There are seasons when leadership feels less like momentum and more like endurance.
Uncertainty at work. Heavy headlines. Personal loss. Community pain. Burnout that creeps in quietly and then all at once. In moments like these, it becomes clear that leadership development isn’t just about skills, strategy, or titles. It’s about care—and more specifically, it’s about community. Because sustainable leadership depends on people who feel supported, seen, and connected.
At Forward 48, we believe leadership is a collective practice. No one moves forward alone, especially during hard moments. The strongest leaders aren’t the ones who power through in isolation—they are the ones who know how to build, lean into, and contribute to communities of care.
What Is a Community of Care?
A community of care is not a networking list or a Slack channel you check once a week. It’s a group of people who create space for honesty, accountability, and support, allowing those involved to make better decisions, navigate complexity, and remain engaged when times get tough.
Communities of care:
- Allow us to show up as whole people, not just professionals
- Hold space for uncertainty without rushing to fix it
- Offer challenge and encouragement when growth is needed
- Remind us that rest, reflection, and connection are necessary leadership practices
These communities can exist at work, within peer groups, across industries, or through a shared purpose. What matters most is not the formality or structure, but the intention.
Why Community Matters More During Tough Times
During the most difficult seasons, it’s easy to turn on our default settings: to pull back, to stay extra busy, or to isolate ourselves and pretend everything is fine. But isolation amplifies stress and limits perspective.
Community does the opposite.
Community helps us:
- Normalize struggle and reduce shame
- Learn how others are navigating similar challenges
- Access wisdom beyond our own experience
- Stay grounded in purpose when motivation feels low
Research consistently shows that strong support and social connections improve resilience, decision-making, and long-term leadership effectiveness (PubMed). At Forward 48, we hear this time and time again from seasoned leaders from across the state of Wisconsin.
Simply put: leaders who are supported, lead better.
Finding & Creating Community
Not every space will feel like a community of care, and that’s okay. Start by asking:
- Where do I feel safe being honest?
- Who listens without immediately trying to solve?
- Who challenges me with care rather than criticism?
Your community might include a mentor who checks in regularly, a peer who understands your industry pressures, or a group that meets consistently to discuss real life issues with intention.
Sometimes, the most powerful step is naming the need out loud: I don’t have to do this alone.
And if the community you’re looking for doesn’t exist yet?
Leadership often begins in the things we create.
Creating a community of care doesn’t require a fancy title. It can be as simple as:
- Starting meetings with a genuine check-in, not just updates
- Making space for discussions about growth and personal reflections, not just performance
- Modeling behaviors by leading with vulnerability and supporting others when they do the same
Acts of care are contagious, and when one person creates space, others follow.
Care as a Leadership Practice
At Forward 48, we see time and again that the leaders who thrive long-term are those who invest in relationships as intentionally as they invest in results.
Care does not weaken leadership—it strengthens it.
It sharpens empathy. It builds trust. It sustains momentum when things feel heavy. And it reminds us why we want to lead in the first place: because we care.
As we continue to navigate through tough times, whether those be personal, professional, or collective, we invite you to take a minute to reflect: Who is a part of my community of care? And who might be waiting for me to invite them in?
If this article resonates with you, we invite you to share this with your workplace Employee Resource Group or Forward 48 Home Team. And if you are still seeking a community of care in this season, know that our door is always open.
Because leadership isn’t about having all the answers or shutting people out.
It’s about giving and receiving the support we need to keep going together.
Forward 48 is the region’s premier leadership development program, designed to connect the next generation of changemakers with the people, knowledge, and resources to move their companies and communities forward.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Regan Andersen is a Milwaukee-based communications and engagement professional with over six years of professional experience spanning from grassroots organizing to local government to corporate partnerships.
As the Director of Communications & Engagement for Forward 48, Regan spearheads communications, community partnerships, and digital direction for one of the region’s most influential civic leadership development networks.
A proud graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Regan is passionate about storytelling, community-building, and fostering meaningful connections. Outside of work, she enjoys creative projects, spending time outdoors, and sharing a good meal with her loved ones.