Belonging - Diversity and Inclusion

Within Diversity and Inclusion we are considering things such as gender, race, culture, sexual orientation and age, but what’s lacking in this concept, however, is the actualization of fully accepting people for their unique traits that make them different from those around them. The idea of belonging may seem like a warm-and-fuzzy notion, but the practicality is quite simple; when you allow your employees to feel like they belong to your organization, they will feel more confident in their abilities to represent themselves authentically. People who “belong” feel comfortable expressing ideas, sharing experiences and contributing to a group when they know that their input is valued.

Creating a truly inclusive workforce will not only address some of the age-old challenges in the workplace, it will help promote belonging

The Impact of Belonging

In the last four years, the search term “employee experience” has increased by 140% on Google. It’s clear to companies that talent is a necessity for their business to be successful, and if your people are enjoying their experience, their performance will be better. So how do companies ensure that their employees have a good experience? You help them belong to a community – your community. Humans are genetically wired to want to belong: to their local communities, to their families and to their friend group. In fact, recent findings have shown that belonging to a group of coworkers can be a better motivator than money alone. Companies need to acknowledge the individuals within their organization and accept each of these individuals for their authentic and true self.

Implementing Belonging to your D&I Initiative

Adapting your D&I initiative to incorporate belonging can be a simple transition with a lasting organizational impact. A study conducted by LinkedIn identified that employees feel like they belong when they are: recognized, allowed to express their thoughts and have the ability to make contributions. To make a move to a more belonging culture, follow these easy action items:

1. Get to know your people: Every employee in your business or team has a different story to tell, and you should get to know that story. Communicating with your employees on a deeper level will provide the opportunity to understand their workplace needs and create a more inclusive environment.

2. Dedicate your time and attention: When soliciting conversations to get to know your people, give them your full attention. Put down the cellphone, ask follow-up questions so they feel heard and listened to and always let them finish their thoughts before jumping in or interrupting.

3. Personalize your introductions: When introducing people to your team to others, personalize the introduction. Include things outside the job title to show you know who they are as a person.

4. Open it up to others: Don’t be the first one to share ideas in a meeting. Open it up to others, get the conversation flowing before inputting your ideas. This encourages a space where diverse views and opinions are valued.

By following these simple action items and communicating the importance of diversity, inclusion and belonging to your organization, you are well on your way to ensuring your people have the best possible experience who have the tools and platforms to outperform your competition.

You might be wondering what belonging looks like, right? Well, I believe it is the feeling that you can be yourself within a workplace and that you can bring however much of your authentic self you want to bring to work and when you feel appreciated and confident that you can contribute by being you a lot of research in this space and it all suggests that not only is belonging something we all crave for, but it is something that, if we achieve it, can also unite all our people.