Great Morning Team,
Today we are going to travel back in time. For a moment, think back to your Elementary and High School days. Think about the moments where you wanted to just simply belong. What were you willing to do or say to “fit in” so you could be and feel accepted by others? What memories show up for you? Fast forward to adulthood, and think about the past jobs you had where you attempted to “fit” into the workplace culture as well? What resonates for you? How long did it take you to feel comfortable amongst your co-workers?
Belonging is quite different than “fitting in.” When we belong, we experience acceptance. We are genuinely heard, valued, included and appreciated as we are and for who we are. Belonging is when you are accepted for being YOU. “Fitting In” is being accepted for being like others. Brene Brown describes belonging powerfully in her book, Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage Stand Alone as:
“True belonging is the spiritual practice of believing in and belonging to yourself so deeply, that you can share your most authentic self with the world and find sacredness in both being a part of something and standing alone in the wilderness. True belonging doesn’t require you to change who you are; it requires you to BE who you are.”
~ Brene Brown
Making a difference for our colleagues to feel like they belong is part of the foundation of creating safe spaces for each other. Consider this:
- What can you do or say each day to make your fellow colleague feel valued?
- What can you do or say each day to recognize that your teammates’ ideas and contributions are appreciated and needed?
- What could you say or do to celebrate someone’s uniqueness?
- What feedback could you provide to help someone on your team become better at something, because you genuinely care, see their potential and want them to succeed?
Imagine what can occur when we consistently create the feeling of belonging for others every day: Higher levels of trust emerge, we are more engaged, and we are not afraid to express our ideas and even our dissent. We begin to work faster, and we innovate. We become better together in the spirit of “Development as a Team Sport.” In our inclusive culture here at E&I, we aim to continually foster a place where each of us feels appreciated by our colleagues for ALL of who we are: our uniqueness, our many talents, our quirks, our strengths, our weaknesses, our diversity, and diversity of thought. Sadly, not all workplaces believe in these same cultural tenets.
To illustrate this point, I would like to share this 8 minute, 43 second Pixar animated short movie, titled “Purl.” It’s an absolute gem of a story filled with much wisdom. (Click here.) I won’t reveal anything more here, except to say in our everyday lives, we each have the power to make a difference for one another for the better, and to help create a sense of belonging for our colleagues with the simplest of positive actions and words. Each of us can make a tremendous impact to continuously improve our culture in a positive way. WE are the culture, and WE are Better Together! 😊
Feel free to share your thoughts and feedback in the comments below. 😊
Wishing you all a Better We, Better Week! 😊
Lori Beth
