A culture of belonging in business is an environment where employees feel safe, included and valued. They’re comfortable expressing their individuality in their thoughts and actions—because they’re celebrated for it.
According to research by think tank Coqual, a sense of belonging at work is rooted in four elements for employees: 1) being seen for their unique contributions; 2) connected to their coworkers; 3) supported in their daily work and career development; and 4) proud of their organization’s values and purpose.
The benefits of this type of positive environment are clear. According to the same research, people who experience high belonging at their company feel more engaged with their work and loyal to their company and plan to stay at their job for at least two years. Those experiencing low belonging were four times more likely to say they felt stalled in their careers.
So how can you create and nurture high belonging as a woman business owner? Here are eight ideas:
- Communicate your why: Why did you start your company? What are your company’s values and purpose? Make sure you communicate and reinforce these so employees feel connected to something meaningful and important.
- Put things in writing: Put your cultural goals and policies in writing. This lets current and potential employees know you’re serious. When your words are followed by action, you’ll build trust and encourage them to get on board.
- Lead by example: Cultural change starts at the top. To be successful, you need active buy-in from all influential people. When they make noticeable changes in their behavior, it creates a ripple affect across the company.
- Listen to understand: It’s easy to react before truly comprehending the meaning behind someone else’s statement or action. Actively listening to employees creates a shared understanding where the person feels heard and validated.
- Offer support: Training and resources that help people identify any unconscious beliefs and biases that may be affecting their attitudes and behaviors and move beyond those are key. Every person in your company comes with them, including you.
- Seek out different perspectives: The beauty of a diverse workforce is the ability to source perspectives and ideas from people of different backgrounds. If you notice that certain employees rarely provide opinions, ask for their input directly.
- Encourage personal storytelling: The more people share, the easier it is to appreciate and empathize with their unique experiences. Over time, personal stories can build compassion, inclusion and acceptance among employees.
- Strengthen social connections: Social connections reduce anxiety, increase empathy and improve cooperation—critical factors in creating a culture of belonging. Harness the power of positive relationships by helping employees bond through things like celebrations, mentoring and team activities.