A sense of belonging is more than just a “feel good” concept. In fact, studies suggest that employees who feel like they are key members of a team and connected to their colleagues are more likely to stay and be productive.
Want to create a sense of belonging? Consider these steps:
- Build a diverse team. Think about focusing on “culture odd” instead of “culture fit.” Who will bring something new and unique to your team but share your values? Who can help fill existing gaps in skills, knowledge, experience, etc.?
- Ensure team cohesion. Clarity is the key here – having clear roles and decision-making processes. Recognize the personal attributes that each team member brings to the organization. Encourage collaboration and establish parameters that help everyone understand their role and how it connects with everyone else’s.
- Stop distributing power just to the dominant group. Train your teams and your managers about unconscious bias. Create a culture where people welcome collaborations with people who don’t necessarily look or think like they do. When appropriate, bring in a facilitator to help build diverse teams.
- Model upstander and ally behaviors. This means calling people out on their micro-aggressions and inviting a variety of people into the conversation. When you model these behaviors, it will help your team know what you expect from them.
