The Case for Belonging
When people feel like they belong at work, they tend to be more productive, motivated, engaged, and 3.5 timesmore likely to more likely to come closer to their full potential.
Further, it can lead to an estimated:
- 56% increase in job performance
- 50% reduction in turnover risk
- 75% decrease in employee sick days
Sources: research by Center of Talent Innovation, BetterUp 2019 study
79 percent organizations say fostering a sense of workplace belonging is important or very important for their success in the next 12-18 months.
13 percent organizations say they are ready to address this trend.
Sources: Deloitte 2020
The Case for Connection
People who have strong social connections at work tend to be healthier. Healthy employees tend to have higher levels of work performance, take fewer sick days, and bring more energy to the workplace.
In 2018, only 2 in 10 US employees strongly agreed that they have a best friend at work. But, if that ratio were to increase to 6 in 10, organizations could realize:
- 36% fewer safety incidents
- 7% more engaged customers
- 12% higher profit
Sources: Forbes and Gallup
Since the start of the pandemic:
30 percent of US workers felt less deeply and meaningfully connected to their organizations.
44 percent of US workers felt less connected to their coworkers.
Sources: Gallup
Behaviors Learned
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Articulate the shared purpose and values that define your group’s identity -
Be fully present in every interaction -
Attune yourself to people’s thoughts, feelings, and unspoken needs -
Create a warm and welcoming team environment -
Meet people where they are, and help them feel comfortable -
Be an uplifting presence for all -
Constructively advocate for the right values and behaviors -
Tune into and respond to the needs of diverse subgroups within a larger audience
Core Ideas
Create a sense of belonging
Belonging is not about inviting people to just “be themselves.” It is about creating a space where the best in you can recognize and draw out the best in them.
Offer a choice
Not everyone needs to belong to every environment. First identify your group’s shared values and purpose, from which your group identity is drawn, and then give people the choice of becoming a part of it.
Mentora’s program on Belonging and Connection consists of eight principles:
- Define: Clarify the purpose and values that define your group’s identity.
- Honor: Honor the presence of the people you are with by being fully present for them.
- Attune: Attune yourself to each individual’s aspirations, values, needs, thoughts, and feelings.
- Affiliate: Find common ground with people. Accept and offer bids for connection, such as a warm mile or the sharing of a personal story.
- Accommodate: Anticipate and meet people’s unique needs, if any.
- Elevate: When an individual is being sidetracked or swayed in the wrong direction, seek to elevate them to their best self.
- Advocate: Address breakdowns in belonging when they happen in a timely, constructive way.
- Differentiate: Do not approach interactions as a one-size-fits-all. Instead, adapt to different individuals and groups.
