Build a Support Squad

People need connections with others to thrive. A support squad or care crew can help you be your BEST.

• Build skills: problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and social-emotional awareness.
• Engagement: people get inspired to learn when interacting with others.
• Strong connections: build relationships while discovering new concepts together.
• Teach and learn: communities create an ongoing learning loop where peers ask questions and share knowledge and resources.

Find your people:

• Seek groups to join that have the same mission and interests
• Pick places that you like, particpate regularly
• Authentically be yourself [A Path to Being Authentic]
• Reveal consistent commitment
• Know yourself [Discover U]
• Speak about what matters to you

With a team that GLOWS you can:

• Gain input from others
• Learn in public
• Outline thoughts
• Work collaboratively
• Spark creativity with social connections

Benefits of a support squad – SHARE and CARE:

• Share information and ideas
• Help each other
• Ask for and give advice
• Review progress
• Encourage each other

• Connect and communicate
• Accountability for intentional action
• Relate with others
• Energizing experiences

Deep discussion questions:
• History: what experiences made you who you are?
• Heartbreak: what have you lost or struggled through?
• Hero: who do you admire most?
• Hope: what are you striving for in the coming year?

Look within your circles of support – family, friends, and professional connections – for others with shared interests, who care about learning, and are knowledgeable and helpful. Look for people who inspire and encourage you. Set check-ins to reach out on a regular basis and build relationships. In the game of life, we need allies to help us battle the bad guys and achieve epic wins!

Resources: Learning communities from Northern Illinois University

Books and TED talks

Amazon affiliate links to books provide a small commission to help support the Daily PlanIt.

• Tribes by Seth Godin, TED talks The tribes we lead and How to get your ideas to spread
• Tribal Leadership by David Logan, TED talk Tribal leadership
• Intention Into Action by Stacey Lauren, TED talk The Power of community to help you meet your goals
• You Will Find Your People by Lane Moore, TED talk How to be alone

Find more TED talks and books by the speakers at TED Talk Book Discussion.

See also Fly Into the Learning Zone, Teamwork, Leadership, Conversation Starters, Beyond Facebook, Making Connections, Don’t Wait, Relate, Anti-Loneliness Actions

About dailyplanit

I seek to create order from the chaos of complex information. Join me at the Daily PlanIt to gain insights, inspiration, and information to increase skills for a better life. I unlock the power of teaching reading with phonics in the pursuit of literacy at www.phonicspow.com. In my spare time I explore books and movies, often choosing titles available on both screen and page.