In our workplace, we obsess over and talk a lot about creating a community where we feel we belong or at a minimum efforts are made that the workforce creates a sense of belonging to their workplace, organization, professional fraternity, industry, you get the spin. At some level, we know that if we don’t truly feel that connection and belonging, we will not be giving our full potential and perhaps remain just at our basic optimum or just about average.
We are hardwired for belonging. And if we want belonging so deeply, we will have to create an environment that is exact opposite of which promotes fitting in. Fitting in is carefully assessing, measuring and gradually acclimating. Fitting in gives us a precursor to safety net of what one can say, shouldn’t say, avoid certain behavior, dress in a certain manner, to fit along with everybody else as a existing norm. On the other hand, belonging is being your true self, belonging to yourself first what your core is. Embracing your truth and reality as opposed to modifying your behavior in fear of judgement and criticism.
Long before community assumes external shape and form, it must exist within you, says, writer Palmer.
When we think of belonging, we feel deep and connected. Fitting in is transient and we end up doing so to avoid conflicts and resistance. And fitting in is the greatest barrier to our true belonging. Belonging brings emotional security, but acceptance-seeking for fitting in is a fickle ground that is constantly shifting. Isn’t that our conversation at workplace around diversity and inclusion all about. Letting people be true to their original self first and create an environment that allows each to be who they are and comfortable space if they would like to make any changes.
So next time, observe carefully your workplace and employees and try and differentiate if they truly belong to the workplace or trying hard to fit in. Because, if we were to facilitate employees to achieve ambitions and exploit their full potential, they must first fully belong to the work, workplace and the organization seamlessly. Else, they are just moving files, answering emails and following the protocols. As a leader, if you want a high performance team or an organization, you will have to shift the scale towards belonging. Because only from a place of true belonging you perform from a place of passion beyond meeting your duties alone.
I will sum this up with Brene Brown’s quote – Belonging so fully to yourself that you’re willing to stand alone in a wilderness–an untamed, unpredictable place of solitude and searching. It turns out to be the place of true belonging, and it’s the bravest and most sacred place you will ever stand.
This article was originally published on November 11, 2019 at this link.
