Fostering a Sense of Belonging
“To know that you can navigate the wilderness on your own--to know that you can stay true to your beliefs, trust yourself, and survive it--that is true belonging.” - Brene Brown
Belonging is the heart and soul of what I do. It is the final chapter in my book, Authentic Diversity. Creating a workplace where everyone can belong is my goal for every organization to ensure each person that they bring on, invest in, train, manage, and lead, can believe that they belong here. It's not an easy task, but it's a necessary one for the work of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
A workplace where everyone can belong is the goal for all organizations that want to foster a positive and inclusive culture. But how do we foster a sense of belonging?
First, we need to establish a culture of respect and inclusion. This means that everyone in your workplace, from the top down, should be committed to treating each other with respect and making sure that everyone's voice is heard.
Second, create policies and practices that support diversity and inclusion. This could include policies around hiring and promotion practices that aim to increase diversity, as well as training programs that promote understanding and awareness of different cultures and perspectives.
Third, we create opportunities for everyone to contribute and participate. This involves creating employee resource groups or affinity groups that provide a space for individuals to connect with others who share similar experiences or identities.
Finally, it's important to measure and track progress towards inclusion. Such as, collecting data on diversity, tracking employee engagement and satisfaction, and regularly assessing the effectiveness of inclusion initiatives.
By taking these steps, we can create workplaces where everyone feels valued and included, which can lead to increased productivity, engagement, and overall success.
Do the work
This week, I commit to actively seek out opportunities to connect with and learn from my colleagues. I will lead by example and set a positive tone in the workplace by utilizing perspective-shifting and treating others with kindness, empathy, and respect.
Spread the word
If you want to keep going
Together We Rise: How to Own Your Value and Thrive at Work
The evidence is clear. If we want to succeed, we need to own our value and thrive in a community together. In this session, I will teach you how to design your own pathway to success right here. With my trademark top ten rules, we will address battling impostor syndrome, finding champions to succeed with you, ensuring your well-being, among many other topics of belonging and inclusion. The goal is to ensure all of us have the right tools to know this truth: you belong here, in a place where you can do more than succeed; a place where you can thrive.
