The newest theme in business is to create a sense of "belonging" - the feeling of being included, respected, and fully involved in the company, team, or organization. After conversations with more than 40 Diversity and Inclusion leaders, here are my thoughts on why Belonging is the key to figuring this out.  Read this article for the various frameworks and examples.

Why Diversity has become a business priority.

The value of belonging at work, in HBR

Women in the Workplace 2019, by McKinsey

Introducing People Success: Helping People Be their Best and Do their Best at Work, Glint 

Why Inclusive Leaders Are Good for Organizations, and How to Become One.

The Trouble with Gender Targets

Dobbin, F., & Kalev, A. (2016, July-August). Why diversity programs fail: And what works

better. Harvard Business Review, 94(7-8), 52-60.

Toward a systemic and inclusive framework. In B. M. Ferdman & B. R. Deane (Eds.),

Diversity at work: The practice of inclusion (p. 3–54). Jossey-Bass. https://

doi.org/10.1002/9781118764282.ch1

Plaut VC1, Garnett FG, Buffardi LE, Sanchez-Burks J. (2011) “What about me?” Perceptions of

exclusion and whites’ reactions to multiculturalism.

Macdonald G1, Leary MR. Psychol Bull. 2005 Mar;131(2):202-23. Why does social exclusion hurt?

The relationship between social and physical pain.

Why rejection hurts.

https://www.edge.org/conversation/naomi_eisenberger-why-rejection-hurts

Walton, G. M., & Cohen, G. L. (2007).

A question of belonging: Race, social fit, and achievement. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92(1), 82–96.

https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.92.1.82

https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2F0022-3514.92.1.82

Fear of Being Different Stifles Talent.

https://hbr.org/2014/03/fear-of-being-different-stifles-talent

Shore, L.M., Randel, A.E., Chung, B., Dean, M.A., Ehrhart, K.H., Singh, G. (2011). Inclusion and diversity in work groups: A review and model for future research. Journal of Management, 37.

Making it safe: the effects of leader inclusiveness and professional status on psychological safety and improvement efforts in health care teams, Ingrid M. Nembhard Amy C. Edmondson

Value Inclusion, Belonging, and Equity for All, by Workday