Concentric Circles of Belonging

Belonging matters.  When an individual feels a sense of belonging in their interpersonal and professional relationships, they are more resilient, mentally and physically healthier, and more engaged in society.  Research consistently finds that a student who feels they belong shows greater motivation, participates more actively, persists through challenges, and demonstrates higher achievement.  In the workplace, belonging is linked to job satisfaction, increased productivity, and creative problem solving.  “Belonging” is an abstract and subjective term but we know it when we feel it.  Belonging is the necessary, but sometime elusive ingredient to create meaningful, vibrant, communities.

I find it helpful to think about belonging in two complementary ways. The first focuses on relationships and culture. Belonging is about feeling seen, valued, and connected to a shared purpose. It can be understood through the specific behaviors that foster it, and it involves an interdependent relationship between individuals and groups. This definition requires us to examine how we engage with one another, how we listen and talk across differences, and how we align our actions with our values. The second perspective places “belonging” at the intersection of inclusion, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEIB).  This perspective begins by looking at who is “not yet included,” and encompasses combatting physical, communication, financial and attitudinal barriers.  This definition challenges us to create inclusive environments where all community members can participate fully. The key is not choosing one definition over another but being aware about which one is guiding the conversation. To reap the proven benefits of creating a sense of belonging, we need to first clarity what we mean when we say “belonging.”  Only then can we create measurable, strategic plans to enhance belonging.

Imagine a series of concentric circles. At the center is the individual, where belonging begins with self-awareness and the development of trusting relationships with others. The next circle is a single organization, where policies and practices ensure that staff and volunteers feel respected and included. Moving outward, the third circle encompasses the organization’s relationship with its primary stakeholders, members, clients, and volunteers, shifting from a transactional mindset to one of co-creation.  These inner circles focus primarily on creating a culture of belonging.  The initial question is not “who is missing?” but “how well are the people here experiencing belonging?” Even relatively homogeneous groups can work on strengthening belonging by examining their assumptions, addressing bias, and intentionally creating cultures where members feel valued and connected. 

While the first three circles focus primarily on relationships within and around a single organization, the next two circles expand to consider how organizations contribute to a broader ecosystem of belonging. As organizations grow, they naturally become more diverse, making questions of equity, inclusion, and belonging increasingly important. Some local communities have a rich ecosystem of organizations, allowing individuals to choose where and how they wish to engage. Other communities have the added responsibility of creating organizations responsive to community members’ needs.

The fourth circle is the local community, where organizations that align can build trust and collaborate around shared values and a shared purpose.  Belonging at this level requires ensuring that all people are seen, heard, valued, and able to participate fully in some way within a local community. Finally, the outermost circle extends to the broader society.  At this level belonging means allyship, bridge-building, and solidarity for equity and justice.  There are both local and national organizations that engage in this type of social justice work. While doing so, it is essential that they literally “circle back” to confirm that staff and volunteers feel respected and included and that stakeholders, members, clients, and volunteers feel a sense of belonging.  These organizations, and all organizations, will be more successful if they continually look both inward and outward when considering how they are creating a sense of belonging.

Each circle builds on the one before it. Organizations cannot create belonging for their stakeholders if staff and volunteers do not feel they belong. Communities cannot foster belonging across organizations if those organizations have not built cultures of belonging internally. The strength of each outer circle depends on the health of the circles within it.

The concentric circles of belonging remind us that belonging is both personal and communal. They begin with individual relationships, grow through organizational culture, expand into community-wide inclusion, and ultimately shape how we engage with the broader world. Progress in the outer circles depends on the strength of the inner ones.  Unfortunately, intentional work in the inner circles can be overlooked when the focus shifts too quickly to the outer circles.  People need to feel seen, valued, and connected as individuals, students, volunteers and employees, congregants, neighbors, and as members of society. True “belonging” requires that we explore our values and actions within each circle.

Understanding why belonging matters is only the first step.  Beyond this understanding, organizations need to systematically examine whether people actually experience belonging. Belonging should be reflected in the way we welcome people, build relationships, navigate disagreement, develop leaders, celebrate contributions, and say goodbye when someone moves on. The concentric circles remind us that belonging does not begin at the edge of our communities; it begins at the center.  Belonging is too important to leave to chance.  It should be intentionally designed, regularly examined and continuously strengthened. We need to seize the opportunity to move belonging from aspiration to practice.  When we get this right, we create communities in which every person knows they matter, every voice has the opportunity to be heard, and our values are aligned with our actions.