These times challenge us at our core. What does it mean to be human? How do we create a world that supports the thriving of all people and the planet? What distinguishes how we weather the turbulence isn’t just our individual skill, adaptation, or resolve, but the strength of the communities we belong to.
In times of disruption, community becomes more than just a place of connection – it becomes the wellspring of courage, insight, and resilience. Compassionate leaders recognize that the quality of our relationships and the depth of our interdependence are what make us stronger in these chaotic and uncertain times.
Our hearts know how much we need each other. Here are three powerful ways community can hold us, lift us, and guide us when everything feels like its falling apart.
Community Strengthens Courage and Moral Resolve
When we face adversity, it is tempting to stay silent, shrink back, or convince ourselves that our actions won’t make a difference. But something shifts when we stand shoulder to shoulder with others. We gain access to a collective courage that reinforces our own.
Research shows that the presence of supportive others increases our moral courage. A 2012 study by May, Luth, and Schwoerer found that individuals were more likely to act in line with their moral values when they felt supported by their peers and organizational climate. When people feel part of a value-aligned community, they are more willing to speak up or take principled action – even in the face of risk.
Communities of care give us a place to process fear, doubt, and weariness – without judgment. As one community member steps forward with vulnerability or conviction, others often find themselves emboldened. In this way, courage is not a solo performance – it’s contagious.
Try This: Recall a time you took a courageous action. Who stood with you, even if silently? Reflect on how their presence helped you act in alignment with your values.
Community Cultivates Adaptive Intelligence and Collective Wisdom
No one person holds all the answers. In complex, rapidly changing environments, the ability to adapt is not just valuable – it’s essential. Community offers us access to a broader field of intelligence, lived experience, and creative solutions.
A study published in Science found that collective intelligence in groups arises not from individual IQs, but from how group members relate – showing that equality in conversation and cognitive empathy – both elements of compassionate community – lead to better group performance.
In community, we expand our own perspective. We move from reactive thinking to generative dialogue. Together, we become more adaptive, more creative, and more effective problem solvers.
Try This: In your next team conversation or meeting, invite input by asking: “What are you seeing that I might be missing?” or “What perspectives haven’t we yet considered?”
Community Builds and Sustains Resilience
Resilience is understood as the capacity to bounce back. Compassionate leaders know that resilience is also about bouncing forward – growing wiser, more grounded, and more connected through what we’ve endured and the learning that comes with experience.
Social connection is a critical factor in building resilience. Research by developmental psychologist Emmy Werner, and more recently by the American Psychological Association, consistently shows that strong, supportive relationships are one of the most powerful predictors of resilience across the lifespan. In trauma, loss, or crisis, those who maintain strong social ties recover more quickly and experience less long-term psychological distress.
Remembering that suffering is part of our common human experience helps us be resilient together. As we notice, respond, and support one another, we are resourced and nourished to stay the course. These moments of compassion and care form the backbone of resilience.
Try This: If you are struggling, ask yourself, “Who can I lean on today?” And if you have capacity, ask, “Who might need me to offer support and care today?”
Community as a Leadership Practice
Leadership is by definition performed in community. Leadership is not defined by solitary heroism. This is true in “normal” times and it is true in difficult times. Leadership is defined by how we connect, how we listen, and how we hold space for one another.
Compassionate leaders cultivate communities that are brave, wise, and resilient. They do not merely direct action; they co-create safety, connection, and belonging. They remind us that we are stronger together, not despite our struggles, but because of the way we face them – together.
So in this moment, consider: What communities are holding you up? And what kind of community are you helping to build?
References
May, D. R., Luth, M. T., & Schwoerer, C. E. (2012). “The influence of ethical climate and support on moral courage.” Journal of Organizational Behavior, 33(7), 867–883.
Woolley, A. W., Chabris, C. F., Pentland, A., Hashmi, N., & Malone, T. W. (2010). “Evidence for a collective intelligence factor in the performance of human groups.” Science, 330(6004), 686–688.
Werner, E. E. (1995). “Resilience in development.” Current Directions in Psychological Science, 4(3), 81–85.
Hundreds of leaders from around the world have taken our Compassionate Leadership Certification Training programs over the last few years, bringing the lessons they learn back into their own organizations and lives.
Our 3-week Accelerated Compassionate Leadership Certification Training will build your compassion from the inside out and connect you with a powerful global peer community for ongoing growth, inspiration, and support. It also serves as a prerequisite for our 2026 Compassionate Leadership Teacher Training Professional Certification.