProfessionalDevelopment #NetworkingOpportunity #CareerGrowth #NewConnections #CollaborateForSuccess #NescoResource #HiringNow"

This blows my mind: A social impact leader shared that she recently posted a new role on LinkedIn. In one week she received 25K impressions, 1,500+ applications ( 🤯 ), and 200+ connection requests. A couple of thoughts. 1. It's hard out there for candidates. But it's also hard for hiring managers. There are SO many talented, passionate changemakers who want nothing more than to join a company that has found (or is in the process of finding) the sweet spot between profit and impact. But assessing 1,500 applications just to find one good fit isn't easy and takes time. Not to mention it's probably overwhelming even if you're using tech to surface the most relevant candidates. All this to say, candidates be patient with hiring managers/companies (I know the waiting game is excruciatingly painful). Hiring managers be patient and understanding with candidates. 2. 1,500 people applied for the role, which means 1,499 will not get it and be looking for another opportunity. Whether it's your company doing the hiring or not, if you see job openings for corporate social impact professionals, please share these opportunities with those in your network that would be a good fit. Feel free to tag me in the future and I'll share the opportunities with the Social Impact World community!

Due to various life circumstances today was the only day I stepped foot on my employment premises. But I was encouraged by several coworkers checking in on me yesterday after I had been out all week. Receiving messages like "are you OK" made me feel included in the community. Do your coworkers check in on you? If not, imagine a workplace where that happened. How would it shift the culture? How would it shift your attitude? What can you do to shift your culture? Who can you check in on? Find your tribe. Find your community. Don't do life alone. Build a life with others. Strive towards a common goal in community. #workplaceculture #community #findyourvillage

Frequency builds familiarity Whether it’s with leaders or colleagues at work, making a post on LinkedIn (like this one), or reconnecting with old friends, there is an initial hesitation or fear in putting yourself out there and being vulnerable. You have to ignore that, give it a shot, and work to build a community. I’ve seen this first hand with designers, and have worked to foster opportunities for them to come together. I too have struggled to fight against that inertia, but know now through my own experience the value it delivers. It won’t be easy at first, but will become so through repetition. Building those connections now, and keeping them going will make the moments where you need them (for a conversation, collaboration, or a referral) will make it all worth it. #strongertogether #frequencybuildsfamiliarity #designcommunity

Community professionals often say… “People won’t remember what you did, but they will remember how you made them feel.” A #Community program at a company must be a human-first function. Therefore, it’s critical to build a culture of your Community. Here are things I’ve seen, enjoyed, & done to build the culture of a Community: — A community had an anonymous “Vent It Out” channel where people could let out their feelings — Utilization of custom Slack reactions — Weekly rituals — Celebration space for people to share their wins — no matter how big or small — Having a Banter or Random space for people to share funny memes, talk about random things, etc. ➡️ Great place to ask members about funny, weird, lackluster, etc. experiences — Having pronoun, name pronunciation, name recording, etc. fields open on member profiles — Auto-messages for reminding folks about the rules of the Community on a cadence that’s right for your space — Automating notes or setting restrictions to not use gendered words (e.g., “Guys”) and instead use (e.g., “All,” etc.) How’re you building the culture of your Community for the people in it? #CommunityManager #CommunityManagement

Do you feel stuck or unmotivated in your career journey? 🤔 😥 Here is a tip to help you stay inspired and engaged 💥 JOIN A COMMUNITY 💥 In today's fast-paced and interconnected world, the value of being part of a supportive and engaged community cannot be overstated. Whether you're an enthusiast or an experienced expert, being part of a community can be a game-changer for your career. Here's why: 👉 In communities you get to share knowledge and learning opportunities 👉 You get to network and collaborate with people that have similar interests 👉 Gain support and encouragement from people within the community 👉 Easy access to solutions and problems you encounter in your career journey 👉 Mentorship and Leadership from professionals in your field!! So, find a community that resonates with your goals, and unlock the limitless potential that comes with being part of something greater! 😊 If you’re a data enthusiast in search of a community to join, check the comment for recommendations 😉 #data #community

People don’t get excited about joining a community. They get excited about joining a movement. If you really want to drive engagement, help people be a part of something bigger than themselves. Create a powerful mission statement. Put what you stand for into words and and weave it through everything - your content, your events, even how you speak. Your mission doesn't have to be earth-shaking. But it does have to be a strong belief that resonates with your ideal members and stirs them to change. I am striving for a world where no one struggles alone. My mission is to bring people together around shared interests so they can learn, grow, and inspire one another through deep connections, empathy, and belonging. What’s yours? Share it in the comments!