Updated: May 01, 2023

How to Create a Sense of Belonging in the Workplace

You found our guide on how to create a sense of belonging in the workplace.

A sense of belonging in the workplace is the feeling of acceptance and inclusion employees experience as members of a specific organization or team. You can create a sense of belonging in the workplace as a leader by encouraging teamwork, promoting open communication, and appreciating team members’ contributions. Creating this community is important because it motivates employees to demonstrate a high level of productivity, engagement, and job satisfaction.

This article includes:

belonging-in-the-workplace
  • what is a sense of belonging in the workplace?
  • ways to foster belonging in the workplace
  • creating a culture of belonging in the workplace
  • inclusion and belonging in the workplace
  • how to create a sense of belonging in a team

Let’s get started!

What is a sense of belonging in the workplace?

A feeling of belonging in the workplace arises when employees feel the company’s management and coworkers recognize and appreciate their individuality. Everyday interactions add up to a sense of belonging, making it possible for an individual to relax and present their authentic selves in their work environment. Creating a sense of belonging in the workplace is essential for employee satisfaction, loyalty, productivity, and engagement.

Having a sense of appreciation for your job and place in the organization is important, but belonging is more than that. When companies regard their workers as “insiders” and encourage them to maintain their individuality within the group, they create a workplace culture of belonging. This approach necessitates recognizing and appreciating the many facets of an employee’s identity, including but not limited to their parenthood, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. Therefore, you might consider the concepts of diversity and inclusion related to belonging.

Having a sense of community at work is crucial since it directly affects productivity and morale in the workplace. For maximum productivity, a sense of belonging is essential.
Employees who do not feel a sense of appreciation are likelier to be uncomfortable about their role in the company and feel unsafe expressing their true selves in their work. The nervousness and anxiety will eventually hamper the employee’s performance, inventiveness, and desire to contribute.

Ways to foster belonging in the workplace

Whether you are an HR professional, project manager, or administrative director, the following are practical methods to promote a sense of belonging at work.

1. Encourage Open Communication

Encouraging employees to share their ideas and concerns publicly will create an environment where the whole team feels their opinions matter. When individuals realize that leaders value their opinions, they are more likely to feel at ease in the organization.

In addition, open communication in the workplace can boost transparency, thus building trust and strengthening relationships among team members. It is often easy to spot and address company issues on time when there’s open communication. Leaders who encourage open communication can help build a collaborative workplace, as employees will feel secure enough to work together to create innovative solutions to problems.

Check out internal communication tips.

2. Create a Sense of Community

Many organizations operating with a healthy workplace culture understand that the effort spent on creating a sense of community usually pays off.

When there is a sense of community, employees will feel like they are an integral part of the workplace. Fostering a community can mean organizing events and activities that allow employees to bond with each other outside of work. Examples of activities to incorporate are virtual hangouts, team building exercises, or after-work social events.

Ensuring authenticity and intentionality while creating these community activities is important, as not all employees can relate similarly. For example, you might unintentionally exclude nursing moms from attending a team’s happy-hour night.

Here is a list of community-building activities.

3. Emphasize Purpose

More than just wanting a job title and impressive earnings, employees also want to determine how their contributions match the organization’s goals. Therefore, as a manager or leader, you must instill a sense of purpose in your employee’s minds.

If you do not know where to begin, then start by discussing what the company stands for. Stating a clear purpose gives employees a good sense of focus, allowing them to recognize how their daily contributions fit into the bigger picture. The positive results of emphasizing purpose can be glaring, including creating a feeling of pride and accomplishment among the team members.

4. Foster Diversity and Inclusivity

Diversity and inclusivity are fast becoming essential for establishing a thriving workplace that drives productivity, competitiveness, and innovation. Diverse and inclusive workplaces involve and support employees in all areas, regardless of their organizational level. In a workforce that comprises folks from different countries, provinces, religions, or ethnicities, it is necessary to appreciate teammates.

In some organizations, some employees may go through “ethnic profiling.” This discriminatory term describes when an individual gets differential treatment due to their religion, national origin, ethnicity, or race. As a leader, it is necessary to identify and stop unhealthy workplace attitudes, as they can negatively impact how employees carry on with their tasks.

Read about the benefits of inclusion and diversity.

