What a space DOES vs. How a space FEELS

So many places are created to support people DOING a thing.

- Getting better at sales

- Working through a specific course or program

- Growing a business

Even corporate working spaces (departments) are created around doing a thing. We are here to do Marketing, Sales, Customer Success, Development. In fact, almost everything when it comes to space is based on what we're there to DO. So, when we're aligned on what we're there to do, why do people start to feel so mis-aligned?

ANSWER: Because rarely do people create an intention of what it FEELS like to show up and do that.

So let’s explore what really gets your people to participate in community…the FEELING of Belonging.

A Comparison

Two spaces that are created to DO the same thing can FEEL totally different when you're there. The other day I was chatting with a connection about Toastmasters Clubs. The one I was in during University (of which I was always on the Executive Team) felt so welcoming. It was a place where inexperienced people could build skills in a safe environment that was all about people winning. When I graduated, I thought ALL Toastmaster spaces felt like that. But when I went looking for more experienced clubs that could help me grow more, none of them FELT comfortable. So, I never joined another one.

I've seen this really clearly in networking events as well. SO many networking events are all about the pitch. Each person gets two minutes to say their piece, and everyone is encouraged to connect afterwards. But the environment while IN the meeting isn't built around CREATING connection, it's about DOING connection; like it's a task on the list of things to do today.

One of the things we do very differently at the Your Business Peeps Community is focus on how it FEELS for people coming in. Most people are intimidated in the pitch-style of networking event, and instead of focusing on DOING connection, we focus on CREATING connection. In the meeting. In real time. So people come out of it FEELING connected.

Creating Belonging

The definition of belonging from Oxford Languages is, “an affinity for a place or situation”. So making a space AVAILABLE isn’t the most important thing. And being in the space and DOING a thing isn’t the most important either. It’s about knowing how you’re going to show up to CREATE affinity.

That’s right. YOU are the creator.

Many people think that, “If you build it, they will come”. And while I love that quote from the Field of Dreams, when it comes to creating community, it really doesn’t work that way. We spend most of our time worrying about the tech features of a platform and forget to actively CREATE affinity with our members.

One hugely important focus here? LISTENING.

Not only listening to your “ideal customer”. But listening to:

- Yourself (how does the community reflect you? how are your values coming to play)

- Your current members (what do they love about the community? what makes them feel like they belong there?)

- Everyone else you talk to (when you get curious enough, you can find insight in almost any conversation)

When you know the feeling you want to create, and you can learn to hear who needs to feel that feeling, that’s turns from “selling” your community into “sharing” your community with the people who need it.

Bringing it all together

Now of course, this doesn't mean that you shouldn't have a DOING goal in the spaces you're creating. After all, you can't run a marketing department if people don't know that we're here to execute a marketing plan. BUT, stopping there is short-sighted when it comes to your human experience. There are infinite ways to incorporate how you want it to FEEL, and the key is to focus on what that experience is. You can ask yourself questions like:

- How do we want the environment to feel?

- How can I create more safety for people in this space?

- How does belonging contribute to accomplishing the goals?

There's not one right answer. But there IS a right answer for YOUR space, with YOUR people, with YOUR goals.

So, I implore you. Don't just stop at knowing what your space DOES. Look at how people participate. Look at how YOU participate. Look at the experience you're creating. And make sure you're doing THAT intentionally. Because THAT'S what leads to turning any old space into an engaged community 💖

If you’re looking to create a community, or refresh your community to create affinity amongst your members, let’s chat.