What is Belonging?

Belonging is the emotional experience of feeling accepted, valued, and included within a group — a sense that you are an integral part of the team and organization, that your unique perspective matters, and that you can bring your authentic self to work without fear of exclusion. While diversity focuses on representation and inclusion focuses on practices and policies, belonging captures the deeply personal, emotional outcome that these efforts aim to produce.

Belonging is a fundamental human need. Maslow placed it just above safety in the hierarchy of needs, and modern neuroscience confirms that social exclusion activates the same brain regions as physical pain. In the workplace, belonging influences virtually every outcome that organizations care about: employees who feel they belong are more engaged, more collaborative, more creative, and significantly less likely to leave. They are also more resilient during difficult times because they trust that their organization and colleagues have their back.

Building belonging requires intentional effort at multiple levels. At the organizational level, it means creating policies and practices that ensure diverse voices are heard and valued. At the team level, it means fostering psychological safety, celebrating individual strengths, and creating shared experiences. At the interpersonal level, it means everyday acts of inclusion — learning someone's name, inviting them into conversations, acknowledging their contributions, and showing genuine interest in their perspective. Belonging is built through thousands of micro-moments, not through a single program or initiative.

Belonging is the bridge between diversity and performance. Organizations can hire diverse talent, but without belonging, that talent will disengage and leave. BetterUp research found that workplace belonging leads to a 56% increase in job performance, a 50% reduction in turnover risk, and a 75% decrease in sick days. For HR leaders, measuring belonging and intentionally designing experiences that foster it is essential for realizing the full potential of diversity and creating a culture where everyone can thrive.