Belonging's Magic Quadrant and Workplace Brains
The Belonging Magic Quadrant
There's a magic quadrant in belonging. Moving your company back towards it will put you and your people in a place where you can more easily bring your people's focus back. I urge you to go in that direction. And if you need help give me a holler.
Before getting to the quadrant, here's the working definition of belonging for you to consider.
Real Belonging is... the state of being, in relationship with each other and self, where... you feel, own, and care for them, in their successes, dreams, and failures. And, they feel, own, and care for you in yours. A two-way street.
It's here, where we move from fear of, to fear for each other and let that push our performance to the next level, we got each other's back. And where we land in aspire with and for each other, instead of in spite of each other.
Here's what the quadrant looks like. Where are you? Where's your team?
Link for full Infographic at the end of article.
In the magic quadrant of belonging, your brain and heart get to keep its top-of-mind focus of choice. Like your company shared purpose! The other three quadrants make it impossible to maintain that focus.
If you're the CEO, I know you’ve felt this. In fact, it may have moved you to create your own company.
The Belonging Quadrants
Bottom Left: There's no feel, own, and care, in either direction. So you struggled until you found a new direction/place - where you really belong. Since the savanna, our brains have been this way. It's how we thrive and stay alive, still.
Top of Mind: focused everywhere else. (You here? What's top of mind for you?)
Top Left: They had feel, own, and care for you, but you really didn't for them. It just wasn't right for you. That's okay, we don't belong with everybody. But like everybody, we all have to belong. That feeling, it's telling you to go find or create where and with whom you will belong.
Top of Mind: focused on I'm here, sure it feels good, but it's just not right. Oh, what was I working on? (You here? What's top of mind for you?)
Bottom right: You had the feel, own, and care for them. But it never came back. This one's more like a gut punch. At times, well, it was for me. And it's probably the pinnacle of the negative impact for the #thefitintax.
Top of Mind: I'm at risk. is there something wrong with me? For some reason, I'm never good enough, even if you are, for the tasks at hand. (You here? What's top of mind for you?)
Top Right: Oh yeah! This is where the magic happens! Nestled in real belonging our brains and hearts are free to focus on the shared purpose of our company tribe. Here, we naturally land in Unite & Fight instead of Fight/Flight. Our neurochemistry is flush with oxytocin and serotonin, the requisite chemicals for optimal teaming and focus.
Top of Mind: Whatever you're focused upon, your company shared purpose. (You here? What's top of mind for you?)
What quadrant are you in right now?
The great thing, you get to choose which quadrant to move into. If you’re the CEO or on the senior leadership team, you're in the most influential position to bring your company's belonging back. It may take some effort and some vulnerability, but you can get to belonging’s magic quadrant.
Here's a link to the infographic, Belonging, the Magic Quadrant, and Workplace Brains.