5. Provide Stability

Many workers may struggle to do their best if their environment feels unstable. Factors such as inefficient processes, unfair terms, and constant organizational changes can affect employees’ psychological resources, stretching them to their limits.

If you intend to create a stable work environment, then your workforce must be able to trust you to provide basic resources to carry out their tasks, such as role clarity and consistent feedback.

Other ways to encourage organizational stability include:

  • Providing comfortable office space for each employee
  • Hosting events to promote engagements
  • Implement adaptable work policies

Supporting employees with stability in the workplace can motivate them to keep giving back to the organization, which means more productivity.

6. Provide Regular Feedback and Recognition

Feedback is essential to ensuring that employees do not feel left out in the organization. Employees who receive regular feedback and recognition are more likely to achieve skills mastery and professional growth in their careers or industry.

Unfortunately, most leaders are lacking in the amount of feedback they provide their employees after each task. While your role as a manager may demand a lot of your time, consider scheduling one-on-one meetings with each of your employees. When providing feedback, ensure that your criticisms are constructive and actively encourage the employee to build upon some specific skills they have. If you are strategizing on creating a sense of belonging in a team, then you should prioritize feedback.

Here is a list of employee recognition ideas.

7. Encourage Teamwork

Teamwork in the workplace can bring individuals from diverse backgrounds and different talents together. Aside from helping the team finish tasks faster, teamwork is an effective way of combating loneliness and fostering inclusion and belonging in the workplace.

Teamwork promotes a sense of purpose and ownership, as each member feels like they are a big part of the puzzle. With collaboration, employees will feel confident enough to access important information by participating in an office discussion or asking a colleague.

Managers can inspire teamwork by creating opportunities for employees to participate in work or fun projects. Another way to encourage cooperation is by supplying proper technical support to make sharing ideas much more accessible. In all, teamwork will help foster friendship and trust in the workplace.

Check out these books about teamwork.

8. Provide Opportunities for Growth

Offering opportunities for professional development is a key factor in creating a sense of belonging in the workplace. When employees receive a chance to develop their knowledge, they know you fully support their growth. Hence, workers develop a feeling of appreciation and demonstrate deeper commitment and loyalty to the organization.

You can encourage employee growth by registering them for training and mentorship programs, buying them good books, or linking them to career advancement opportunities.

Moreover, providing growth opportunities can also push employees to connect with the company’s mission and vision. When the employees see how their personal growth aligns with the organization’s goals, they are more likely to feel a sense of purpose and fulfillment in their work.

Here is a list of professional development opportunities.

9. Create a Positive Work Environment

Creating a positive work environment enables employees to feel happy and comfortable while in the workplace. Employees will more likely grow a strong fondness for the organization.

Some ways to create a positive work environment include endorsing work-life balance, providing a conducive physical workspace, and giving room for professional growth. Likewise, promoting a culture of inclusion, open communication, and respect can go a long way to boost positivity and a sense of belonging amongst employees.

When the work environment is great, team members are more likely to collaborate better with their colleagues, leading to higher productivity.

​Learn more about organizational culture.

10. Recognize Accomplishments

Recognizing employees’ accomplishments makes them feel like a huge part of the organization. As you may already know, most employees commit a significant fraction of their lives to work. Therefore, one good way to encourage or boost their morale is by rewarding their contributions toward the organization’s success.

When you achieve excellent results with an employee’s idea, thank them for their input. You can recognize or celebrate the contributors through incentives like promotions, awards, appreciation gifts, and extra time off. Also, ensure that cultural, ethnic, and social backgrounds do not affect who should or should not get rewards for their impact.

11. Lead by Example

Employees will likely not exhibit positive attitudes at work if the company’s leaders do not set the path. Leading by example entails modeling the exact behaviors you want your employees to display.

For example, if you display poor leadership skills, then employees may experience conflicts. You need to be a leader who knows how to speak to clients, maintains office cleanliness, and completes tasks on time. Your team members pick up these positive reminders and follow your examples.

12. Promote a Sense of Trust

The absence of trust in the workplace makes it more challenging for employees to speak up or communicate with their colleagues. Fostering a sense of trust in the workplace can significantly impact your employee’s morale and sense of responsibility.

