Unless you've been living under a rock, you've been inundated with coverage of Michael Jackson's death and memorial service. I've been particularly struck by the outpouring of emotions and comments, particularly on the Internet. During the memorial service, for example, dozens of comments per minute were being posted from a Facebook feed.

 

So what?

 

I believe that people are hungry for the opportunity to connect as a community. The reaction to this gigantic media extravaganza that surrounded Michael Jackson's death is something that we can study for our businesses.

 

There are many ways you can create community. You can build it around your employees, a particular team project, or a company sponsored charitable initiative. You can form a softball team that plays in a local intramural league. You can arrange for summer Friday brown bag lunches. Use your imagination, and engage your people to come up with ideas that work specifically for your firm.

 

You can also approach it from the client perspective. Organize a client appreciation event, where you bring your clients together for something special for them, not a sales pitch. Or, invite several clients to lunch or breakfast, and ask each of them to bring someone. That creates an interesting and unknown mix of businesses and personalities that can begin new conversations and connections.

 

The key to doing any of these things is to make sure you have consistency and continuity. A one-off activity or event can be effective, but doesn't sustain community. Do something at a regular interval, as appropriate: weekly, monthly, quarterly. That regularity will result in the community.

 

Let me know what you're doing.

 

Have a great week!

 

 

Copyright 2009 Lisa M. Aldisert

 

 

---

 

 

Our goal is to provide you with timely tips so that you can more effectively run your business. We know you have a ton of mail in your inbox, so we're committed to brevity and practicality.

 

 

Being a gracious winner is as important as being a gracious loser. When some sort of choice is made within a group, be acutely aware of this dynamic.

 

 

Feeling overwhelmed? Make a list of ten things that refresh and reinvigorate you, and keep it handy to remind you when you feel frazzled. 

 

 

There seems to be a resurgence of perks as a way to build morale after layoffs during these challenging times. 

 

 

 

 

Julia E. Rosenbaum