We, humans, have an innate need to belong — to one another, to our friends and families, and to our culture and country. The same is true when we’re at work. When people feel like they belong at work, they are more productive, motivated, engaged and 3.5 times more likely to contribute to their fullest potential, according to Harvard researchers. The problem is that more than 40 percent of workers feel emotionally and physically isolated in the workplace. From the study, researchers also found out what gives employees a sense of belonging and what doesn’t. Being invited to big company events or gaining face time with senior leadership was of little importance. What was important to employees, however, for creating a sense of belonging is when a fellow colleague checks-in on them and asks the question “How are you doing?” It may seem absurdly ordinary, but simply checking-in on your coworker can go a long way in forging connections with coworkers, which, in turn, can yield tremendous benefits at scale from a better engagement at work to better financial results. Have a look here to see what else you can do beyond the check-in to help coworkers feel like they belong.
What does and doesn’t help for creating a sense of belonging in the workplace
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