In today's world, organizations are beginning to recognize the importance of fostering a sense of belonging among their employees. Belonging in the workplace refers to an employee's feeling of acceptance and appreciation for their unique qualities, which allows them to bring their true selves to work. It is more than just feeling valued for the work one does or their role in the organization.
Employees who feel like "insiders" and are encouraged to retain their uniqueness within the workgroup will likely have a sense of belonging. As a result, organizations are beginning to value the various components of an employee's identity, recognizing its positive impact on the workplace.
In this blog, we will explore the concept of belonging in the workplace and the benefits it brings to organizations and employees.
The Importance of Belonging For EX
Belonging is a fundamental human need, and creating a sense of belonging is essential for a positive employee experience (EX). Employees who feel part of something larger than themselves are more likely to be engaged, productive, and committed to the organization's goals. Belonging also creates a sense of psychological safety, where employees feel comfortable expressing their opinions and ideas, leading to innovation and creativity.
When employees feel a sense of belonging, the financial benefits can be significant. Research has shown that high levels of belonging can lead to a 56 percent increase in job performance, a 50 percent decrease in turnover risk, and a 75 percent reduction in sick days. For a company with 10,000 employees, this could result in over $52 million in annual savings.
Another study revealed that when employees experience belonging in the workplace, they are:
- Three times more likely to look forward to coming to work.
- Five times more likely to want to stay at their company.
Clearly, creating a culture of belonging can have a positive impact on both employees and the organization as a whole.
Strategies For Creating A Sense Of Belonging
Fostering a sense of belonging in the workplace is not always easy. Here are some strategies that organizations can use to create a culture of belonging:
Encourage Open Communication
Encouraging open communication is a critical factor in creating a sense of belonging in the workplace. When employees feel their voices are heard and their opinions matter, they are more likely to feel engaged and invested in their work. To foster open communication, organizations should create a culture of openness where employees feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas.
One way to create a culture of openness is to encourage employee feedback and suggestions. This can be done through regular surveys, suggestion boxes, or open forums where employees can share their ideas and feedback. It's essential to create a safe and supportive environment where employees feel comfortable sharing their thoughts, even if they differ from the norm.
Another way to encourage open communication is to hold regular team meetings where employees can discuss their progress, challenges, and ideas. This can be a great way to foster collaboration and teamwork and to keep everyone on the same page.
Embrace Diversity and Inclusion
Embracing diversity and inclusion is another important strategy for creating a sense of belonging in the workplace. When employees feel like their unique backgrounds and perspectives are valued, they are more likely to feel like they belong and can contribute to the organization meaningfully.
To embrace diversity and inclusion, organizations should make a concerted effort to create a workplace culture that values and respects differences. This includes hiring a diverse workforce and providing opportunities for all employees to learn about and appreciate different cultures and backgrounds.
One way to embrace diversity and inclusion is to offer diversity and inclusion training to all employees. This can help employees learn about different cultures, biases, and ways to create a more inclusive workplace. Organizations can also provide resources and support for employees facing discrimination or other challenges due to their backgrounds or identities.
Create a Sense of Community
One way to foster a sense of community among employees is to arrange social events or team-building activities that bring them together. Examples of such activities could be holiday parties, team lunches, or post-work gatherings. By offering chances for employees to mingle and connect outside of the workplace, these events can help forge stronger bonds and a sense of camaraderie. It's worth noting that virtual team-building activities can be just as effective as in-person ones as long as they provide an opportunity for colleagues to come together and engage in non-work-related conversation.
Another way to create community is by encouraging collaboration and teamwork. When employees work together on projects or tasks, they are more likely to feel like they are part of a team and working towards a common goal. This can be achieved by creating cross-functional teams, encouraging employees to work on projects outside their usual roles, or even implementing gamification techniques to promote friendly competition and collaboration.
Provide Opportunities for Growth
Providing opportunities for growth and development is another critical strategy for creating a sense of belonging in the workplace. When employees feel they have opportunities to grow and advance in their careers, they are more likely to feel invested in the organization's success and committed to their roles.
Consider offering training and development programs. These could include leadership development programs and technical or soft skills training. By investing in the development of their employees, organizations can help them gain new skills and knowledge that will benefit both the employee and the organization as a whole.
In addition to formal training programs, organizations can provide employees with opportunities to take on new challenges and responsibilities. This could include giving employees stretch assignments or allowing them to take on leadership roles in projects or teams.
Recognize and Reward
When employees feel appreciated and valued for their contributions, they are more likely to feel connected to their colleagues and committed to the organization's success.
One effective way to recognize and reward employees is by implementing an employee recognition program. This could include peer-to-peer recognition programs where employees can recognize and thank their colleagues for their contributions, or formal recognition programs tied to specific performance metrics.
When designing an employee recognition program, it's vital to ensure fairness and transparency. This means creating clear criteria for recognition and ensuring that all employees have equal recognition opportunities. It's also essential to make the recognition meaningful and personal by tailoring it to the individual employee and their specific contributions.
Lead by Example
Leading by example is a crucial strategy for creating a sense of belonging in the workplace. Managers and leaders should model the behaviors they want to see in their employees, such as openness, respect, and inclusivity. When leaders demonstrate these behaviors, it sets the tone for the entire organization and conveys that these values are essential.
Leaders can model these behaviors in several ways. They can demonstrate openness by encouraging employee feedback and being receptive to new perspectives. They can show respect by treating employees fairly and valuing contributors regardless of their position or level of authority. And they can promote inclusivity by seeking out diverse perspectives and experiences to create a welcoming and valued culture.
Challenges and Solutions for Creating a Sense of Belonging in the Workplace
While creating a sense of belonging in the workplace is crucial for fostering employee engagement, productivity, and retention, it can also present challenges. One of the biggest challenges is overcoming biases and stereotypes within the organization or among individual employees. For example, unconscious bias may lead some employees to overlook the contributions or perspectives of others based on factors such as race, gender, or age. Organizations may need to invest in diversity and inclusion training and work to create a culture that values diverse perspectives.
Another challenge is creating a sense of belonging in a remote or hybrid work environment. With more employees working from home or in geographically dispersed teams, fostering a sense of connection and community among employees can be more complicated. To address this challenge, organizations can leverage technology to create virtual team-building activities or provide opportunities for employees to connect and collaborate in virtual spaces.
Ultimately, creating a sense of belonging in the workplace requires a sustained effort from leaders, managers, and employees at all levels of the organization. It requires a commitment to openness, respect, inclusivity, and ongoing learning and improvement. With the right strategies and mindset, however, organizations can create a workplace culture that fosters belonging and enables employees to thrive personally and professionally.
Andrew Reise helps organizations understand the needs and expectations of employees to drive exceptional customer experiences. Contact us here to get started.
See How an Employee Experience Strategy Can Elevate an Organization
Building a sense of belonging in the workplace is critical, but it’s not the only strategy that can increase productivity and performance. What happens when an organization is happy with its company culture but needs to ensure the right employees (with the right behaviors) are in place to deliver on the brand’s promises?
That’s the problem we recently helped a large telecommunications provider solve. Read our full Employee Experience Strategy case study to see how we analyzed the full employee experience and built a full-scale strategy that re-aligned the organization.