Belonging at work is one of those things everyone claims to care about… right up until someone shows up as their full self and suddenly it’s “not professional!”

I hate the idea that someone has to assimilate to belong, so Erica Lydell and I pull the curtain all the way back on masking, identity, neurodiversity, and why belonging is less warm fuzzy feeling and more daily emotional CrossFit.

If you’ve ever been the only one in the room (or felt like you had to earn your seat) this episode will hit you square in the gut…in a good way!

Teamtailor is the fun, intuitive ATS that candidates actually like and recruiters don’t dread opening on Monday mornings. Create branded career sites, automate the boring stuff, and give candidates the hiring experience they dream of — without burning out your team. Check them out ⁠⁠⁠here.

0:02:23 - Erica’s Experience Riding a Camel

0:07:02 - Learning That Belonging at Work Isn’t Automatic

0:10:02 - Having to Mute Yourself in Professional Settings

0:18:13 - The Concept of Professionalism

0:26:59 - What Does Belonging at Work Feel Like?

0:42:01 - What Leaders Need to Understand About How Identities Impact How People Show up at Work

0:49:29 - Where to Find Erica

And if you love I Hate It Here, sign up to Hebba’s newsletter! It’s for jaded, overworked, and emotionally burnt-out HR/People Operations professionals needing a little inspiration.

https://workweek.com/discover-newsletters/i-hate-it-here-newsletter/

And if you love the podcast, be sure to check out https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here for even more exclusive insider content!

Follow Erica:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-lydell-b0933840/

Follow Hebba:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here/videos

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef

Twitter: https://twitter.com/hebbamyoussef

RUBY 494: Reducing Friction at the Authorization Layer with John Nunemaker