Company or Business? Employees Belong or They Leave

You know immediately, the moment you walk into the room, if they've prepared it for you. We all know it when they do, instantly, and from that moment, we're so endeared, we begin missing them before we even leave the room. Like that last bite of a perfect meal. You’re staring at your fork, saying to yourself, “I don’t want this wonderful taste and experience to end.” {CHOMP!} Your gratitude inside wells up into a smile, and your inner voice says, "I can't wait to come here and do this with them again."

A real welcome has been prepared for you. Like when you invite company to your house. You tidy up a bit, or possibly a bunch, especially if you've recently gotten a new puppy. You'll find out in advance what they like to eat and what they don't like or can't eat. You've found out what they like to drink and get it beforehand. And, you'll set the table for them, to be in communion together with you.

That welcome, that's where belonging sparks into existence. Without it, the path to belonging gets much harder.

And we know when the room's not prepared for us. The hairs on the back of your neck go, yeah... it's not about me. It's about them. And now the pressure is on to fit in. You ever been an invited guest to somebody's house, you get there, and nothing’s prepared for your arrival? Or worse, everything's prepared for them, so they can show you, and still nothing’s for you. It doesn’t take long for that look from your significant other, that screams, “Oh god, how much longer do we have to stay here!!!”

If you'll indulge me and just a bit more, this is where organizations screw things up. They're too busy being a business, instead of being a company.

The business does onboarding to add the new employee to complete the business objective. They'll even say things like, "we want you to be able to do your job the best, so..."

(Spoiler alert: how not to be part of The Great Resignation)

The company onboards by preparing the room (virtual or physical) for its new members to belong with her, to show up in their values from their story, as themselves. They set the room to experience the company's purpose and contribute from their strengths. The company wants her new members to be truly themselves, and to enjoy their time so much, that when each day is done, they'll want to come back again and again. This is done in the hope and potential, that the new member will join in story, from their heart, and in the ways the company belongs and gets shit done.

Employees are your company, and, when treated like company, they sing about what a wonderful place was prepared for them.

Are you a company?

Preparing a place for them to be welcomed and belong, in personal and individual fullness, in your company. Where they don’t want to leave each other.

Here’s a pretty good recipe for creating a company where your employees can’t wait to come back each day!
Onboarding for a Belonging Culture

Or just a business?

If you’re curious and want to do this better at your company, give me a call. Let’s chat. Paul.

Thank you Mathew Heinecke (and Rahel Heinecke) for your LinkedIn post on welcoming. I’d forgotten to publish this piece! It was so refreshing to hear your words on welcoming. And thanks to Kevin Monroe for the wonderful conversation about hospitality, and for the opening line of this post. And to Sejal Thakkar, for discussions about onboarding for a belonging culture.