As we dive deeper into the body of work that falls under the umbrella of diversity and inclusion, we see the emergence of a new term: belonging. Inclusive culture revolves around the idea of creating spaces where everyone belongs. This means cultivating a workplace that provides psychological safety and promotes authenticity. The challenge with this perspective is that it looks at belonging as something we can cultivate, but that isn’t the case. Instead, we should look at belonging as the outcome of our efforts to be inclusive.

Humans are fundamentally social beings and belonging to a group is part of our DNA. When we feel connected, we thrive. This is true in any grouping of humans – families, teams, and the workplace. As more research and studies look at belonging, the data is clear: organizations where employees feel a strong sense of belonging perform better.

Learning Objectives: 

• Define and differentiate belonging from inclusion 


• Evaluate how to measure belonging and how it impacts us at work 


• Summarize ideas to cultivate a sense of connectedness and belonging in the workplace