Belonging – What is it? To feel a sense of belonging means to be accepted… It’s a human need, just like the need for food and shelter. Feeling that you belong is vitally important to seeing value in life as well as coping with intensely painful emotions. Why would we be interested in ‘Belonging’ in the workplace? …. why is it important? Belonging and supportive relationships are critical in the workplace, not only to career development but to employee engagement, effective project work and the effectiveness of teams. Having someone to turn to in moments of stress and pressure are key to how we respond and react to those events. Being able to share concerns, as well as successes and getting advice and guidance on the best way forward. Matthew Critchlow [1] at the University of Westminster describes supportive relationships as having three components, Belonging, Sharing and Practical support. What does it feel like to ‘belong’ in the workplace? It might feel like there’s an appreciation of each other for our unique backgrounds, or that we can really simply just be ourselves at work without worrying about whether that’s acceptable or whether we’ll be judged. It might simply be being accepted without condition. The importance … Continue reading The Benefits of Fostering ‘Belonging’ in the Workplace