Programming Feature: Enhancing Workplace Innovation by Fostering Belonging
Who: WIN x Sharehold
What: WIN Workshop: Enhancing Workplace Innovation by Fostering Belonging
When: October 20, 2020
On the evening of October 20, 2020, WIN: Women in Innovation hosted an intimate, interactive workshop with Sharehold on the pivotal role belonging plays in creating work environments where individuals and teams thrive.
We have all had moments where we felt like maybe we didn’t belong. According to Sarah Judd Welch, CEO of Sharehold, those feelings can be amplified, particularly in this moment of uncertainty. During the workshop, WIN members delved into Sharehold’s recent research and learned about four types of belonging -- foundational, personal, group, and societal. Where a person falls within those four categories has implications not only for their personal life but for their professional as well. This is especially relevant to businesses, since a strong sense of belonging correlates with a 56% increase in employee productivity.
As part of the workshop activities, participants were given the opportunity to do a self-assessmentand gain greater insight into which of those four categories of belonging they fall into. The discussion turned to how participants can use this newfound knowledge to shape their experiences at home and in the workplace. However, personal understanding can only go so far, as Judd Welch explained. She emphasized that those in positions of authority within the workplace have a responsibility to prioritize diversity, inclusion, and equity to create environments where everyone feels a sense of belonging.
We are grateful to Sarah Judd Welch, CEO of Sharehold, for sharing her consultancy’s fascinating research and for encouraging us to foster belonging within ourselves and our workplaces. We would also like to thank our wonderful WIN members who opened their hearts and shared their stories of belonging. We encourage those who attended the event to anonymously share their self-assessment results to further Sharehold’s research.
Are you looking for deepertakeawayss from the event? Check out Sharehold’s complete report here.