Belonging by Sue Unerman

Author:Sue Unerman
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781472979605
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Chapter Four

Belonging in action

Great intentions around diversity and inclusion are all very promising in the abstract, but so often they fail because the task seems too big, too intractable and finding the role you can play just too much. Many men are scared of saying the wrong thing and making the wrong assumptions. It’s simpler to let things be and hope that a change is going to come. This is nothing new. As far back as the suffragettes, leader Emmeline Pankhurst said: ‘We have to free half of the human race, the women, so that they can help to free the other half.’ By working together, addressing barriers, men and women can build a culture of Belonging that thrives and create genuine and lasting change.

Everyone has to play their part

Each of us has to play their part. Everyone has a role, we must all make a difference. Creating this culture of Belonging begins with looking for the people around you who can help and recruiting them. You must think about how best to deploy their individual talents and have a clear, measurable path. Lasting change takes thought, planning and a willingness to be flexible. It’s people that create culture, not departments or process. You must create a momentum and sense of personal investment that resonates far more than any initiative or tactic could ever do. So where to begin? In this chapter we will look at the very start of the engagement with the workplace. Even at the beginning of the process of hiring people, certain language or approaches can act as barriers to feeling as if you belong in that organization.

It’s not enough to recruit a diverse team. How you manage them so that they all feel a sense of Belonging is crucial

In addressing the issue of feeling isolated, not part of the ‘gang’, or in some cases, being made to think that you really, really shouldn’t be there, we will offer guidance on managing diversity and creating a sense of Belonging that is very empowering and encompasses everyone. We all want to feel valued and to know that we are seen as individuals, with all our differences embraced. Exceptional cultures aren’t created by a mission statement; they exist because individuals feel included, feel that they belong and able to contribute to the direction that’s been set out for the team.

Each of us can make a difference, too

We will show how if you sponsor, ally or become someone’s wing-person, you can create a greater sense of Belonging. And if your career needs momentum, we will show you how to find your sponsor, or ally or wing-person. We will offer a guide to how best to use sponsors and mentors – and will decode the difference between the two things. These important roles can be crucial in providing paths to success, better working practices and have benefits for all the participants.

Finding the right wing-person at work is a whole other layer of a crucial element of the process. As fond

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