From Loneliness to Belonging: How Appreciative Inquiry Can Open Doors

The recent Loneliness: The next five years online conference sparked a powerful question within me: how can we approach this issue through an appreciative lens?

Instead of focusing on loneliness, imagine shifting the conversation to belonging. What if we asked "How can we create more belonging? How can we grow and sustain it?" Even as I spoke about the conference to friends and family, I envisioned it as a Belonging Conference.

Imagine the difference. Instead of dissecting the problem of loneliness, we'd be celebrating moments of connection and welcoming. Panelists would share stories of feeling truly included, sparking discussions about replicating those experiences. Organizations would actively seek ways to build bridges and foster feelings of belonging.

This is where Appreciative Inquiry comes in. By focusing on positive experiences and strengths, Appreciative Inquiry empowers groups to intentionally design welcoming environments.

Here's how it works in an organizational context:

1. Identify your desired outcome: Instead of tackling loneliness, we seek to grow belonging.

2. Paired interviews: People within the meeting/group are paired and asked: Tell me about a time you felt truly welcomed and included in a group/team. What made it special?

3. Group sharing: In small groups, individuals identify key elements of their welcome experience.

4. Collective wisdom: All groups share their findings, creating a blueprint of what fosters belonging.

5. Action planning: Based on these insights, the organization develops concrete actions to cultivate a sustainable welcoming and inclusive environment.

6. Next will be implementation. They will devise realistic plans to incorporate the ideas that have been generated.

This process is just the beginning! By focusing on what works, organizations can:

• Attract new members: welcoming spaces naturally invite people in.

• Increase engagement: feeling included motivates people to contribute and participate.

• Boost morale: a sense of belonging fosters happiness and well-being, thereby addressing loneliness.

Appreciative Inquiry isn't a magic wand, but it's a powerful tool for shifting perspectives and creating positive change. So, let's move beyond mere awareness of loneliness and start actively cultivating belonging, one person, one organization, one conversation at a time.

Ready to take the next step? Share your thoughts and experiences with creating belonging in the comments below. Together, we can create a world where everyone feels welcome and connected.