Today is Staff Day at BC Pension Corporation. The experience provides time and space for employees to connect and learn together. This year’s theme is we belong together and we chose it because of the force-multiplier that a sense of belonging creates for individuals and their communities.
For me, belonging starts with psychological safety because folks can’t feel true connection or a sense of belonging unless they feel safe to be themselves, to speak up, and to criticize people with the most power.
For you, the secret sauce of belonging might have different ingredients.
Here are a whole bunch of questions that you can ask to uncover, understand, and unlock the potential of a community in which people belong.
Individual perspective
- How do I feel when I enter a new community space? What contributes to those feelings?
- What specific actions or behaviors make me feel welcomed and valued?
- How do I participate in my community to foster a sense of belonging in others?
- What stories or experiences can I share that highlight my sense of belonging?
- How do I handle situations when I feel excluded or marginalized?
- What initiatives can I take to make my workplace or neighborhood more inclusive?
- How do I actively listen and respond to the needs of others in my community?
- What cultural or social activities make me feel connected to my community?
- How do I support and celebrate the diversity within my community?
- What role does my identity play in my sense of belonging?
- How do I build trust with others in my community?
- What actions can I take to make newcomers feel comfortable and integrated?
- How do I recognize and address my own biases in community interactions?
- What does a safe and inclusive community look like to me?
- How can I contribute to creating a physically and emotionally safe environment for all?
- What are my expectations for community engagement and how do I communicate them?
- How do I balance my individual needs with the collective needs of my community?
- What strategies do I use to resolve conflicts within my community?
- How do I acknowledge and appreciate the contributions of others?
- What kind of feedback do I offer to help improve community dynamics?
- How do I stay informed about community issues and developments?
- What personal values do I bring to my community interactions?
- How do I encourage and mentor others to get involved in the community?
- What partnerships can I form to strengthen community bonds?
- How do I measure my impact on the community?
Organizational or collective perspective
- What vision does our organization have for cultivating a sense of belonging?
- Who are the key stakeholders in our community, and what are their needs and expectations?
- How do we define and measure a sense of belonging within our community?
- What programs or initiatives do we have in place to foster inclusion and engagement?
- How do we ensure that our communication is accessible and inclusive to all members?
- What strategies do we use to welcome and integrate new members?
- How do we create spaces where diverse voices can be heard and valued?
- What training and development opportunities do we offer to promote cultural competence?
- How do we assess and address the safety concerns of our community members?
- What policies do we have to prevent and address discrimination and harassment?
- How do we celebrate and leverage the diversity within our community?
- What mechanisms do we have in place to gather and act on community feedback?
- How do we recognize and reward contributions?
- What role does leadership play in modeling inclusive behaviors and practices?
- How do we create opportunities for collaboration and partnership?
- What resources and support do we provide to foster a sense of belonging?
- How do we ensure that our events and activities are inclusive and accessible?
- What steps do we take to continuously improve our community engagement strategies?
- How do we balance tradition and innovation to meet the evolving needs of our organization?
- What impact do our community initiatives have on fostering a sense of belonging?
- How do we promote transparency and accountability within our interactions?
- How do we support and mentor emerging leaders within our organization?
- What role does technology play in connecting and engaging our community?
- How do we address and manage conflicts constructively?
Connecting individual and collective perspectives
- How do individual experiences of belonging feed into the collective sense of belonging?
- What shared values and goals unite us as a community?
- How do we create a culture of belonging that is sustained by both individual and collective efforts?
- What stories and narratives can we share that highlight our journey towards belonging and inclusivity?
- How do we balance individual expression with collective harmony in our activities?
- What lessons can we learn from individual experiences to improve our collective strategies?
- How do we celebrate individual achievements within the context of collective success?
- In what ways can we foster a sense of belonging that transcends differences and unites us in our common humanity?
- What role does empathy play in bridging individual and collective perspectives on belonging?
- How do we ensure that our community’s growth is inclusive of all members, regardless of their background?