Why would I attend L4G Coffee events?
By Chris Ogle on June 12th, 2019
People often ask the questions…
Why would I go to a Link4Growth Community Coffee event? What am I going to get out of having “Nice chats” with other people?
It’s an interesting question and not that simple to answer either.
It’s a bit like in Starwars – The Empire Strikes back, when Luke asks Yoda “What is in the Cave?” … Yoda replies, “Only what you take with you”
Link4Growth brings people together so they can have conversations. There are no instructions or agenda’s. What happens at events is down to the people who turn up, what they bring with them, and the conversations they engage in.
After 8 years there is a catalogue of examples of what people have found at Link4Growth. Sometimes people find what they are searching for, other times it is a complete surprise. People have made new friends, new connections, created new collaborations, or discovered partners. Business has been done (lots), and advice, tips, tricks, and signposting all given freely… and of course personal development in the form of public speaking, hosting, and leadership of others.
What people often don’t see…
One of the most often missed benefits of being present at Link4Growth events is that it provides an opportunity to practice a range of social skills.
These social skills are wide ranging and include…
Conversations skills
Empathy
Deep listening
Compassion and Kindness
Understanding
Support and Positivity
Co-creation and developing ideas
Problem solving
A sense of fairness
Not judging
Learning to be “curious about others
All the above fall into two main categories that often we aren’t that mindful of when we’re in the thick of our engagement…
1. Seeking to become the best version of ourselves
2. Striving to be the best human being we can become
These are things that maybe you have never considered for yourself, but in the main if we are honest with ourselves, we would probably agree they are subconscious visions that we believe we are doing our best to uphold. After all… the opposite or even a half hearted approach to either would probably not sit well with us.
Link4Growth provides an opportunity to practice these social skills every time we attend events, hone them, and develop them, in the pursuit of our own self growth.
There are very few places where you can go these days where there is no agenda, it is open to all (inclusive), very low cost… AND… where you are free from the pressure to meet the needs or expectations of others… Where you can just turn up, as yourself, and practice becoming a better you… Link4Growth is one of them…
Chris is passionate about community and has been involved with Link4Growth and community building since the start in 2012. Chris now devotes most of his time to facilitate connection, collaboration and community in the district of South West Herts as well as supporting the Link4Growth Association.
Blog Author
Chris Ogle