Man is a social animal. While many of us have drives for achievement or power, a leader loses his or her most vital tool when s/he forgets that most basic truth of humans - at our core we are wired, through the millennia, for engagement with the world...together.

The holidays and their traditions are a testimony to our need for community, whether that community is family, neighborhood, or larger society. If you think Thanksgiving is a tribute to the spectacular goodness of turkey, you might want to think again. For better or worse, for millions of us, it is a reaffirmation of, and reconnection with our primary community, the family. Everything we do around this time of year is an affirmation of the power of this need...lighting candles and reciting prayers, decorating houses, even shopping together.

A wise leader understands the need for belonging and the incredible power it offers for any productive effort.

What are the communities that give you the best sense of who you are? In what ways do they help define you and provide a sense of meaning?