Cover Story
The Importance of Being a Team Player - Practicing Inclusion in the Workplace By Alessandra Zappaterra, Communication and Social Media Manager, Tablo Limited Do you remember the opening lines of ‘About a Boy’? Will Freeman, the protagonist started with “every man is an island”, which justifies his eternal status as a selfish and carefree man, as opposed to what John Donne, the English poet claimed, “No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main”. Everyone can make personal decisions in our own kingdom as we are solely responsible for the consequences.
26 − Cover Story
However, can we still make individual decisions in the workplace?
more likely to contribute to the workplace with their maximum productivity.
After embarking on our career, it is safe to say we all agree no one is irreplaceable and there are no more or less important jobs than others. This illustrates the concept of a team precisely. A team is where we work together towards common goals instead of an individual. But one may wonder how to establish relationships with a new colleague.
Let us take a look at the study conducted by EY on the importance of belonging to better understand the emotional impact caused by the sense of belonging. The research consists of the survey results of 1,000 employed American adults, which showed that over 40% of respondents felt physically and emotionally isolated in the workplace. The result proved that exclusion, which is equal to having a low sense of belonging at the workplace, is a growing problem. Therefore, it is vital for businesses to connect with their employees effectively, creating a sense of belonging in the workplace.
As human beings, we have a psychological need to be part of something, to fulfil our sense of belonging; be it a family, a group of friends, a culture or a country. It is the same in the workplace - we need to have a sense of belonging in the workplace. We are more productive, motivated and engaging when we have a sense of belonging. According to research conducted by the Centre for Talent Innovation, employees who have a high sense of belonging are 3.5 times
The survey concluded with one simple solution: create more opportunities for colleagues to engage with each other. The study stated that 39% of respondents felt a sense of belonging when they interact with each other, both personally