How to Build Belonging in a Post-Pandemic World

Strong team relationships require more than proximity

In this week’s post, I invite you to rediscover the value of belonging and to see it through a different lens. I’ll cover:

1. Belonging in a post-pandemic world

2. A framework to increase belonging

3. Tools to build belonging with your team

Before COVID disrupted our lives, leaders knew that belonging mattered, but many underestimated its true value. The research was clear: Strong work relationships boost collaboration and business results. Feeling like you belong is crucial for keeping teams from falling apart. Yet, many leaders were caught off guard.

The pandemic disrupted more than just our daily routines – it tore apart our lives. People lost loved ones, and communities faced an overwhelming emotional toll. Leaders scrambled to figure out the "new normal." They spent most of the pandemic navigating remote work and fractured team dynamics. But you know what? Teams still managed to pull through.

The chaos reminded us of something vital: our need to belong. Belonging is not just a nice-to-have – it…