Belonging vs Fitting In

Fitting in is not the same as belonging.

In this new People Impact podcast episode, Lisa and I discuss a shift and a deepening in perspective around this useful distinction.

Belonging is not, does not look like or feel like fitting in.

This is an intentional levelling up beyond ‘cultural fit’.

Belonging means not trying to ask a square peg to cut off its corners to fit into a round hole – because those corners are part of who they are.

No one should be expected to cut off parts of who they are. That’s fitting in. Trying to fit in is toxic on a personal level. It can be exhausting. The world is moving on from the idea that you decide what normal is, what fits. Requiring people to fit in – or excluding them when they don’t – is not constructive. You lose out.

Belonging means letting people be more of themselves. Bringing more of their talents, skills and energy. You get so much more of a person when they get to bring themselves, especially those corners. It’s so much more conducive to collaboration and innovation.

It means that in your organisation, you get to be YOU-shaped, belonging and acknowledged for who YOU are. Knowing that all the parts of you matter. Your voice is welcome at the table.

So, in your organisation, are people really feeling, sensing, experiencing that they can bring all sides of their identity, and that they matter? Making that happen for your team is truly human leadership.

Look around you and see who’s there.

More about us:

Lisa Dempsey – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisakdempsey/ - https://www.leadershiplabs.eu

Marjolijn Vlug – https://www.linkedin.com/in/marjolijnvlug/ - https://www.marjolijnvlug.nl/?lang=en

Reach us both at PeopleImpactPodcast@gmail.com