No 2. Unity Gather across lines of difference to foster unity Differences don’t have to mean division. Leading toward unity names the need and creates affirming space for contributions from every part of a community.
Out there is in here. Peter Senge
of Americans say the country is more divided than united.* 81%
Social trust is a measure of whether the people and institutions of a society keep their promises and work for the common good. David Brooks
Unity breeds collective optimism Unity is the opposite of isolation. Rather than feeling disconnected, the experience of unity in a group is a feeling of belonging without sacrificing authenticity. When people feel their unique strengths and talents are welcome and needed - that they don’t have to earn a title or pretend to be something they are not in order to be valued - there is a collective power that accrues to the group. This esprit de corps is too commonly missing in modern organizations. Leaders can unwittingly reinforce disunity by trying to build consensus or compromise rather than creating space for people to be known by one another, especially across conventional silos or teams. Whether in schools, organizations, or communities - we often say ‘anywhere two or more are gathered’ - people blossom, organizational cultures thrive, and performance improves when people experience that they are not alone and matter to the future success of the organization.
We had all different kinds of people in there, different backgrounds, race, and none of that matters because we got in there and we just started learning together and growing together and so we realized we all had common goals. Douglas FORWARD Participant I used to think that I didn’t really relate to many of the people I worked with, but now I think that the relationship we have established will allow more collaboration and transparency among the team. BCLS Cohort 69 Participant **
By The Numbers Our Impact
22 Community organizations and municipalities in Sumter County convened to lead towards rural prosperity
She is better equipped to provide constructive feedback, which greatly contributes to our team’s growth and development. Her approach not only helps in addressing issues but also motivates and encourages improvement among the team. Supervisor of Douglas FORWARD Participant
91% of Sumter County community team agreed “This team can do anything we set out to accomplish with focus and effort”
Grow Your Leaders
*Ipsos, Americans view country as deeply divided, but believe most have much in common, 2024 **Base Camp and Leadership Summit
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