Leaders Must Recognize the Need to Belong

Send to Kindle

People need to belong. Humans respond to knowing they’re a valuable, and valued, part of something bigger than themselves.

This is the secret to effective military organizations. From the first day of basic training, a new recruit is taught that they are part of something big and important. But as they progress in training, what becomes even more important is their relationship is a smaller unit. They quickly learn that others rely on them and they rely on others. That feeling of being a valued part of a larger whole is what builds the best military organizations.

Another place this phenomenon is evident is charity organizations. People tend to join and work in charities because they strongly believe in a particular cause. They will sacrifice their own time and resources because they want to be part of that cause.

Your business can be the same way. When the leader articulates a compelling vision and everyone understands how they each are an important part of achieving that vision, amazing things will begin to happen.

Maybe you aren’t defending the country or feeding the homeless, but that doesn’t mean what each of you does isn’t important to someone else.