Employees who trust their superiors or colleagues tend to feel comfortable expressing their opinions, accepting more significant responsibilities, and taking risks at work. Some of the ways you can build a sense of trust amongst employees include honest communication, consistent decision-making, and transparency.

By promoting a culture of trust, managers can also reduce the need for micromanagement and increase employee autonomy. In contrast, a lack of trust can lead to disengagement and detachment from the organization’s goals. This situation can result in reduced productivity, higher turnover rates, and a general decline in the organization’s overall success.

Check out this list of trust-building activities.

13. Encourage Autonomy

Employee autonomy gives workers a sense of accountability and responsibility for work results. Allowing employees to be in charge of their activities enables them to develop skills that will benefit the organization. In addition, employee autonomy spurs problem-solving and creative thinking, which can foster a sense of belonging in the workplace.

Further, autonomy allows employees to personalize their work experience, which can help them feel more comfortable and engaged in their roles. By giving employees the freedom to tailor their work to their strengths and preferences, employers can foster a sense of individuality and identity within the workplace.

14. Address Conflicts Promptly and Fairly

Having a solid process of resolving conflicts promptly and fairly helps your employees see their feelings are valid. More so, effectively resolving disputes enables employees to focus on their tasks without the stress of unresolved issues hanging over them.

On the other hand, failure to resolve conflicts promptly and equitably can lead to a breakdown in relationships, a hostile work environment, and even a lack of trust. Resolving conflicts fairly and impartially typically empowers the employees to trust their colleagues and the company’s leadership. The sense of trust the employees grow can create a positive work environment, leading to retention and job satisfaction.

Check out this list of books about conflict resolution.

15. Establish a Common Goal

Talking about a particular goal that each member of the organization shares is great for boosting a sense of belonging in the workplace. That way, every employee will love that they genuinely contribute to an important project.

One of the best ways to talk about this common goal is through storytelling. Storytelling will help employees visualize goals and understand how each individual fits into the overall plan. After establishing a common goal, you must review the workplace culture occasionally. This review ensures all employees still contribute to achieving the goal.

Here is a list of goal-setting activities.

16. Measure and Analyze the Results

Finally, the only way to determine improvement in any area of the organization is by measuring and analyzing performance. When calculating the success of creating a sense of belonging in the workplace, you need to conduct regular employee surveys. Often, the results from these employee surveys will help you identify aspects that need more focus.

Conclusion

Creating a sense of belonging in the workplace is important because it makes employees feel secure. However, you must understand that fostering a sense of belonging in the workplace will require patience. To build a sense of belonging in the workplace, managers should encourage employees to always show up to work as their true selves and practice team bonding. More than that, managers must learn how to give their employees actionable feedback and plan events that aid connection outside of work.

Note that a lack of belonging can cause disengagement, isolation, and ultimately, poor turnover.

FAQ: How to create a sense of belonging in the workplace

Here are answers to commonly asked questions about how to create a sense of belonging in the workplace.

What does sense of belonging mean in the workplace?

A sense of belonging in the workplace refers to an employee’s feeling of connection, acceptance, and inclusion within their work environment. This sense involves feeling like a valuable team member while receiving the full support of colleagues and superiors.

A strong sense of belonging is important because it can increase job satisfaction, engagement, and productivity. Further, employees who feel they belong are more likely to commit their time and energy to ensure the organization’s success.

What are some good ways to foster a sense of belonging in the workplace?

Employers can promote a sense of belonging in the following ways:

  • Creating a welcoming and inclusive work culture
  • Recognizing and appreciating employee contributions
  • Fostering open communication and collaboration among team members
  • Providing opportunities for professional development and growth

In addition, managers can take active steps to address some barriers to belonging, such as addressing issues of discrimination or exclusion. A strong sense of belonging benefits employees and the organization, creating a more positive and productive work environment.

Why is the importance of creating a belonging important in the workplace?

Creating a sense of belonging in the workplace is important because it can help support an intelligent environment where all staff members can freely express their ideas for the team’s benefit.

Most employees with a sense of belonging have more potential to show motivation and high-level performance at work.

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Author:

People & Culture Director at teambuilding.com.
Grace is the Director of People & Culture at TeamBuilding. She studied Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University, Information Science at East China Normal University and earned an MBA at Washington State University.

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