An interview with David Homan and Noah Askin

Life comes with no instruction manual. That’s for sure… But what if you have the opportunity to follow a unique blueprint to find the real purpose in your life and build authentic relationships and intentional, meaningful communities?  

David Homan and Noah Askin put all their knowledge, experiences, and professionalism into their new book, Orchestrating Connection: How to Build Purposeful Community in a Tribal World, aiming to make a real impact.

Businesses can also lean into the elements of «Orchestrating Connection» to enhance connection and meaning in the workplace. An interesting interview with David Homan and Noah Askin for CEOWORLD magazine.

Q: How would you describe the ideal community for the current times leaning into elements of Orchestrating Connection? 

David Homan – Noah Askin: The ideal community is one whose purpose–its fundamental reason for existing–propels other people and groups to make positive, long-lasting changes through their mission and actions. Groups that congregate simply to make people feel good are generally a good thing, as any social connection these days is positive, but such communities don’t substantially change the narrative. People who gather with intentionality around strong core values and principles are the groups that do change narratives.

With that said, we recognize not everyone is out there to build or join such a community (though we certainly recommend it). For people who fall into this category, a community that actually has a reason for existing that goes beyond neighborly or collegial proximity is a positive thing. Here we are talking about genuine shared interests, a common goal, or even a collectively appreciated cause: these are going to make for a solid, purposeful community.

Q: What do you hope readers will take away from reading Orchestrating Connection?  

David Homan – Noah Askin: While each individual story or core community principle, on their own, may provide some insight and perspective, our aim was to demonstrate the system behind the combination of these values and rules that, in a wholly embraced set of new practices, can become a life altering experience for all. If readers finish Orchestrating Connection: How to Build Purposeful Community in a Tribal World (Orchestrating Connection: How to Build Purposeful Community in a Tribal World) and think about their community or network from a more macro perspective–what kind of people do I want to be in contact with, what kind of culture should my group create, what is my own purpose and how can I create a conversation with others around it–we think the book will have added substantial value.

Q: Orchestrating Connection discusses the epidemic of loneliness. How has this evolved over time and what «solutions» does Orchestrating Community offer? 

Noah Askin: In his book Bowling Alone, Robert Putnam beautifully traced the downward trend in community-related participation and engagement in US that started in the second half of the 20th century. The trend has only continued, as the metrics that track participation in any kind of communal or civic life continue to erode. On top of that, most of modern life seems to be designed to make things easier and more frictionless: think of all the apps that allow you to do things from home that you used to have to venture out in public to do. In combination, it means that people have less social contact than they used to, let alone close friends or people they can even simply count on when in need. Certainly it speaks to a lack of finding people who share your sense of purpose, too. Online substitutes rarely provide sufficient compensation for the loss of in-person connection.

It has all reached a state where the last US Surgeon General labeled loneliness a public health crisis, and he was right to do so. Social isolation and loneliness are on the rise, and they are associated with various negative physical and mental health outcomes.

In Orchestrating Connection, we offer a playbook for building those social connections, and doing so around something other than proximity. Our approach starts with yourself: what gets you out of bed in the morning, what do you care about most? Understanding your own purpose provides you with something of a Bat Signal that draws others into your orbit and gives you something to talk about and work towards, together. And when you start to engage the people who have similar passions and interests, we also explain how to really connect with them: being vulnerable, showing genuine curiosity, demonstrating generosity, and sharing gratitude. The way we approach these principles in the book is not about simply providing abstract, lofty ideals but giving readers ways to do these things to be able to put them into practice. It’s all in the name of building trust and connection quickly. Between us, we have over 20 years of studying, teaching, and practicing these things and know that they work.

Q: What do you attribute to having built your network of connections? 

David Homan: My network of connections was built on a deep passion and spirituality for people and how to enrich their lives. While I did not set out to build a purposeful community and create a system around it, the truth is it was easier to build these frameworks and measure outcomes than it was to go out or travel 200 nights a year and hope for a similar outcome. My training in the arts as a musician and actor greatly helped, along with listening to all those around me and seeing what existed in between.

Q: How can businesses lean into the elements of Orchestrating Connection to enhance connection and meaning in the workplace? 

David Homan: Every business is a community, comprised of people who are there for the larger goals. While everyone has their place in the hierarchy, I have seen in my own experience and leadership of the Orchestrated Community, that those who build relationships–while still understated and less valued than they should be–are at the core of every successful business. By embracing a culture like the one we outline in the book and the diversity of the people within the business, all while creating an environment where people are responsible, authentically driven, and accountable, everyone can succeed more…even thrive.