We all want to feel like we belong in the workplace. When employees feel valued, connected, and supported, they're more motivated to do their best work. That's why building a sense of belonging is essential for creating a happy and productive workplace. So how can you nurture this sense of belonging in your organisation? We explore the topic in this issue of ‘Thrive in 5’.

Where are we now?

• Making employees feel like they belong at work encourages them to perform better and stay with the company longer.

• It also promotes team collaboration, which is especially important to maintaining productivity in today’s hybrid workplace.

• All this can have a huge financial impact on the organisation by improving employee satisfaction and effectiveness.

What can you do?

• Belonging is all about feeling welcomed, known, included, supported, and connected at work. When employees feel like they can be their authentic selves and connect with others in a meaningful way, they will naturally build a sense of belonging at work.

• It's important to make employees feel like the organisation cares about them. This can include asking for their opinions, recognising their contributions, and supporting them in their work and personal lives.

• All of this goes a long way toward increasing employee engagement and retention by instilling a sense of pride and purpose among employees.

What’s next?

• Creating a sense of belonging is important for every company and leader who wants to build a strong, engaged and resilient team.

• When each individual contributor feels valued and included, employees are more likely to be committed to the team's success and motivated to do their best work.

By eliminating a sense of ‘outsiderness’ and creating a genuinely collaborative and inclusive workplace, managers can allow their employees to feel like they belong at work for a healthy, productive workforce.