Love. A complex and multifaceted emotion, plays an underestimated role in human relationships and connections - most notably within organisations. However even just a cursory glance over your record/vinyl/cd/Spotify collections will indicate its importance: All You Need Is Love - The Beatles, Love Is All Around - Wet Wet Wet, I Want To Know What Love Is - Foreigner. In fact, The Beatles cite the word LOVE 613 times in their entire collection (or thereabouts).
So what does - as the famous song goes - love got to do with it? Tina Turner’s response? It’s nothing but a second-hand emotion. I would argue otherwise. For me, love is first-hand emotion - essential in creating a meaningful sense of belonging for organisations and individuals alike.
Curious to know more? Join me over the next few paragraphs as I explore the intersection between Love and Belonging through the lens of Emotional Engineering…
Understanding Emotional Engineering:
Emotional engineering and its associated ‘Metamodel of Transformational Analysis (MAT)’ invites us to explore in a scientific manner, a knowledge of the human condition that can explain the functioning of the human being in all its manifestations. Developed by Preciaza Azancot (1943-2017), it’s been around for over 30 years, verified in over 120,000 cases and has a 100% success rate. Going beyond emotional intelligence, it offers an opportunity to learn about ourselves and those around us.
According to the principles of emotional engineering;
Emotions are energy that mobilise us into action in order to maintain our natural balance and inner order.
Emotions cannot be controlled, but rather managed.
Emotions are neither negative nor positive - if they are well-managed.
Our emotions are gifts - when used properly - to live a fulfilled life and respond to our our human motivations.
There are six dimensions to the human being and each dimension has a corresponding emotion - an energy - that allows the dimension to function properly.
When applied to the realm of human and organisational relationships, emotional engineering can be a catalyst for cultivating a deep sense of connection and belonging.
Love x Belonging:
If we take the above principles - love, in its various forms, corresponds to a fundamental human need. Whether it be romantic love, platonic love, or self-love, it contributes to a person's overall well-being and sense of identity. When we know more abut who we are - and accept, with love - who that is, we feel at home. Creating a sense of belonging therefore involves tapping into these emotions and generating an awareness of them to forge connections that go beyond superficial interactions.
Love creates bonds, alliances and desirable commitments. It I born out of admiration, appreciation and recognition of the other - which must be mutual for love to be present. However, if admiration ends, so does love, eventually. Whatever the relationship, it will break down.
How to generate a sense of belonging?
Compassion:
By incorporating elements of care, empathy, and positive reinforcement into the learning experience of every individual, organisations can create an environment where employees feel valued and connected. This, in turn, fosters a supportive community within the institution.
Curiosity:
By understanding emotions and their related human needs within individuals, an organisation can design events, forums, and communication channels that promote a shared sense of purpose and belonging.
Comprehension:
Being aware that fostering a sense of belonging takes time - we cannot make someone fall in love with us or our organisations; we can, however, foster an awareness for what it takes for someone to arrive in a place where they feel they belong. It’s a journey involving safety - psychological and physical, with opportunities for individuals to develop, in complete fairness of opportunity, where achievements are celebrated. They’re loved and feel loved. They belong.
This last paragraph is, in effect, the essence of emotional engineering; using an awareness of emotions to engineer and build the energies required to grow and develop, individually and collectively. Going against these energies - trying to impose superficial or inauthentic quick fixes; reward schemes for performance when there’s no safety in the organisation, promotions not based on response to merit but reaction to a dissatisfaction with the status quo will lead to rock bottom; with increased levels of burnouts, depression, stress and anxiety.
Beyond Belonging
Where do people go once they’ve discovered this sense of belonging? Nowhere. Not unless the external weather conditions change of the company or relationship change. Why? Because the only place to go from there is upwards; to a sense of joy and and awareness that their purpose is to continue showing up and contributing to the welfare of the organisation or relationship.
Is Love Really All You Need?
Well, there is some truth in what John, Paul, Ringo and George believed and sang about. Love, as a driving force behind human connections, plays a vital role in the creation of a sense of belonging.
When thoughtfully considered through Emotional Engineering, organisations can work within the emotional dynamics at play, and design environments and experiences that not only meet our basic human needs but also cultivate lasting connections, meaningful change, and a profound sense of belonging in an ever-changing world.
At Nova Terra we frequently run workshops on Emotional Engineering, Personality Types and Communication for groups of individuals or businesses. Through experiential learning, you discover the world of emotions and how to work with them for sustainable, meaningful change. It is an exclusive workshop in collaboration with Nova Terra and led by the inspirational Izaskun Bernal - International Consultant, Executive Coach and Corporate Trainer. For more information, please contact us at: info@novaterracoaching.com
