6 to Success - June 2024

Welcome! In case you haven’t read 6 to Success before, here’s what to expect. Every month, I post six abbreviated leadership insights or tips. I’ll share some of my publications and media appearances. I invite you to read 6 to Success and share your thoughts or questions. I would be honored if you followed or reposted this newsletter to your network.

Building a Better Business Through Belonging

This month we are talking about the power of belonging.?

How can you connect your employees to their teams, get them personally invested in your mission and culture, and get them excited about what their professional future can look like?

ONE

(ARTICLE) Great Teams Feel Ownership Over Their Work.

There’s something unique about responsibility.

Suddenly, a project that might not have grabbed your attention becomes all-consuming. It sparks a new level of dedication, creativity, and enthusiasm.

The same theory applies in the workplace. When employees have a meaningful stake in their work and the processes that affect them, they feel a sense of ownership over their role.

By providing plenty of autonomy, a voice in the decision-making process, and support for their ideas, you can empower your team with the sense that each is a stakeholder in the overall success of the business.?

Read more about ownership culture on ManageHR.

TWO

(TIP) Intellectual Diversity Means Everyone Has Something to Say.

Creating a culture that celebrates diverse opinions and experiences is another great way to increase a sense of belonging.

When your workplace culture involves challenging conventional wisdom, thinking critically, and bringing in unique perspectives, no one has to feel like the “odd one out.”? Diverse viewpoints, after all, lead to exciting new ideas and better outcomes.

By nourishing a culture of mixed perspectives and intellectual diversity, you model as a leader that all voices have something to bring to the table.

THREE

(ARTICLE) Meaningful Traditions Create Shared Experiences.

There’s a lot of power in a beloved team tradition.

Whether it's as small as a weekly team lunch or as ambitious as an annual camping trip, traditions are exciting opportunities for teams to bond outside the workplace over shared experiences.

Creating traditions is also a great chance to give your team a voice — find out what type of traditions resonate with your team, and start a new one! There are some clever workplace tradition ideas over at TeamBuilding .

FOUR

(TIP) Invest in Your Employees’ Futures

As leaders, I’m sure you’ve held a position that didn’t offer much room for growth. When your work is not incentivized or recognized,?it can feel more like checking boxes and “going through the motions.”?

But when employees see that hard work and personal development are rewarded — encouraged, even — there’s no limit to their personal investment. Show your team that you’re invested in their futures by offering employee development initiatives that promote upskilling through training opportunities and maybe even mentorships…

FIVE

(ARTICLE) Mentorship and Sponsorship

On that note, consider providing mentorship or sponsoring employees .

A good mentor can have a profound effect on the personal development and career trajectory of an employee. You can also establish formal and informal mentorship and sponsorship programs that pair employees with other leaders who can provide guidance, support, and advocacy for their professional development.

Far beyond skill-building, these opportunities demonstrate a genuine investment in the well-being and future of your team, creating a culture of belonging, mutual growth, and respect.

Here’s a great Harvard Business Review piece on mentorship .

SIX

(TIP) A Culture of Belonging is Proved through Action

These are all essential characteristics of building a broader culture of inclusion and belonging, but Pride Month is a great reminder that it isn’t enough to just say the right words.

Your actions should be tangible and impactful, resulting in a culture where every employee feels included, valued, and respected. Show your team how committed you are to belonging and inclusion through such action.

This will not only drive organizational success but also create a culture where every individual is enriched, motivated, and ready to thrive.

John Volturo is an Executive Coach and Partner at Evolution. He helps with organizations to help them surpass the possible through 1:1, team and group work. He is a facilitator and the 2021 President of the International Coaching Federation (L.A.). Prior to coaching, he was a global CMO, General Manager, and board member or advisor at public and private companies.