Workplace Microcommunities Brought to Life by Human Needs Instead of Corporate Goals
Yesterday I wrote about self-organizing teams: workgroups that come together around a specific organizational question, challenge, or goal, and serve the company's operations and effectiveness.
Today I'm writing about another form of self-organization. One, that is not brought together by corporate goals or tasks, but by personal interests, passions, and life situations.
From more and more places I hear - from leaders, professionals, clients, friends - how much real human connection is missing in this over-digitalized, accelerated world.
In a world where screens often receive more attention than the people around us, a new trend is beginning to emerge that responds to our deep, fundamental human need for belonging, human connection, and conversation: microcommunities.
These microcommunities create deeper, more personal connections by building on shared interests.
Many people feel that:
- it would be good not to think alone about certain life situations or topics alone, to share them with other people,
- it would be good to belong somewhere where you don't have to play a role
- it would be good to pause, connect, and talk not about work, but about topics beyond work.
Self-organizing communities:
- are organized around a shared life situation (e.g. parenthood, divorce, financial situation),
- grow out of a shared interest (reading, art, learning, health, self-awareness, gaming),
- or are nourished by shared values (development, honesty, slowing down, deeper connection).
Microcommunities emerging from workplace and business relationships, but not for business or professional purposes
It is an interesting phenomenon that microcommunities very often emerge from acquaintances formed in workplace or business contexts:
- colleagues finding each other through a conversation,
- a client–service provider relationship turning into genuine connection.
The workplace, the business environment is a meeting space. And often this is where it becomes clear that not only our work is shared, but also our interests, questions, dilemmas, and our desire for connection.
Why are these microcommunities important?
- They bring joy.
- They provide holding power and a sense of safety.
- They reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness.
- They help us make sense of our life situations.
- They help us share our thoughts, interests, and passions with others.
They are not primarily useful for an organization or for business purposes, but if a company creates space and opportunity for this type of non-business connection, it also has an indirect impact on the organization.
Microcommunities not only strengthen connection, but also create clear value for both individuals and organizations.
For employees:
- Personalized employee experiences. By giving space to and supporting specific interests, organizations can offer more relevant, personalized content, experiences, and support to their employees.
- They reduce isolation, strengthen the sense of belonging, reduce stress, and thereby support employees' mental well-being.
For organizations:
- Stronger engagement and retention. Organizations that give space to or support microcommunities build deeper loyalty. When people feel that the company sees and acknowledges their non-business, personal needs and supports their fulfillment in some way, this clearly increases commitment to the company.
- Increased collaboration and innovation: these connections often spark new, fresh business ideas and unexpected collaborations.
🎁 Solution-focused question for organizations
❓ How can we create space for people to be not only employees with us, but humans with their own interests, life situations, and community needs?
💡 Tips for organizations:
Create space and opportunities for communities to meet and emerge.
If possible, provide minimal financial support for tools or inviting an expert.
If expertise or specific knowledge is needed, look within the organization to see if someone already has what's needed and would gladly join or champion a cause. For example: financial awareness – an internal financial expert / crocheting – is there someone who is good at it.
Don't ask for business justification. People shouldn't have to explain what benefit this brings to the company. Human need should be a sufficient reason in itself.
Don't take over the narrative. Don't relabel what comes from the bottom as employer branding or a wellbeing program.
Make room for invisibility as well. Not every community wants to be public, to grow, or to become an example.
Make it clear: it's not mandatory. What is voluntary should remain voluntary. Pressure can quickly kill enthusiasm.
Don't let them turn into hidden performance expectations or just another item on the to-do list.
🎁 Solution-focused questions for those seeking community
❓ What kind of personal connection do I truly need in my life right now, and with whom could I experience this?
❓ How can I find partners for this, build a community, or connect to an existing one?
💡 Tips for building microcommunities
Observe what truly occupies you in your life right now: what life situation, question, interest, or lack is present?
Don't look for a community, look for a person. As a first step, one colleague is enough -someone you suspect might be in a similar life situation, have similar interests, or be open to such a conversation.
One coffee, one question, one conversation, one sentence can already start something.
You don't need to come with a ready-made program. One conversation is enough. Often others are waiting for the same thing, they just haven't said it out loud yet.
"Lately I've been missing having someone to talk about this with."
"I've been thinking it would be good to have this kind of community."
Allow this not to be useful, to develop spontaneously.
There's no need to show business goals, development KPIs, or performance. These microcommunities work precisely because they don't want to be more than what they were created for: connection, joy.
Join existing initiatives with courage. If you hear about a book club, walking group, discussion circle, or a gathering organized around a shared interest, try it out.
2–3 people already make a community. There is no need for regularity, structure, or a long-term plan.