Workplace, Wellness, Sense of Community, Belonging, Family, Engagement

     Recently, someone on CBC radio commented on how the sense of community has been lost from our current school system, and how this loss has had a corrosive impact on individuals and society. Effective leadership includes cultivating a genuine sense of community or family in the workplace, all individuals pulling together - esprit de corps. A deep sense of belonging and engagement is closely linked with quality of life - for both individuals, and naturally, for these same individuals grouped together in the organization.

     "Sense of community is ... a feeling that members have of belonging and being important to each other, and a shared faith that members’ needs will be met by the commitment to be together. These dynamics are incorporated in the sense of community model ... (with) four dimensions: 
• Membership which creates feelings of emotional safety with a sense of belonging to, and identification with, the larger collective; 
• Influence which characterizes the reciprocal relationship of the individual and the community in terms of their ability to affect change in each other;  
• Fulfillment of Needs, which enables individuals to get their needs met through cooperative behavior within the community, thereby reinforcing the individuals’ appropriate community behavior; and  
• Emotional Connection which is the emotional support stemming from the struggles and successes of community living. 
     This model accommodates 'community' conceptualized as a geographical territory (neighborhood), and as a relational network (work, political, or recreational interests)."

       Chipuer HM, Pretty GMH. A review of the Sense of Community Index: Current uses, factor structure, reliability, and further development. Journal of Community Psychology 1999; 27(6): 643-658. 

     "Esprit de corps refers to the morale of a group. From French: Esprit (spirit) de (of) corps (body). 'Body' is metaphorical in that it refers to a group of people that are so unified as to be like a single body. Refers to solidarity, pride, devotion and honor of each member with respect to the group." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esprit_de_corps_%28disambiguation%29

See also: http://www.johnlovas.com/2013/01/dynamics-of-mindfulness-practice-groups.html 
and
http://healthyhealers.blogspot.ca/2012/12/health-harmony-meaning-navajo-wisdom.html 
and  
http://www.johnlovas.com/2013/10/what-really-matters-in-community.html