By Sarah Jenkins, Menzies Leadership Foundation
Belonging is not a program — it is a practice. When workplaces cultivate belonging, they build stronger organisations, stronger communities and stronger democracies.
Work has always been more than economic exchange. It shapes identity, purpose, connection and belonging. Yet in 2025, workplaces are experiencing fractures: generational divides, hybrid tensions, automation pressures and declining social cohesion.
As we close out the Leadership in 2025 – A Shared Responsibility series, one insight has become increasingly clear: the future of work will not be built by skills or technology alone. It will be built by belonging — the feeling that people matter, are seen, and can contribute meaningfully.
Belonging is no longer a cultural accessory. It is now a strategic necessity — for organisations, for communities, and for civic cohesion.
Work and Society Intertwined
The OECD Employment Outlook 2025 confirms that workforces in advanced economies are ageing, with almost one in three workers over the age of 50. This demographic shift intensifies the need for cultures of inclusion, flexibility and intergenerational learning.
The WEF Future of Jobs Report 2025 reports that 60% of workers will require retraining by 2030, with emotional intelligence, collaboration, and social influence among the most valuable skills.
Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace 2025 shows that belonging — more than location, perks or pay — is the strongest predictor of engagement and retention.
The research is clear: belonging drives individual wellbeing, organisational performance, and civic cohesion.
Why Belonging Matters
Belonging strengthens resilience, deepens trust, and enhances adaptability. When people feel they belong:
- Creativity increases
- Psychological safety strengthens
- Collaboration deepens
- Conflicts become easier to navigate
- Engagement rises
When belonging erodes, people withdraw — from teams, from institutions, and from civic life.
Leadership Across Levels
At the individual level
Every leader influences belonging through daily behaviours. Small acts — recognition, curiosity, genuine listening — create disproportionate impact.
Belonging grows through:
- Empathy
- Fairness
- Inclusion
- Respect for lived experience
These are not soft skills. They are leadership fundamentals.
At the organisational level
Belonging must be intentionally designed into systems. This includes:
- Shared purpose that connects personal meaning to organisational mission
- Roles that offer autonomy and clarity
- Investment in team rituals and connection
- Strong onboarding and mentoring
- Inclusive decision-making
Organisations that neglect belonging experience higher attrition, lower innovation, and weaker culture.
At the community and system level
Governments and civic institutions influence belonging through public policy. Investments in:
- Lifelong learning
- Local community infrastructure
- Fair access to work
- Recognition of unpaid labour
…all shape societal belonging.
When people feel they belong, democracies become stronger.
Case Notes: Belonging in Action
- Scandinavian organisations are designing age-diverse workforces, pairing older workers with younger employees in co-coaching models.
- Regional Australian community enterprises integrate social purpose with employment, building belonging across rural communities.
- Hybrid-first organisations are investing heavily in connection rituals — local hubs, in-person retreats, structured check-ins — to maintain shared identity.
Belonging is built by design.
What Leaders Can Do
Strengthen purpose
Connect everyday work to meaningful contribution.
Create connection rituals
Regular spaces for teams to reflect, learn and interact.
Build autonomy with support
Balance independence with guidance.
Invest in learning
Give people pathways to grow, adapt and contribute.
Lift the invisible load
Recognise caregiving, community contribution, and emotional labour.
Risks of Neglecting Belonging
When belonging is weak:
- Polarisation grows
- Engagement declines
- People feel unseen
- Institutions lose legitimacy
- Growth slows
The cost is not just cultural — it is societal.
Work as a Foundation of Civic Life
In an era of fragmentation, workplaces remain one of the few remaining spaces where people from different backgrounds interact regularly. That makes work a critical anchor for civic cohesion.
The future of work is not just about tasks or technology.
It is about how we show up for one another.
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As this final article for the series reflects, the threads running through this year’s leadership landscape — trust, sustainability, connection, complexity and civic responsibility — converge in one essential truth: leadership is relational.
In early February, we will turn our attention to the leadership trends shaping the next horizon. But for now, belonging stands as both a reminder and an invitation: to build cultures where people feel they matter, and in doing so, to strengthen the fabric of the systems we share.
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Series Overview
This article is part of Leadership in 2025 – A Shared Responsibility, a thought-leadership series authored by Sarah Jenkins at the Menzies Leadership Foundation. Drawing on global research and local insights, the series explores how leadership is evolving across individuals, organisations, communities, and systems. From trust and grievance to AI governance, human sustainability, and the future of work, each piece unpacks the challenges and opportunities shaping leadership in an age of complexity.
As work continues to shape not just our economy but our social fabric, belonging has become a core leadership responsibility. In an era of fragmentation and change, how people experience work — whether they feel seen, valued and able to contribute — matters more than ever.
The leaders who will earn trust in this next chapter are those who treat belonging as a practice, not a program. Those who design cultures grounded in empathy, dignity and shared purpose, and who understand that strong workplaces help sustain strong communities.
If you are committed to leading with this standard of care, we invite you to stay connected with the Menzies Leadership Foundation. Join a community shaping workplaces where people truly belong — and where leadership strengthens the systems we share.
