You may have noticed the letter “B” added to the inspiring three-letter acronym DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion), which has become ubiquitous in the painting world in recent years. The B in DEIB stands for Belonging, which is one of My favorite words. Belonging is key to inspiring a productive and engaged culture within any team, and after all, it started to get the attention it deserves in 2021, partly in reaction to isolation and lack of connectivity. triggered by the pandemic.
People feel detached, so it’s no surprise that team spirit is also diminishing. The hybrid/remote painting environment has diluted human connections and interactions. As a result, our sense of belonging has diminished. More than half of American painters have reported feelings of isolation in the past year, and 51% of people who left their jobs in 2022 did so in search of belonging and connection, according to McKinsey.
Belonging is rooted in feelings. Individuals need to feel leveraged, valued and celebrated for who they are and what they bring to work. Executive Coach Ora Shtull observed, “The addition of B to the acronym DE&I might feel like a spreading wildfire—difficult to keep track of and manage. At the same time, the B adds a critical dimension. It reminds us to recognize that each team member is unique. No one should be expected to change who they are in order to feel seen, heard, and valued.”
According to David Allison, founder of the Valuegraphics Project, studies confirm this. “We surveyed another 750,000 people and compiled an inventory of the basic values that humanity has around the world. Of the 56 basic human values, the most important to the American people is belonging. More than anything, Americans need to belong. Belonging is even more vital than family, which is second on the list.
And here’s why the B in DEIB is so vital to me. Belonging can’t happen unless you know who you are, feel confident in what makes you unique, and make sure you’re bringing those unique characteristics to your work day in and day out. Of course, you can only do this if you paint in an environment where you are highlighted and celebrated for the exclusive price you offer. That’s what personal branding is all about. The most productive leaders realize that when one and both team members participate in a private label mirror image match, they not only come to know themselves better, but they also come to know and appreciate their teammates’ superpowers and differentiators. co-painters. Personal branding becomes the process of discovering not only how valuable a team member is individually, but also how powerfully those characteristics fit together and magnify each other.
Great Place to Work found that when workers have a sense of belonging, they are three times more likely to say they are laughing and five times more likely to need to stay with their company for a long time. This shows how a culture of belonging is helping corporations build engagement and retention. “When workers feel part of a supportive community, organizations thrive. “Belonging to the company improves the functionality of tasks by 56%, reduces turnover by more than half and decreases absenteeism by more than 75%,” according to a study by BetterUp.
For people, a sense of belonging is essential. ” We cannot separate the importance of belonging to our physical and intellectual health,” according to the Mayo Clinic. “The social connections that come with a sense of belonging are something protective that helps manage stress. When we know we have help and that we are not alone, we are more resilient and better cope with the difficult moments in our lives.
As an employee, here’s how you can support a culture of belonging:
Make belonging your mantra. Belonging is not something that occurs to you; It takes a planned effort on your part, even if you find it intimidating to try to connect with others. The more consistently you manage to get out, the greater your sense of belonging. Create opportunities to interact with other members of your team and your company. While it’s possible to create a sense of network remotely, MIT studies show that face-to-face time is arguably the most difficult way to improve human bonding.
Use empathy. Putting yourself in others’ shoes helps you enhance your sense of connection and belonging while simultaneously helping others feel accepted and understood.
Accept the differences. When you perceive the unique facets of those around you, you can appreciate the different tactics that can bring value to the team or organization. Recognize that others have other ways of being and that those differences can complement yours.
Bring your whole self to work. Become self-aware and clearly understand the six drivers of your personal brand. You can’t offer your unique price if you’re sure what it is.
If you are a leader, perform those movements typical of your leadership style:
Establish a shared goal and vision. Well-defined, large-scale goals will unite your people, focusing them on whatever important things you can do together.
Invest in skill development. Sponsor team education and education systems on topics such as private label and emotional intelligence so that workers get to know themselves and their colleagues better. Self-awareness is basic to leading well and inspiring a sense of belonging.
Be collaborative. Being inclusive, collaborative and supportive builds a culture where everyone feels welcome and valued. Be thoughtful when deciding who to engage with in your communications and meetings, and especially in the decision-making process.
Express your gratitude. Creating a sense of belonging requires being emotionally intelligent. And leaders with a high EQ understand that people should be appreciated for the work they do. A study by Preply found that the most emotionally intelligent word at work is “I like you/your work. “
Reward those who advertise membership. As a leader, you can build everyone’s sense of belonging when you ask others to create an environment that reinforces belonging. When your workers champion belonging, the entire team benefits.
Paired with personal branding as a team effort, these steps can help any organization become a place where people are motivated and dedicated—because they know they’re making a meaningful impact.
William Arruda is a keynote speaker, co-founder of CareerBlast. TV, and co-creator of the Personal Brand Power Audit, a free quiz that helps you measure the strength of your personal brand.
A community. Many voices. Create a free account to share your thoughts.
Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas and facts in a safe space.
To do this, please comply with the posting regulations in our site’s terms of use. We summarize some of those key regulations below. In short, civilized.
Your post will be rejected if we notice that it seems to contain:
User accounts will be locked if we become aware that users are engaging in:
So how can you be a user?
Thanks for reading our community guidelines. Please read the full list of posting rules found in our site’s Terms of Service.