The Benefits of Belonging

There’s something indescribable about the simple notion of feeling like you belong, isn’t there??

The boost you get from belonging in a group or social scenario has far-reaching effects. Suddenly, you feel more comfortable – in your surroundings, in your interactions with people, and even in the things you say and do. Anxiety dissipates and you’re free to be yourself as you truly are, embracing the psychological safety that the feeling of belonging facilitates.?

Belonging is a powerful thing, and that goes doubly-so when you start to consider the conversation from a professional vantage point. Employees that feel as though they belong are going to feel more comfortable in their roles – and likewise more comfortable in innovating, pushing the envelope, and pursuing creative, forward-thinking solutions as a result. Mindful leaders are likely well-familiar with the sense of empowerment people experience when they feel like they truly belong in a workplace –?and now, there’s some compelling new research to back up just how that notion of empowerment translates into team member behaviours, experiences, and more.?

Getting Down to the Brass Tacks of Belonging

When it comes to building a top-notch team, you’ll want to put a focus on ensuring those team members feel as though they belong.?

That’s according to?recent research?conducted by LifeSpeak Inc., which found that when employees feel like they don’t belong in the workplace, they’re a full 59% more likely to consider quitting their job due to the mental health concerns that come along with working in an alienated position.?

More than that, nearly two-thirds of employees who reported low feelings of belonging in their workplace consequently reported a belief that their employer doesn’t prioritize their wellbeing – a statistic that certainly tracks, given the impact to mental wellness that feeling as if you don’t belong can have. After all, if you felt isolated or singled out in your role and your employer didn’t do anything to address those concerns, it’s not hard to see how you might think your employer isn’t looking out after your wellbeing!

Like so many other conversations, this one also tends to revolve around the topics of diversity, equity, and inclusivity, too. For example, LifeSpeak’s research found that women were 30% more likely to report that their employer doesn’t facilitate a workplace culture built around employee health and wellbeing, while women of colour were 22% more likely to have considered quitting their jobs over the past 18 months due to health and wellbeing concerns.

The Role of Mindful Leadership in Building Belonging

When it comes to creating an atmosphere of belonging within your business’s culture or value structure, there’s a lot that mindful leaders can accomplish simply by taking a moment to understand both the impact of workplace experiences as well as the disparate nature of those experiences as they can occur between the different team members on the roster.?

“Employees are making job choices based on an alignment of values and cultural factors, such as diversity, inclusion, and support for wellbeing and a balanced life," explained Michael Held, founder and CEO of LifeSpeak Inc., in a press release on the findings. "Our latest research underscores these trends and suggests that by focusing on creating a healthy culture and supporting whole-person wellbeing, employers can create a sense of belonging that has a ripple effect of positive health and business outcomes."

This line of thinking is handily backed up by additional data points detailed in the LifeSpeak research. The study found that of those organizations that put a priority on team member wellness and work-life balance, employees were reported to be more productive (18%), easier to recruit (~14%), and more likely to be highly engaged (~8%) as a result.

"This intelligence adds to the growing base of knowledge about workplace health and wellbeing, and the crucial role that employers and business leaders at all levels of an organization play in creating a culture that allows employees and businesses to thrive," said Held – and we here at Excel couldn’t agree more.

There’s nothing quite like feeling like you’ve found a workplace you well and truly belong in –?and I hope that some of the above info is helpful food for thought for any mindful leaders looking to boost belonging (and bottom lines!) at their businesses today!?

Get a head start on creating a culture of belonging and ensure your team members know that their wellbeing is a clear-cut priority by building a benefits plan that sets them up for success. Learn more by reaching out to us at?Excel Benefit Consulting?to experience our unique concierge-style approach to benefits planning for yourself –?and thanks as always for stopping by and taking the time to connect today!

By Caroline Kugelmass. As our President, Caroline is our fearless leader. She’d do anything to make a client smile and extends the same care to her staff every day.?