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2/8/2018 |
Insights |
Why Your Employees Need Community Now |
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Why Your Employees Need Community Now by Simma Lieberman Have you ever experienced the feeling of not belonging? Do you remember how awkward, uncomfortable and self-conscious you felt? At some point in our lives, almost all of us will be in a situation where we feel like we don't belong. It may be because of our skin color, ethnicity, age, religion, work function, etc., or just being the new person in the class, on the job or in the neighborhood. For some — depending on the situation and context — the feeling of not belonging may be brief or minor, while for others it may be intense and difficult to dispel. In more than 25 years as a diversity and inclusion strategist, I've found that everyone wants to feel part of something greater than themselves. People thrive when they feel part of a community at work. As a leader, you create that community. According to research by Dr. Peggie Rothe, development director of Leesman, a UK-based workplace research firm, "If we feel a sense of belonging in a group, then we perform a lot better as a team." Conversely, feeling like we don't belong negatively impacts our productivity and the way we work with a team. One of my clients, Charles, shared his experience at a healthcare organization in the state of Washington. "Not only was I the only man in the department with 30 women, but I'm a 6-2 African-American from New York," he said. "Everyone else was either white or Filipino, and it was a small town. I was hesitant to make any suggestions at first. I felt uncomfortable and kept second-guessing myself. I spent too much time worrying about how to fit in and what other people were thinking of me. Read full article on MultiBriefs.
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