A Sense of Belonging at Work: Lessons from the TV show “The West Wing”
Why belonging at work matters
For employees to admit their mistakes, or speak up freely about anything, they need to feel a sense of belonging, to feel psychologically safe enough to speak up. A sense of belonging is critical when it comes to building a workplace culture that works for everyone. A study by behavioral scientist Francesca Gino found that employees who have a sense of belonging feel freer to be their authentic selves, are more likely to feel valued, and are more likely to speak up at work.
To underscore just how important a sense of belonging can be, one study found that when employees don’t have a sense of belonging, they are less resilient, less likely to contribute ideas, less happy, and may actually experience impacts similar to feeling physical pain. The study found that when participants were purposely excluded from a virtual game while in an MRI scanner, the parts of their brains associated with physical pain showed increased activation. Ouch. Literally!
So below, I’ve listed a couple of cool and simple lessons on how to create belonging at work from the television series “The West Wing.”
Workplace culture and belonging lessons from The West Wing
Confession: I am a certified wingnut. Okay, by wingnut I mean I’m a huge fan of the TV series The West Wing, and thus I am loving the book, What’s Next: A Backstage Pass to The West Wing, Its Cast and Crew, and Its Enduring Legacy of Service. As with any book I read, I am always on the lookout for life or business lessons, and What’s Next? doesn’t disappoint in this regard.
So, here are just three of the many workplace culture lessons contained in this fabulous book.
1.Show people what your culture is, don’t just tell them. The director of the pilot episode was looking for Martin Sheen, who played the fictional president Jed Bartlet. He couldn’t find him because Sheen was busily introducing himself to every crew member on the set, prompting the director to think to himself, “Ah, he’s showing us what the culture on the set is going to be.”
2.Sitting at the same table creates belonging. On most sets the cast and crew eat at separate times and in separate places, but Martin Sheen again shaped the culture by insisting that everyone eats together: “We’re a family. Families eat together.”
3.Support the supporting cast. In this case, I don’t just mean how you treat the behind-the-scenes cast in your workplace, but also supporting and paying tribute to the families of your employees. At the beginning of the pilot episode, Chief of Staff Leo McGarry (played by John Spencer) winds his way through the office saying good morning to three staffers, Emma, Wilson, and Joe. Emma, Wilson, and Joe just happen to be the names of John Spencer’s children. The series creator and head writer Aaron Sorkin used those as a nod to Spencer’s three children. Beautiful!
Show people what your culture is, make sure everyone is literally and metaphorically sitting at the same table whenever possible, and support your supporting cast. Three fabulous principles that can help you build an inspiring workplace culture!
For more on the importance of belonging and how it can fuel a psychologically safe, growth mindset workplace culture, check out: Creating a Psychologically Safe Workplace Culture
And please let us know what you think! How does your workplace create a sense of belonging at work? Are you a “wingnut” when it comes to workplace culture?
Known as “The Workplace Energizer!” Michael Kerr is a Canadian Hall of Fame keynote speaker on workplace culture, workplace culture leadership, and humor in the workplace. Michael Kerr is the author of nine books, including Small Moments, Big Outcomes: How Leaders Create Cultures That Fuel Extraordinary Results. Michael is known as one of the most entertaining, humorous, and insightful keynote speakers on workplace culture and leadership.
“I would recommend Michael for any event and advise you to bring some tissue for wiping away your laughing tears!” Kylene Donaldson, Western Financial Group
