Community to me is re-assurance, generosity, creativity, friendship, love and respect and many more adjectives.

‘Communities’

Needing to feel part of something is a basic human instinct.  Whether it’s a family unit, a workforce, a common cause or collaboration, a desire to belong to something is likely to exist in all of us. Knowing that I have access to others is important, but I like to be able to assess this from a distance, and sometimes from within my cave.

A large family, school, University, and corporate life constantly presented me with opportunities to feel part of a team.  It wasn’t until I ducked out of corporate life to establish my own coaching practice that I had to really consider where I would find my tribe. 

Working from home for the first time is a real shock.  The company of others, and access to all the associated opportunities to engage is easy to take for granted. Lockdown levelled this playing field because everyone was similarly constricted.  I used this time as an opportunity to think about aspirations for my business and the constituents it would need to become successful.

Though I graduated as a business coach in 2010, and established CCS in 2016, I had barely connected with the Meyler Campbell Alumni network until the constraints of lockdown steered me in that direction.  Discovering people on webinars that I already knew, and finding others whose ideas inspired me demonstrated how this group could enrich my thinking and feed my soul.  That is what the community does. When we feel part of a group, leveraging the security and sense of well-being that just knowing you are part of something is the best feeling ever.  

I am a partially sighted former Paralympian who has spent much of my working life in Executive Search.  Generously offering thoughts and encouragement, The Meyler Campbell Community has actively supported my efforts to advocate for better inclusion at work.  The DEI space is crowded and confusing, but with careful analysis of this landscape I have identified like minds with whom I now co-create programs designed to address issues that I hope will lead to sustainable change. 

Community to me is re-assurance, generosity, creativity, friendship, love and respect and many more adjectives.  We must all balance our own idiosyncrasies with the fact that humans are pack animals. We need the collaboration of others to be the best versions of ourselves. My contribution to Mental Health Awareness week is to try not to leave anyone else outside.

Mark Chamberlen

Mark is a Goal orientated executive coach and mentor working with individuals to encourage acceptance of change, and with businesses to demonstrate the importance of a more inclusive mindset.