Why a Sense of Belonging at Work Matters

When it comes to any successful endeavor, as a business, you want to make sure you have the right team. While business success can be measured by numbers, results are driven by people. Creating a sense of belonging for workers increases employee happiness and performance. When people enjoy their work life, they work harder, have more creativity, and better communication. These attributes are incredibly important for success and longevity.

So, how can employees feel a sense of belonging? 

Company values set the tone for teamwork viability. Employees that enter the workplace with the knowledge they are working for a company that values camaraderie is more likely to assume the best in others and maintain a positive mental attitude. If teamwork and team building is treated as a priority, when issues arise, employees will work with each other and help each other to solve them. Camaraderie decreases tension and the likelihood of low morale in the workplace. 

Additionally, how conflict is managed shapes a working environment. Having open lines of communication with leadership is key. When employees feel they can share with leadership, conflicts are dealt with swiftly. While factors like age, ethnicity, and gender can vary with teammates, these differences don’t dictate how a team functions together. What makes a well-functioning team is all about communication. To avoid potential miscommunications, regular check-ins by team leadership should be conducted individually and as a group so employees can share their goals and differences in functioning as a team. Intentional communicative practices curve avoidable hindrances among teammates. 

The next step in fostering workplace belonging is celebrating. Ensuring that every team member has a clear path to achieve their goals is of utmost importance, requiring their ownership and dedicated effort. Consider performance acknowledgement as listed below:

• “employee of the month”

• Noting employment anniversaries

• a small, in-house celebration for teammates

• competitive compensation for performance 

All these examples are easy to adopt and go a long way in helping everyone feel they have a seat at the table. 

A happy and positive work environment ensures all employees have what they need to perform well in a place they fit in. Happy employees are loyal and willing to do what it takes to meet goals. While policies and economic conditions change, entities that take care of their people have the highest probability of standing the test of time and earning respect of consumers.