At the core of who we are as humans is the desire to be a part of something greater than ourselves. Humans crave a sense of belonging from the environments that they are in.
Being a member of one’s surrounding systems, such as family, friends, school, work environments, communities, cultural groupings, and physical places, is a subjective experience.
According to research in the Journal of Workplace Learning, belonging is a situational and dynamic experience. It’s about feeling like you belong right now, through activities, common goals and working together to achieve something.
A sense of belonging entails more than just getting to know other people. It focuses on gaining acceptance, attention, and support from group members while also delivering the same attention to other members.
Three Indicators of Belonging in the Workplace
A sense of belonging is a personal experience impacted by a variety of elements both inside ourselves and in our surroundings. This experience is not a one size fits all, however, here are three indicators that there is a sense of belonging in the workplace.
- All employees feel safe to share their thoughts and opinions.
- Everyone has a seat at the table.
- People’s individual identities are celebrated.
Why Belonging Matters in the Workplace
According to new research by psychologists at Nottingham Trent University, people who have a strong sense of belonging to social groups are happier. While most people may see the workplace solely as a means of income, the fact is they will actually spend most of their lives.
A five-day work week consists of 120 hours, people work for an average of 40 hours and sleep for around 40 hours per week, this means that only 40 hours per week is spent in social settings outside of work. Ignoring time spent asleep, we can see that many individuals spend as much time at work as they do socializing outside of it. It is therefore of utmost importance, as an employer, to consider how big of an impact the situations employees confront in the workplace can have life outside of work.
In addition, according to research conducted by Oxford University, happy workers are 13 percent more productive
How to Foster a Sense of Belonging in the Workplace
Fostering a sense of belonging takes conscious effort and practice. A way to foster a sense of belonging is to constantly request feedback from employees on what they would like to be done in the organization. This not only helps you be better as an organization but it also makes the employees feel as though they are a part of the decision making process and subsequently belong within the organization.
When people of different backgrounds receive a seat at the table and feel heard, visible, and appreciated for their contributions, that’s when a workplace is successfully fostering belonging.
If you need guidance with fostering a sense of belonging in your workplace, chat with our iHealthOX Care Team to get started.
Sources
https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/pieces-mind/201403/create-sense-belonging
https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2019-10-24-happy-workers-are-13-more-productive
https://www.ntu.ac.uk/about-us/news/news-articles/2016/05/happiness-effect-down-to-sense-of-belonging-study-shows
https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/between-cultures/202112/the-sense-you-belong-somewhere
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