Encouraging a Corporate Sense of Belonging

A sense of belonging is a critical mental health concept. When it’s missing, individuals feel lonely and detached.

As Karyn Hall, Ph.D., director of the Dialectical Behavior Therapy Center in Texas, wrote in Psychology Today, “A sense of belonging to a greater community improves your motivation, health, and happiness. When you see your connection to others, you know that all people struggle and have difficult times. You are not alone. There is comfort in that knowledge.”

How?

How do organizations build that sense of belonging that appears so very important to employees and their employers?

Friends at work

When employees have friends at work, it enhances their sense of belonging. That’s why so many companies encourage opportunities for informal at-work contact.

These companies make a special effort to bridge the chasm between “we” and “they” by forging teams among different silos. In a Herd Wisdom post, organizational consultant Meisha Rouser suggests, “When employees are able to span functional boundaries to connect to each other it builds a sense of unity and partnerships.”

Shared vision and ownership

Shared vision and ownership are another way to build a sense of connection. Smart company leaders invest time in communicating their vision and sharing their goals.

What’s more, fostering two-way communication by inviting input and acting on it shows employees they are valued and respected—keys to a feeling of belonging.

Work-life balance

Savvy employers also encourage their employees to have a life outside work, offering family-friendly work options, encouraging volunteerism, and even paying for fitness memberships. Why? Simple. Happy employees are good employees.

NextVision Sales Institute

Learn more about how NextVision Sales Institute can help you create an infrastructure that encourages a corporate sense of belonging and drives excellence at www.nv-si.com or email us at info@nv-si.com to set up a consultation.

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