Building a sense of belonging is a necessary step in achieving inclusion in the workplace. The goal is for employees to feel truly comfortable and like they can be their true selves in the organization. If we feel that we belong somewhere, we become more productive and innovative. ‍But how can organizations build this sense of belonging? And how should we approach this in virtual teams? We talked about this at one of our latest DEI Palette Club’s events with Alexis Curtis-Harris, Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Penna, and Rachel Luff, Global Inclusion & Diversity Learning – Strategy Lead at Expedia Group. Here are some of the most important takeaways which the speakers shared on building a sense of belonging.

If there's one thing that everyone keeps mentioning in all blog posts, workshops, and conferences – it is networking. The activity of meeting and talking became so popular it also moved to an online platform when the pandemic and lockdown hit. Networking has become an ideal activity for extroverts whose daily bread is chatting and meeting new people. But what happened with introverts? Have they ever attended networking sessions? ‍The truth is they did and sometimes they benefited even more than extroverts attending a networking event. But how did they do it? The secret is they knew their strong points. Read on to learn six practical tips crafted specifically for introverts who'd like to learn the art of networking. 

Mentoring is a two-way learning experience that can be a great way to improve your leadership skills. Anyone who has been in a leadership position knows that being a good leader isn’t always straightforward. While it’s important to understand your own leadership style and what motivates you as a leader, you’re not the only person involved in the equation. A big factor in being a great leader is how you work with other people to meet their needs. Mentoring outside of your immediate environment is an excellent way to learn more about how other people think, how they work, and what they need. 

Regarding, but also regardless of the current situation in our society, everyone experiences mentally difficult moments at work. We might have a great superior who understands our mental condition, or possibilities of organized support from management. Nevertheless, a significant part of dealing with such a situation lies mostly on our own shoulders. Therefore, it is handy to be ready! I will share with you several tips on how to protect our mental health at work and how to help ourselves when we are struggling.

We asked Femme Palette mentor Danial Hassan for his recommendations and here are some of the top books he suggests mentors (and anyone looking to improve these skills) check out.

Although many male executives have been arguing for more than four decades that there is a need for “feminization of management”, only 11% of women on average are in management in companies across the EU. Breaking the glass ceiling seems to be impossible for many women, however, those who manage to do so face the next stage of discrimination. This concept is known as the glass cliff. 

When mentee Glorybeth Castillo got laid off from her job, it was a major blow to her self-esteem. However, she decided to turn things around and signed up to the Femme Palette Mentoring program where she was matched with mentor Lucie Chmelikova. And within a few sessions, things started looking up. 

Mentoring is a great way to give back by sharing what you’ve learned throughout your career and helping guide a mentee toward their goals. Maybe you’ve thought about being a mentor but aren’t sure where to begin. The good news is that you don’t need any formal mentoring experience to start, but there are several ways you can build up your mentoring experience and strengthen the skills you’ll need to be a great mentor. Here are a few ideas to help kick of your mentoring journey.