Belonging, the real deal

I've seen as many people lack a sense of belonging in completely homogeneous groups. It doesn't take a diverse group to challenge a culture of connection. 

Belonging is a function of conversation. People feel a sense of belonging when they feel like their stories are appreciated, ideas and efforts valued, learning shared and feedback useful. This can happen in any constellations of generating and color, background and foreground. None of these are the exclusive domain of any demographic. They are possible for any human being with even a minimal growth mindset.

The diversity illusion

Organizations invest effort into trying to make sure they are diverse. They focus on ethnic, generational and gender diversity. 

What's important is how different ideas, questions and voices are welcomed, how valued people feel for them, and how they help make the good we seek more possible. Simply surrounding meeting tables with dissimilar people is part of the equation. A demographically, even psychographically, diverse group is not enough for people to be smarter and more inventive together. No matter how many hiring and promoting quotas are met, divergent perspectives only count when they are all well engaged.

Knowing how to convene and guide highly engaging converations is a new mindset and skillset for many teams and their leaders. It is business not as usual and very simple and discoverable.