Remember When You Were a Work Family?
Missing That “Family” Feeling
Hybrid work is starting to feel normal. Tech is in place, projects are moving forward—but something’s missing. Many teams we work with describe it as “missing the feeling of family.”
What “Family” Really Meant
That family vibe at work used to mean deep support, camaraderie, and friendship—dinners, inside jokes, being there for one another through life’s ups and downs.
But here’s the thing—we’ve always had mixed feelings about calling your team a “family.”
Why “Family” Might Not Be the Right Metaphor
Let’s be honest:
Families can be dysfunctional.
You can’t fire your family.
Families don’t share a clear, common purpose (usually).
It can feel exclusionary or overly personal for new team members.
No one wants to be “the kids” in a workplace run by “mom and dad.”
Boundaries get blurry when your team is your family.
A Better Metaphor: Community
What if we stopped calling work a family—and started building community?
Humans are wired for community. It’s how we’re meant to live and work—interconnected, interdependent, and mutually supportive. Community creates belonging, meaning, and trust—without the baggage of the family metaphor.
What Community Can Look Like at Work
Healthy communities:
Are built on shared purpose and values.
Leverage members’ strengths and relationships.
Allow people to contribute, grow, and evolve.
Foster support, reciprocity, and participation.
Our Hypothesis
If we structure workplaces as communities:
Would people thrive in new ways?
Would engagement, ownership, and belonging increase?
Would we see more compassion in leadership—and less burnout?
Let’s Find Out
We’re building a framework to help leaders create workplaces as communities. We’ll keep sharing what we learn—and we’d love to hear your thoughts along the way.
