The Compelling Business Case for Belonging

I’ve been thinking a lot about the role of “belonging” in business. The more I study it, the more I’m convinced this may be the most important new business trend in a decade. “The business case for belonging” might sound weird, but let me explain.

The employee side

I was talking to a young entrepreneur who has started a very successful software business. As you undoubtedly know, attracting and retaining tech talent in a small start-up like that can make or break a company.

But this entrepreneur looks out for his employees as much as his coding, and it’s paying off. His 10 employees have become a family of sorts. “Something interesting is happening,” he told me. “My employees are moving closer to our office. I think that is a sign of stability. They truly like each other and even hang out at our office after work to play video games with each other.”

My friend has had no turnover in four years, arguably his company’s greatest strength.

Belonging is a competitive advantage.

This is a new concept to me. Growing up in business at a large multinational company, I often felt like an interchangeable part. Today, I think belonging has to be a “thing” at almost any company … right up there with healthcare benefits and vacation plans. Not an…