The Little Moments That #UnlockBelonging

Belonging is one of the most powerful drivers of employee success—we’ve found that when an employee feels like they belong, they are 10X more likely to be engaged. They’re also more likely to find purpose in their work and trust their employer’s decision, and empowered to drive innovation. 

Yet, unlocking a sense of belonging doesn’t always happen through grand gestures—it often emerges through small, intentional actions that make people feel seen and valued. In these stories, Paradigm team members share personal experiences that highlight how their colleagues and organizations were able to #unlock belonging. 

Pay It Forward

By Anastasia Greenmore, Facilitator at Paradigm

The first event I staffed in a previous role was a large marquee event—pretty high stakes, with a big group of staffers attending. I didn’t really know anyone except for my one teammate and a colleague from my office who was also there. Because of the type of event, there was a big emphasis on physical activities, many of which I hadn’t done before or wasn’t particularly interested in. That was a real challenge—trying to feel a sense of belonging among many enthusiasts.

There was a lot of coordination needed to keep up with our work, and I realized a day or so into the event that I’d been left off the group chat. That felt really crummy in an already isolating environment. It didn’t help my sense of belonging that I was among the few Black people at the event. All of this combined made me question whether I belonged at the company—not just this specific event.

However, two of my new colleagues constantly checked on me, invited me to ride in the car with them and were genuinely kind in a fairly overwhelming social environment. They became some of my closest friends in the organization. 

I made sure to pay it forward to others—by checking in on new folks, being the one to invite someone to a longstanding social event, or whatever it took to make someone feel less isolated. Down the line, I also helped create employee resource groups (ERGs) so people had a space to turn to if they questioned their belonging.

The Power of a Name 

By Pin-ya Tseng, Senior Consultant at Paradigm

It’s a small thing, but something I’ve always appreciated about my team is their intentionality around spelling and pronouncing my name correctly. In past professional and social settings, I’ve seen my name misspelled with different vowels, extra consonants, or missing the hyphen entirely. But even in casual Zoom chats, I’ve noticed that Paradigmers always get my name right—and even correct it when autocorrect tries to change it.

Their intentionality, which so many others have overlooked, is just one of those day-to-day actions that makes me feel belonging!

Finding Belonging in the Ritual of a Cup of Tea

By Aimy Ngo, COO at Paradigm

My first real job was in London after finishing my post-grad program. I worked as an Account Executive for a small marketing agency based in Covent Garden. It was a tight-knit company of fewer than 70 employees. I was the only American, with just one other person who wasn’t from the UK. My first week was a culture shock— working a 9-to-5, office culture, interacting with clients, and even the UK’s after-work drinking scene.

But one tradition made me feel part of the team: a simple, powerful ritual. In the afternoons, someone near my cluster of desks in the open-plan office would stand up, look around, and ask, “Anyone fancy a cuppa?” It could be the Account Director, my manager, the SEO Manager who sat next to me, or even our CEO, pausing at our section to ask, “Anyone fancy a cuppa?”

When that question was asked, we all stopped what we were doing. Someone would cover the mouthpiece if they were on a call or look up from their Excel sheet to reply: “Coffee, please, no sugar.” “Tea, please, splash of milk.” “Just water, if you don’t mind.” Then ten minutes later, the person who asked would return, hands full of mugs, each fist clutching three handles, sometimes making two trips to deliver everyone’s drinks.

I distinctly remember the first time I stood up at 3:30 in the afternoon and asked, “Anyone fancy a cuppa?” There was this strange sense of pride as I stood in the kitchen, making tea and coffee for six people, knowing this was something we all did for each other. At that moment, I felt like I was truly part of the team. I belonged.

This is a strong example of how belonging is cultivated in the small, mundane moments. It’s built through the daily rituals that connect us, rituals that everyone participates in, no matter their role or background in the organization.

These stories show that belonging is built through everyday moments—whether it’s checking in with someone who feels isolated, getting a name right, or simply offering a cup of tea. Creating environments where employees feel they truly belong unlocks their potential and drives both individual and team success. At Paradigm, we believe that fostering a sense of belonging is essential for every organization striving to unlock the full power of its people. How will you make sure everyone on your team feels like they belong?

 

October 24, 2024

If you want to unlock belonging in your organization, contact us today!