Fall into Finding Your People: Why You Need a Professional Village
As the leaves turn and the air grows crisp, fall reminds us of the beauty of change and the comfort of connection. It’s a season that invites reflection, warmth, and gathering. So what better time to talk about the importance of finding your people? Not just friends. Not just coworkers. But those rare gems who understand your professional world because they live it too, even if they do so in a different building, city, or company.
The Power of Parallel Paths
Whether you're an HR Professional, Business Owner, Executive Leader, Marketing Manager, or a School Principal, your role comes with unique challenges, expectations, and triumphs. And while your coworkers may empathize, there's something uniquely validating about connecting with others who hold the same title, even if they work elsewhere.
These are your professional peers. Your role-mates. Your sounding board. They get it.
They understand the pressure of your deadlines.
They’ve faced the same tough decisions.
They know the jargon, the politics, the emotional toll.
They can offer insights without needing a backstory.
Why You Need a Cross-Workplace Circle
Having a network of people in similar roles across different organizations creates a safe space for growth, venting, and learning. It’s not about competition, it’s about collaboration.
Fresh Perspectives: They’ll show you how others approach the same problems differently.
Shared Resources: From templates to strategies, you’ll swap tools that make your job easier.
Emotional Support: When your workplace feels isolating, your circle reminds you you’re not alone.
Professional Development: You’ll grow faster when you learn from others walking your path.
How to Find Your People this Fall
Fall is a natural time to reconnect and reset. Here’s how to start building your professional village:
Attend Industry Meetups or Conferences: Even virtual ones count.
Join Role-Specific Online Communities: LinkedIn groups, Slack channels, or niche forums.
Reach Out to Peers in Other Organizations: A simple “I admire your work, want to grab coffee?” goes a long way.
Attend Monthly Roundtables: Attend rountables, peer advisory groups or events with your peers to chat regularly about wins, challenges, and ideas.
Wrap Yourself in Community
Just like a cozy sweater, the right people can make the chill of professional challenges feel warmer. So this fall, don’t just rake leaves—rake in relationships. Find your people. Build your circle. And remember: you don’t have to do this alone.
One Fall event we had recently where peers came together to learn and connect, was our HR Leadership Forum Lunch & Learn. We want to say thank you to those that attended and hope you found the networking and the HR Panelist Discussion session valuable and inspiring. You can read a recap of the event, linked below. Our sincere thanks to Dr. Rachael Franssen, Susan Stiers, Bianca Strickland, and Chris Vansickle for your thoughtful contributions that added tremendous value, to Liberty Hall Cultural Center for providing a wonderful venue, and to Swallow's Nest for catering a delicious lunch that added to the experience. Read more HERE.
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