Greetings and Happy Midweek!
I have been thinking quite a bit lately about ‘community’. We’ve explored facets of this broad topic in previous Connects (*). I teased this week’s focus a year ago by noting the traditional community ‘insider-outsider’ designation can get complicated when moving across cultures. Let’s dive into some of that complexity, which brings to bear many aspects of the 3D Dynamics perspectives and PROACTive strategies in our Global SKILLs training modules.
Generally, being an insider, is an advantage because for example you are aware of how to behave and you are included and appreciated as part of ‘what’s happening’. Being an ‘outsider’ removes these advantage points - unless, over time, insiders make an effort to help you gain the skills and consideration intrinsic to insider status. Living and working cross-culturally offers constant insider-outsider moments, right?!
Let’s try another perspective though - as we allow today’s theme, “It takes a community…” to lead us into and hopefully through at least part of this insider-outsider maze. Let’s imagine everyone (insiders and outsiders alike) in any given cultural context were to decide to consider everyone else at that point in time, in that particular space, as already part of one shared community. This way, whatever each person brings to the table is validated and appreciated as their contribution. Who they are, what they know and do then becomes part of what ‘it takes’ for this community - to be integrated, to move forward, to serve and fulfill mutually agreed upon goals.
Note that ‘it takes a community…’ is only the first part of what lies at the core of my own community vision. See my Connect tagline below and stay tuned for next week’s Connect!
How about you ~ as a community insider and/or outsider…any recent experiences either way?
Share about that with a friend or note it here.
Instead of new LINKs for this week, read through the previous Connects noted below and see what other insider/outsider insights you can find.
Thanks for being part of this Connect community.
Until next week,
Betsy
Notes:
* Previous Connects which explore community (use the blog link above to access):
8/19/20 Community building; 12/2/20 Multicultural Communities; 10/20/21 Inside-Outside; 4/20/22 Belonging; 5/4/22 Bridges;
** Through my business Global SKILLs and several partner subsidiaries I offer unique cross-cultural consulting and training including:
3 Dimensional Dynamics Model:
1st dimension = HOME ; 2nd dimension = HOST ; 3rd dimension = HARBOR)
PROACTive Learning Strategies: PRO = PROfile, PROcess, PROgram
ACT = Application, Collaboration and Transformation
~ contact me for more information on this model and these strategies and how you might use them in your current programming
2022 ~ Celebrating 40+ years of working in
intercultural communications and global community building
“It takes a community to build a community”
Please Note: this is copyrighted content.
Please do not reproduce or share without my permission (betsy.barbour@gmail.com)