How the heck do we increase "belonging"?
Linda Brandt, MPH
Community Catalyst ?? || Igniting Change Through Facilitation & Strategy || Program Management Pro || Ambassador of Good Ideas
Communities are stronger when everyone feels like they belong. When we feel included, we are able to learn, contribute our strengths, and even freely challenge the status quo. How can we shape our communities and workplaces to increase that sense of belonging? Below are two ideas I find compelling. I'd love to hear your ideas.
Learn to show empathy rather than sympathy?
Not sure what empathy is? This fun 3-minute cartoon shows why empathy is a super power we all have. As researcher Brené Brown talks about in this video, we show empathy when we do the hard work of putting ourselves in another person’s shoes. The reward is closer relationships. Showing sympathy, by contrast, creates distance.?
Take a minute to do this thought exercise
Jna Shelomith has a genius for helping people understand each other. Shelomith suggests you think about a time when you were young and an adult supported you well. What did that adult do that made you feel seen, heard, respected, or valued? What concrete actions did they take??Did they, by chance, show empathy?
These caring actions that an adult did for you when you were young are the same things we can do to make sure everyone feels welcome, included, seen, and heard.
As my local bus stop suggests, let's all model respect, kindness, and inclusivity.
“I belong everywhere I go, no matter where it is, or who it I am with, as long as I never betray myself. The minute I become who you want me to be, in order to fit in and make sure people like me, is the moment I no longer belong anywhere.” – Brené Brown
Community Catalyst ?? || Igniting Change Through Facilitation & Strategy || Program Management Pro || Ambassador of Good Ideas
1 年Thanks to Priya Parker for sharing this amazing Belonging Barometer report in her latest newsletter: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f7f1da1ea15cd5bef32169f/t/64074072d3daa3704b5774d0/1678196851632/The+Belonging+Barometer+%E2%80%94+The+State+of+Belonging+in+America+%281%29.pdf
Community Catalyst ?? || Igniting Change Through Facilitation & Strategy || Program Management Pro || Ambassador of Good Ideas
1 年I am part of a Community Deans group where we recently had a great discussion about belonging - how to create, measure it, and increase it. The discussion made me glad I had written article and also purchased a copy of the book Design for Belonging. Here's a helpful summary of that book: https://www.pcma.org/designing-events-build-communities/
Director - Program Management, Enterprise PMO
3 年Good article and amazing video Linda showing the differences. Something to consciously practice, especially in this virtual world, it is much more important due to the lack of true human connection.
Helping people connect to self, others and Earth // Author/Trainer / Speaker / Coach
3 年Linda Brandt, MPH Thanks for sharing this. In workshops on The Power of Inclusion I facilitate, I simply ask participants to say what Inclusion means to them and put it in a word cloud. I send the word cloud back out and suggest they use that to talk about how their group can implement those behaviors regularly. You could do that with belonging too.
Culture Creator| World Architect |Harbinger of Belonging Liberation Healing| Founder Lead Facilitator at Matthew Reynolds Consulting, LLC Motivational Speaker
3 年Building unconditional belonging starts with self: The weapons used against me by the dominant culture, white bodied supremacy and the status quo, gas lighting-divide & conquer-superiority-individualism-right to comfort etcetera etcetera, dampen my instincts and my inner knowing. These weapons don't allow me to gain wisdom, a wisdom that is based on my instincts and my human spirit. This journey is not easy, doesn't always go with the flow of public opinion, and yet it is my truth. Reclaim your inner knowing, your wisdom, your humanity. Remember, F.A.I.L. First-Attempt-In-Learning will guide you through the manipulations and personal gains that others might be bringing to your door. TRUST your instincts, and you will never go wrong. Embrace ALL that life has to offer, no matter what it might feel like in the moment. Be willing to listen to others and your voice within. FLOW with your authentic feelings, and embrace your journey. Knowledge becomes wisdom, wisdom that is true to the authentic YOU. May we all embrace our authentic self. Let the transformation continue. ???? ?????? ?????????? ??????