The Business Case for Belonging
In today’s workplace, belonging isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a competitive advantage. With 40% of employees feeling disconnected from their coworkers and another 40% struggling to trust their peers, fostering a culture of belonging has become a strategic imperative. Neglecting this could deepen the epidemic of workplace disengagement, where 70% of U.S. employees report being disengaged, and 20% actively undermine their coworkers.
The cost of exclusion is staggering. Employees who don’t feel they belong are twice as likely to take sick days and are 45% less productive. Annually, this lack of connection drains $154 billion from the U.S. economy. On the flip side, companies that cultivate high levels of belonging see transformative results: a 50% increase in employee satisfaction, a 56% jump in productivity, and 36% improvement in wellbeing.
Moreover, businesses that prioritize belonging enjoy significant financial benefits, including 170% growth in net promoter effectiveness (NPE) and 18% more promotions for their people. These outcomes aren’t just statistics—they are proof that fostering belonging unlocks human potential and drives sustainable growth.
Creating belonging starts with intentional, consistent actions:
Micro-Connections in Meetings: Use your next team meeting as an opportunity to deepen bonds. Start with personal check-ins, prompts and/or somatic invitations that allow colleagues to share authentically. When brainstorming, invite everyone’s voice to be heard by taking it out of the realm of dialogue, and into the written, drawn, or sonic spheres, or break into small units and have participants pair up before sharing in larger groups.
Embed Belonging into Leadership Practices: Leaders must model connection by actively listening and responding to feedback. Tools like appreciative inquiry or hosting informal “connection coffees” can build trust and foster more authentic collaboration.
Recognize and Celebrate: Celebrate contributions and milestones regularly. Create rituals that reinforce the value each team member brings to the table. Small wins, big wins, hard lessons, emerging insights, all are causes to reflect and celebrate.
Start Small, Build Big: Begin with small, visible changes that foster connection—whether it’s introducing gratitude boards, team learning moments, or even sharing wins in a group chat.
In a world reshaped by hybrid work and increasing disconnection, belonging isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s central to your business. The organizations that thrive in the future will be those that embrace the human need for connection. Let’s make belonging a priority today, unlocking not just higher profits, but workplaces where everyone feels they matter.