If you want to create a greater sense of workplace belonging, you should ask your colleagues this question: What do you need?
Workers are currently facing considerable challenges: record-high levels of stress, a persistent childcare crisis, and a challenging mental health epidemic. However, the simple act of asking this single question holds the potential to cultivate a profound sense of belonging among workers. I believe this is particularly true for marginalized groups such as women and Black women.
Here’s why asking workers this question is so effective at helping create a sense of belonging at work.
The challenges facing marginalized workers
According to Deloitte’s 2024 Women at Work report, there are myriad challenges plaguing women in the workplace. And compared to last year, fewer women report feeling supported by their employers in balancing work and external commitments. Merely one in ten feel comfortable discussing work-life balance openly in their workplace, and 95% express concern that asking for what they need could hinder their chances of advancement.
