4. Belonging
Belonging is the feeling of security and
support when there is a sense of
acceptance, inclusion, and identity for a
member of a certain group. It is when an
individual can bring their authentic self to
work. https://diversity.cornell.edu/belonging/sense-
belonging
14. Connection is why we're
here. We are hardwired to
connect with others, it's what
gives purpose and meaning
to our lives, and without it
there is suffering.
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-NC-
ND.
39. Resources
• Brown, Brene Atlas of the Heart:
Mapping Meaningful Connection and
the Language of Human Experience,
2021
• Cohen, Geoffrey Belonging: The
Science of Creating Connection and
Bridging Divides, 2022
• Coyle, Daniel, The Culture Code: The
Secrets of Highly Successful Groups,
2018
• Gartner for HR, Evolve Culture
& Leadership for the Hybrid
Workplace, 2022
• Henley, Dede, The Secret To Creating
A Sense Of Belonging At Work,
Forbes, March 2022
• Miller, A., Marcus, K. , M. Roberts,
M., Pecora, D., Fitts, D., Miller, G.
"Help Me Lead" Lessons Learned
from the ITS Exodus, unpublished
April 2022
Editor's Notes
Nine high-value employees left over the course of a few months
~135 employees
Ignorance toward long-term cost of decisions made today
Interventions that nurture people’s belonging and self-worth
Not off the shelf solutions
Require thoughtful empathy
Impact, Ray Bradbury, A Sound of Thunder
Belonging cues are behaviors that create safe connection in groups. They include, among others, proximity, eye contact, energy, mimicry, turn taking, attention, body language, vocal pitch, consistency of emphasis, and whether everyone talks to everyone else in the group. Like any language, belonging cues can’t be reduced to an isolated moment but rather consist of a steady pulse of interactions within a social relationship. Their function is to answer the ancient, ever-present questions glowing in our brains: Are we safe here? What’s our future with these people? Are there dangers lurking?