What Would Belonging Do Here?
Exploring tensions, finding belonging.
Every workplace faces moments of tension—between efficiency and inclusion, stability and change, or competition and cooperation. These moments can either pull people apart or create opportunities to build stronger belonging. How we respond makes all the difference.
In this activity, your group will work through real-world scenarios where these tensions show up. You’ll reflect on the prompts, explore what’s beneath the surface, and imagine how a culture of belonging could change the outcome.
Scroll down to explore the Barrier Buster Scenarios. As you work through a scenario, keep the six core tensions in mind: Autonomy–Connection, Stability–Change, Openness–Closedness, Competition–Cooperation, Ideal–Real, and Inclusion–Seclusion. Use them as guides to see what’s at play—and how belonging might thrive in that space.
Your Instructions
Work through your assigned Barrier Buster Scenario as a group.
Use the prompts on the card to reflect and discuss together.
Keep the 6 core tensions in mind as reference points:
Autonomy–Connection
Stability–Change
Openness–Closedness
Competition–Cooperation
Ideal–Real
Inclusion–Seclusion
Be ready to share your key insights with the larger group.
Barrier Buster Scenarios
Efficiency takes over, while quieter voices lose chances to contribute.
Decisions feel closed, and concerns get shut down too quickly.
Innovation is celebrated, but frontline staff feel left out.
One person gets the praise, while others feel overlooked.
Tight groups succeed, but newcomers struggle to be included.