In an increasingly fragmented world, championing team culture is becoming the backbone of a healthy workforce
Creating an environment where people feel they belong in their workplace isn’t a new idea. When people feel like part of something bigger the benefits are seen at every level of an organisation. But interestingly, I’m repeatedly noticing a subtle shift within teams with groupwork overtaking individual coaching as the desired intervention. The context around ‘belonging’ has changed, and it’s no longer a nice-to-have but instead an essential reaction to an increasingly fragmented society. The world outside our offices is shifting fast, and it’s affecting how people are showing up inside them.
We’re bombarded by negative news stories, we’re navigating an increasingly tense political landscape, and rising living costs mean we’re going out less and worrying about money more. So what impact is that having on employees? Well, one noticeable shift is people turning to their workplace for meaning and stability so it’s perhaps no surprise that how we fit within our team matters more than ever.
Recent studies show compelling evidence. Employees who feel comfortable being themselves at work are 5.7 times more likely to be engaged and 70% more likely to stay with the organisation. But only 31% of HR leaders reported increasing investment in belonging-related initiatives.* There is a huge opportunity for employees to create a safe place of creativity and authentic connection, but not all leaders are capitalising on this opportunity.
At Mind Values Leadership, we think the growth in leadership development within teams, as opposed to organisations focusing purely on individual coaching, is a powerful move. Having great leaders is more important now than ever but equipping an entire team with the skills and confidence to communicate effectively and build the type of trust that transforms performance is priceless.
And the investment pays off. Harvard Business Review’s The Value of Belonging at Work found that employees who feel they belong experience a 75% reduction in sick days, receive double the raises, and are an impressive 18 times more likely to be promoted.
An Australian study* showed that 56% of Australian employees say that a feeling of belonging at work is more important than a 10% pay rise.
The benefits of belonging to the organisation’s bottom line are undisputed too, creating:
- Higher engagement and motivation
- Better collaboration and trust
- Greater wellbeing and lower rates of burnout
- Increased retention and loyalty
- Enhanced performance and innovation
- Stronger organisational reputation
Having a connection to people or a place gives us an anchor when things are unstable, but with 66% of UK employees having felt disconnected at work* and fewer than 1 in 5 UK workers having felt they truly belong at work, that’s up to 80% of talent quietly disengaging*.
If you’re curious about strengthening your teams group leadership coaching, we can create a space for teams to come together to:
- Build trust and psychological safety
- Improve the quality of conversations
- Challenge each other constructively
- Lead with intention and empathy
It’s time to communicate with honesty and build the type of trust – and belonging – that transforms workplace culture for an ever-changing world.
Resources
*New research from Global HR advisory firm McLean & Company, Unlocking Belonging in the Workplace The ROI of Belonging at Work: McLean & Company Research Reveals Why HR Must Build a Culture Where Employees Feel Seen, Heard, and Connected
Harvard Business Review – The Value of Belonging at Work
*56% of Australian employees say that a sense of belonging at work is more important than a 10% pay rise 5 Stats Showing the Importance of Belonging at Work | Reward Gateway AU
*Reward Gateway – 66% of employees feel disconnected at work 2023_uk_the-workplace-connection-report.pdf
*Randstad A workplace for everyone? 1 in 5 of UK workers feel that they don’t belong at work | Randstad UK