Recent interruptions caused by the pandemic have posed difficulties for businesses and workers alike. The rising use of work-from-home and hybrid models has led to a loss of belonging in the workplace and increased anxiety among workers.
These obstacles have served to shine a light on the importance of a feeling of belonging in the workplace, an aspect widely acknowledged as crucial to any organization's success.
Sixty-one percent of workers are exhausted by their occupations. [1]
According to a survey of over 11,800 employees throughout the world, a sense of belonging has surpassed financial incentives as the most important factor in motivating workers to put up their best effort. [2]
When asked, however, to define belonging, many people struggle. Feeling like we belong somewhere is just as essential to our well-being as eating and dressing properly. Creating a sense of belonging among workers is essential in the business world.
5 Way To Improve Sense of Belonging in Employees At Work
Having a sense of belonging and practicing mindfulness at work may make even the most tedious tasks more bearable, leading to increased productivity and a more committed team. In the end, this will lead to improved financial outcomes for the company.
What, then, can be done to encourage a feeling of belonging in the workplace? As a keynote speaker, I have outlined these six easy steps to take:
True and open dialogue
The best way to make people feel like they belong at work is through open lines of communication. When members of our team feel safe enough to voice their ideas and concerns, it may strengthen the bonds within the group.
However, having an open line of communication does not necessitate additional team-building exercises. People in this society do not hesitate to voice their opinions without fear of retaliation.
The key is being completely transparent with our staff. Instead of trying to sweep employee complaints under the rug, address them directly.
Evaluate how engaged our team members are in the meetings we're holding. We can get more people involved if we pose questions and treat disagreements as healthy.
Top-down transparency allows for open and honest dialogue. Informing our whole staff of the company's financial and operational state can help everyone feel more invested in the business.
Create a more welcoming and mindful leadership style
Ultimately, it's up to corporate executives to ensure that its culture sticks.
The confidence of employees and the atmosphere of the workplace may be affected by the actions of management. Whether or not our workforce views errors as teachable moments may have a significant impact on their sense of belonging.
If workers have faith in their supervisors and think they genuinely care about them, they are more likely to feel like they belong at the company. Leaders that don't care for their employees will, on the other hand, have a dysfunctional team full of demoralized workers.
Because of this, effective and mindful managers are collaborative leaders who explore new methods to give their employees a voice.
They see why it's so important to do things like have brainstorming sessions and hold open forums for employees to air their opinions.
When people in a team feel like they have someone in their corner, they are more receptive to constructive criticism and other forms of education.
In the end, this will foster a sense of belonging where everyone feels valued and respected, and everyone works together to achieve shared goals.
Allow workers to be themselves
Do all of our workers feel like they belong there? One way to foster a sense of belonging in the workplace is to establish an environment that is genuine.
Being able to relax and be ourselves at work has been shown to increase self-esteem, confidence, and ultimately productivity. They will be able to put more energy into their jobs.
Establishing trust and acceptance among coworkers is crucial to developing a mindful workplace culture. As part of this effort, it's important to send encouraging messages to staff and increasing diversity in the workplace.
Acknowledge and reward success
Staff members are more likely to feel like they belong at a company if they see that the organization values and acknowledges their contributions to team success.
Work consumes over a third of the average working adult's life. Staff morale may be greatly improved when they are recognized for their efforts and contributions.
As such, it's important to give credit where credit is due when an employee's suggestion is implemented and yields positive results; doing so will encourage the employee and encourage others to pitch in.
One way to demonstrate appreciation is to provide perks and privileges, such as allowing for more adaptable scheduling or extra time off or providing an award or gift of appreciation.
As a corollary, ensure that advancement opportunities in the workplace are granted only on the basis of individual performance, regardless of the applicant's background.
Feeling like we belong in a group increases when people know their efforts are appreciated and they have the same opportunities as others.
Enhance unity in the team
Acceptance into a group is a prerequisite for belonging. Because of this, it's important to provide our staff with chances to bond in informal settings.
Bowling night and other team-building events provide employees an opportunity to connect with one another in a fun, relaxed setting.
Our workers' fundamental desire to build and sustain meaningful relationships with others will be met when they are encouraged to do so.
They'll be more inspired to do their best and more likely to help out their coworkers if they feel like they're a valued member of the team.
When everyone in our team works together, they'll establish a bond that's great for morale and productivity.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, keep in mind that fostering a sense of belonging doesn't happen quickly. Businesses should strive to make workers feel safe and supported.
Workplace belonging is fostered by elements such as employees who are themselves at work, strong team bonds, and an inclusive and mindful leader.
Most importantly, though, we should strive to meet the needs of all of our staff members and create a mindful workplace culture.
References
1. 9 Employee Engagement Statistics In 2021 [Internet]. [cited 2022 Nov 9]. Available from: https://www.hirebook.com/blog/9-employee-engagement-statistics-in-2021
2. 2021 Employee Experience Trends Report [Internet]. Qualtrics. [cited 2022 Nov 9]. Available from: https://www.qualtrics.com/ebooks-guides/employee-experience-trends-2021/