Common Purpose

How Communities Unite in Adversity: Cases and Toolkit

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I’ve spent a lot of my working life advocating and implementing action learning. The essential premise is that leaders and managers learn best in small groups addressing an identified problem, making new discoveries, and focusing as much on what they are learning as they do on the problem being addressed. It’s the knowledge and capabilities you gain that helps you address the next challenge and keep learning.

I mention this mainly because a phrase that has stuck with me from that time is “comrades in adversity.” It was coined by Reg Revans, widely credited with being the originator of action learning. When teams tackle important issues, they challenge the status quo and advocate change, and they come together as the going gets tough.

So too when adversity strikes, communities often discover a profound sense of common purpose, rallying together to protect shared assets, enhance safety, and rebuild stronger. This collective spirit can transcend cultural and geographic boundaries, manifesting in grassroots efforts to preserve community resources, revitalize public spaces, and ensure the well-being of residents.

From natural disasters to social challenges, the stories of communities uniting for a shared goal highlight the resilience and ingenuity inherent in human connection. And it’s this I want to explore using examples of communities coming together in times of crisis, illustrating the power of collective action, and sharing a practical toolkit for fostering common purpose in any community.

The Power of Common Purpose in Adversity

Adversity, whether natural disasters, economic hardship, or social threats, often serves as a catalyst for communities to unite. Common purpose emerges when individuals recognize their shared stake in a community’s well-being, prompting collaborative action to address immediate needs and build long-term resilience.

This phenomenon is rooted in social capital, the networks of trust and cooperation that enable collective action (Putnam, 2000). When communities face threats to shared assets like parks, libraries, or public safety, residents often transcend individual interests to work toward a collective good.

The psychology of common purpose is tied to shared identity and mutual dependence. According to social identity theory, individuals are more likely to cooperate when they identify with a group facing a common challenge (Tajfel & Turner, 1979). This sense of “we-ness” drives communities to protect assets and enhance safety, as seen in diverse global examples.