States of Being
Center for Coaching & Leading
Founding Director, Linda Belans, Ed.D.
Belans clearly elaborates the essential equity questions that should be at the heart of every decision a school leader makes. – Dr. Mahalia Hines, President, Common Ground Foundation; Board Member, Obama Foundation; former Board Member, Chicago Board of Education
A Sense Of Belonging
Linda Belans, EdD.
Statesofbeing.net
Why A Sense of Belonging?
​
A sense of belonging is critical to developing, nurturing, and sustaining trust. We have to have trust in one another in order to freely cooperate, build high functioning teams, and embody active empathy. Belonging occurs when we feel free to participate in and contribute to the design and implementation of the world we inhabit or aspire to inhabit. In a Democracy, it means we have the right to make demands on institutions without barter, fear, or retaliation. It has become more urgent to establish and protect these guiding principles in our communities and in our workplaces.
​
A sense of belonging matters because perceived isolation –– feeling alone – can create a matrix of harm that undermines trust. Most frequently reported are a heightened vigilance for social threats, an increase in anxiety and hostility, and withdrawal.
​
We have to feel that we matter.
​
This cannot occur if we’re constantly scanning for threats, feel anxious, or managing hostility. People who feel lonely worry more about being evaluated negatively than those who feel a sense of belonging. When we’re feeling isolated and threatened, we withdraw further.
​
There are short and long-term consequences when there is a chronic sense of isolation. The matrix of behaviors described above most commonly leads to false interpretations of the person who feels isolated. Translated: they’re not prepared, engaged, confident, or worse –– not smart enough.
​
There are short and long-term consequences when there is a chronic sense of isolation. The matrix of behaviors described above most commonly leads to false interpretations of the person who feels isolated. Translated: they’re not prepared, engaged, confident, or worse –– not smart enough.
The most significant consequence is the assumption that they have no potential or leadership qualities. This impacts promotions to top leadership positions, perpetuating the cycle of predominantly white-led schools and organizations, and the propensity for the proliferation of white- supremacist organizations. ​
Without intervention, the cycle continues. ​We can interrupt this pattern.
We can coach, lead and engage, anchored in a vision that promotes policies and a culture for colleagues and community to speak truth to power.
We should commit to regularly revisit the vision and attendant policies as internal conditions are influenced and impacted by external events.​We invite you to experience States of Being, a strengths-based philosophical approach to coaching – anchored in belonging, benevolence, and seeing the higher self – embodied in a practice that cascades throughout schools, organizations and communities.