Cultivating Community in the Workplace: Why Belonging Drives Performance

While working with leaders at a multinational company in 2016 (listed soon thereafter in the Forbes Global 2000 World's Best Employers list), a manager shared a story that struck me. He described the rush of pride he felt walking through an airport and seeing a giant advertisement for his company. He explained, “Our products don’t just look cool, they actually are cool.”

What stood out was not that he designed or built those products; in fact, he had never even touched one. His pride came from knowing that his work, though behind the scenes, mattered. He felt part of something larger; part of a shared experience that made the whole company’s success feel like his success.

That is the power of workplace community. It is more than tasks and outputs, it is the glue that binds people together. A strong sense of community grows from belonging, shared experiences, having your needs supported, working toward a common purpose, and knowing every voice counts. When these elements come together, people do not just do their jobs; they feel connected to something bigger than themselves.

This becomes even more critical in remote or geo-dispersed teams, where colleagues may rarely meet face-to-face. In those environments, community is built in the small, intentional moments: recognizing effort, pausing to celebrate a win, having a virtual “water-cooler,” or reminding the team of their shared “why.” These moments transform distance into connection.

And when people feel that connection? They bring their best ideas, commit more deeply to the mission, and stay longer. Belonging is not a standalone concept; it is the natural result of a strong workplace sense of community, one that leaders must intentionally create and sustain.

Community is more than friendliness. It is the lived experience of knowing: “I am valued here. I am seen. I am part of something bigger than myself.”

Where can you begin?

Start small: acknowledge a contribution, invite input, reinforce shared purpose, rethink meetings as connection points, and listen, really listen, to the needs of your people. Each choice builds trust. Over time, these ripples grow into waves that shape a thriving community.

Here is my invitation to you: pay attention this week to the sense of community in your team. Do people feel connected to one another and to a larger purpose? If not, what is one step you could take today to strengthen that connection?

*Interested in strengthening the sense of community in your workplace? The FSPSOC (The “Sense of Community” in a Geo-Dispersed Corporate Functional Subgroup) assessment © 2025 Karla R. Van Havel, PhD, validated in 2016, helps leaders understand and build true connection. Contact the Center for Dynamic Knowledge to learn more about our community-focused coaching, mentoring, and consulting.