Belonging is defined as a feeling of choosing, wanting, and feeling permission to be part of a community or group, such as a work team, department company, volunteer organization, church, sports team, etc. Zooming in a bit helps focus on the reality of the problem. It’s the humane, human, and smart thing to do. While you’re here, don’t forget to browse hundreds of articles by topic — from talent attraction to employee experience, diversity & inclusion, leadership and more! Knowing all the songs goes beyond simply being invited to the party; you feel like you belong there. When you feel psychologically safe, you believe others will give you the benefit of the doubt. We can now say that feeling excluded causes us to give less effort to the team. In a nutshell, companies are blowing it. It also helps support business goals. And you can’t help but dance; it’s your jam! The benefits of creating a sense of belonging at work, for ourselves and others, extends well beyond diversity and inclusion. Inclusion in the workplace is about the actions and behaviors we take to create a culture in which employees feel valued, trusted and authentic. Feeling free to express one’s opinions at work is also a major component in creating a sense of belonging. Mentioned by a whopping 59% … Second, it offers new, evidence-based interventions to boost inclusion. Our survey findings reveal workplace exclusion as a systemic issue that generates hefty financial losses. Researchers... Self-Expression. Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are one example of how organizations can take action to help underrepresented minorities feel included and give them a voice. We set out to study how that develops — or doesn’t — in the workplace, what it means for employees and organizations, and whether it’s possible to turn a bad situation around. U.S. businesses spend nearly 8 billion dollars each year on diversity and inclusion (D&I) trainings that miss the mark because they neglect our need to feel included. Our research demonstrates clear, actionable paths forward to help resolve the epidemic of workplace exclusion. These findings beg the question: Can exclusion be fixed? People like to connect over food, which is why kitchens and break rooms have traditionally helped foster belonging at work. Experiments show that individuals coping with left-out feelings can prevent them by gaining perspective from others, mentoring those in a similar condition, and thinking of strategies for improving the situation. When employees feel like they don’t belong at work, their performance and their personal lives suffer. Belonging is the feeling of security and support when there is a sense of acceptance, inclusion, and identity for a member of a certain group or place� It’s the basic fundamental drive to form and maintain lasting, positive, and significant relationships with others � At the workplace, these relationships can be extended to the organization and its values and to the work itself� Exclusion is damaging because it actually hurts: the sensation is akin to physical pain. And so, a sense of belonging at work isn’t just about creating psychological safety and driving innovation and moving closer toward equality. To feel left out is a deeply human problem, which is why its consequences carry such heft and why its causes are so hard to root out of even the healthiest workplaces. A sense of belonging can come from working with people with similar interests, hobbies or outlooks and from giving employees the opportunity to come together over shared interests. The most successful businesses have always had a great sense of belonging amongst employees and will actively foster a positive environment where employees feel engaged, included and respected. It is when an individual can bring their authentic self to work. Here’s How to Write a Good Job Description – Not a Lazy One. Having the ability to express your thoughts and opinions at work is more about fostering an open, honest environment where employees can’t fear to challenge the status quo. A genuine sense of belonging is built on mutual trust and respect. According to the report, research indicates that people become close to … Yet belonging “can literally feel like a life or death matter.” She explains: Leaders can turn to a solution that costs little and has major dividends: a sense of belonging. 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