Tom Mitchell: The importance of community at work – and how to build it

ARTICLE

1 August 2024

4 min read

What does ‘community’ mean to a star Australian Rules midfielder? Here, AIA Ambassador Tom Mitchell shares his perspective on why strong social connections are vital to any team striving towards a common goal.

As humans, we’re hardwired to connect with one another. We don’t leave that need for social connection at the door when we step into work, regardless of whether our workplace is a small business, a big company, or a footy club.

In sport, culture and teamwork are of the utmost importance. To get the best results, a team needs a strong sense of working together as one group. And the only way for everyone to be comfortable in that setting, and to be able to grow collectively towards a common goal, is through building a strong sense of community.

At the Collingwood Football Club, we live and breathe community. You’ll hear Fly [senior coach Craig McRae] say that all the time in his press conferences. It’s how we make sure we’re bringing the fans along for the ride, and it’s how we create an environment where all the staff and players are comfortable bringing their families to the club for post-game functions or during the week at training.

And that’s what community is all about. It creates space for everyone to be their complete version of themselves, without judgement, and contribute everything they have to the goal you’re trying to achieve together.

Problems shared are problems halved

When you prioritise connection and community at work, you make a group of people a team. You get more ideas, better communication, better collaboration, and more diverse opinions from people with different backgrounds and cultures.

As an individual, you also get the support to more easily overcome challenges. Facing challenges head-on by yourself is always difficult; the old saying “a problem shared is a problem halved” is true for a reason. It’s easier to fix a problem, work through a challenge, or celebrate a win if you’re coming at it with a collaborative point of view, with more ideas shared across the table and more diverse opinions.

Know the person, know the way forward

In the midfield, I play alongside some of the best players that have ever played the game. We’re very big on connecting as a close group to understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and we spend quite a bit of time with our club psychologists and reviewing each game from a mental point of view. We also enjoy socialising together, both in and outside the club.

Spending the time and making the effort on and off the field helps us understand one another enough to know when something’s not quite right. If we see a player struggling in the game or not quite acting themselves, we’ve built up strategies to bring them back to the group and help them.

Say we see a player with poor body language – they might not be in the best headspace. Since we know what makes them tick, what can we do to support them and encourage them to get back to the best version of themselves? I also use my empathy to see things from their perspective. If they’re agitated or anxious during training, I try to remember what they respond to best. I might decide against taking a harsh tone, or it might be time for the coach to step in and rev them up.

With a solid understanding of the individual and the goal you’re working towards together, hard or sensitive conversations become easier and more respectful.

Community at work

We believe every employee has the right to a happy and healthy work environment.

Written in collaboration with the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, the AIA Australia Community at Work social study explores the impact of social connection on employees and the workplace.

Read the full paper

Don’t be afraid to grow with practice

Everyone can get nervous or feel daunted when they’re entering an unfamiliar professional environment or meeting a new group of people. But through practice and putting yourself out there, that’s where you’ll find growth.

Over my career, I’ve had to meet sponsors, people on boards, and people with different jobs and statures. With a bit of maturity and effort, I’ve learnt the skillset to greet people, ask them about what they do, and just create conversation. I feel quite comfortable doing that now because I know I’ve done it many times before.

I also know I can bring that skill and confidence into other areas of my life. The practice I’ve had building strong relationships at work has only made it easier to go out into the community, into my networks outside the club, and connect with a bigger spread of people in other fields of work and walks of life.

Go in with empathy, without all the answers

A friendly mindset. Good body language. A smile on your face. A welcoming tone in your voice.

Use those simple strategies and you’ll immediately break down a few walls, no matter who you’re talking with. Even if you’re introducing yourself to someone at a new job, don’t be afraid to say that you’re nervous about starting or meeting all your new colleagues. I like to think that most humans have a bit of empathy and have also felt vulnerable about something in their life. It’s okay not to have all the answers straight away.

A strong community doesn’t happen overnight. Putting in the time and practice to get to know people and make work a comfortable, safe environment means you’re going to get better input from everyone. When everyone’s given the space to be themselves, be respected, be heard, and be celebrated, a team is supported to work out how they’ll work together towards their common goal.

Tom Mitchell

Tom is deemed one of the AFL’s elite midfielders. He won the 2018 Brownlow Medal and holds the VFL / AFL record for most disposals in a game. Off the field Tom has a love for health and fitness, travel, sport, fashion, and animals.

Disclaimer:
Copyright © 2024 AIA Australia Limited (ABN 79 004 837 861 AFSL 230043). This is general information only, without taking into account factors like the objectives, financial situation, needs or personal circumstances of any individual and is not intended to be financial, legal, tax, medical, nutritional, health, fitness or other advice. The source information of the articles is current as of the date of publication and may be subject to change. While the information contained herein is believed to be accurate, AIA Australia expressly disclaims any and all liability for representations or warranties, expressed or implied, contained in, or for omissions from, the information.

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