Top 10 Training Programmes for Community Building & Leadership.

Ready to invest in community building leaders? Here are some of our favourite training programmes to get you started.

At We Create Space, we see the transformative power of community every single day. Because real change—cultural, personal, organizational—doesn’t happen in isolation. For organisations striving to build a more inclusive, engaged, and thriving workplace, we believe community-building isn’t just a solution. It’s the foundation. The art and science of community-building is key to shaping culture, driving inclusion, increasing engagement and sustaining wellbeing. 

In our recent guide Community Building 101: Our Top 30 Considerations, we identified Leadership as one of three key pillars supporting community building. Think of the considerations as skills to be learned, honed, and practiced and these are our top 10 most common programmes to upskill employees.

All of our events, training programmes and corporate solutions are fully bespoke, delivered by our global team of experts, and tailored to the needs of our clients. Don't be afraid to get in touch if you're looking for something not on this list!

Make sure to also check out our 'Community Building 101’ events, which explore key factors for successful community development. Each session will provide actionable strategies & tools to promote effective change, collective learning, workplace culture & shared values. We will also discuss how grassroots principles can be applied in corporate settings, through three key pillars: Inclusion, Wellbeing, & Leadership.

Register for our upcoming WCS Community Building 101: 'Leadership' event with UK Black Pride on 17th July.

1. My Authentic Self 

Authentic leaders build trust by being transparent about their values and lived experiences. How can we be vulnerable with ourselves and others if we don’t have psychological safety embedded in our communities? We must look introspectively at how our values shape our behaviours and decide if that is the person we are and want to be. Leadership guided by authentic values and practices create space for inclusion and wellbeing to thrive.

2. Leading with Vision and Purpose 

Only when we dare to show up more authentically can we truly begin to craft our vision to purposeful living. A shared vision unites a community and provides motivation for members to engage. Effective leaders cultivate this vision by actively engaging with the community, listening to diverse perspectives, and creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and motivated to participate.

3. Influencing with Storytelling

Stories are the way we see ourselves and can carry powerful messages that affect how we show up in the world. Leaders should use storytelling in meetings, presentations, and mentorship to humanize their approach and inspire teams. Storytelling is also about challenging ‘the norm’ by influencing with integrity and our authentic voice. When we harness our personal, professional, and community narratives positively our ability to lead becomes more considered and effective. 

4. Understanding Power & Privilege

The best leaders acknowledge systemic inequities and work to dismantle them within their community. This can be modeled by using our power and privilege to uplift others and practice allyship. It can also look like relinquishing power in situations to better balance the dynamics of the workplace. When we become more conscious of our intersectional identities and proximity to power, we lead with empathy.

5. Becoming A Mentor

Mentorship is a critical role in leadership development by providing guidance, support, and knowledge transfer from experienced individuals to emerging leaders. In this relationship, both the mentor and mentee should be benefiting in different capacities. It fosters community building by creating networks of trust and collaboration, enabling individuals to share experiences and resources. For marginalized groups, mentorship helps bridge gaps in access to opportunities, promotes inclusivity, and empowers individuals to overcome limiting self beliefs and systemic barriers.

6. Leadership Legacy Planning

Leaving a legacy requires vision and purpose alongside a community who wants to leave this world better than they found it. Leadership succession, as part of our legacy planning, should prioritize continuity, community values, ongoing education, and mentorship opportunities. Developing inclusive succession plans that incorporate holistic health practices for the individual, business, and community, build a strong pipeline of leaders. 

7. Empathetic Leadership 

Empathetic leaders are needed to recognize and respond to the needs of their team members and communities. When developing empathetic leadership skills, an approach that incorporates interactive exercises, group discussions, and real-world scenarios helps build emotional intelligence. Empathy can then be given and received to cultivate an inclusive environment that fosters trust and collaboration.

8. Brave Space & Active Listening

Active and intentional communication allows us to remove the mental picture, and connect again with the person in front of us. So much so, that when people are fully present with each other, listening intentionally and with focus, the frequency of their brain waves starts matching each other. That’s where a feeling of having deeply connected with someone, beyond words, comes from. We can then have more open and courageous conversations where people can share ideas, feedback, or concerns without fear of retaliation.

9. Building Resilience 

Resilience looks different to every person, leader, and community. Identifying our personal strengths and coping mechanisms, helps us build strategies to cultivate a positive mindset in the face of adversity. When we have a personalized resilience toolkit that empowers us to face life's challenges with confidence and perseverance, it enhances overall well-being, supports navigating change, and improves performance.

10. Becoming a Visible Role Model

People want to see themselves represented in their communities and workplace. It begs the question: how can we celebrate diverse leaders through internal communication and public-facing platforms to reinforce representation? Developing a process to recognise leaders, their intersectional identities, and their inspirational stories allows us to bring a human centred approach to creating visible role models. To compete for the best global talent, any organisation will need to embrace inclusive leadership and create pathways for leaders to become role models internally and externally.

Register for our upcoming WCS Community Building 101: 'Leadership' event with UK Black Pride on X

---

While you're here...

Did you know we consult with Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke corporate solutions? Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce DEI insights and craft bespoke content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Find out more here.

We also organise FREE community events throughout the year! We offer a variety of ways to get involved - both online and in person. This is a great way to network and learn more about others' experiences, through in-depth discussion on an array of topics. You can find out what events we have coming up here. New ones are added all the time, so make sure you sign up to our newsletter so you can stay up to date!