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Bring Creating Belonging to your organization.

Considering copies for a team, leadership group or shared reading conversation? Tell me how many books you need, where they should be delivered and your preferred timing. I’ll confirm availability, fulfillment costs and a quote for your order.

You can purchase books on their own. If a facilitated conversation or workshop would be useful, we can discuss that separately.

Ask about organizational book orders
Planning an organizational book order

For a quote, please include:

  • Approximate number of copies and intended use.
  • Delivery destination or destinations and the date you need the books.
  • Any purchasing requirements, such as a purchase order or invoice.
  • Whether you want books only or would also like to discuss a facilitated conversation.

Printing and fulfillment use IngramSpark. Availability, shipping costs and delivery timing will be confirmed before you commit. Accessibility needs for any accompanying session can be discussed during planning.

Creating Belonging: Accelerate True Inclusion in Your Workplace

Creating Belonging is a practical guide to exploring authenticity and acceptance in organizations and communities. Use the book for individual reflection or shared discussion. If your organization needs facilitated support, we can explore whether a conversation or workshop fits your goals.

Cover of Creating Belonging (2022) by Justin M. Reinert

Why Belonging Matters

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Belonging matters to people and organizations. BetterUp’s 2019 research, which included a survey of 1,789 full-time employees and separate experiments, reported an association between high belonging and higher job performance, lower turnover risk and fewer sick days. These findings provide context for the topic; they are not measured outcomes of this book or PAL’s workshops. Read BetterUp’s September 2019 research summary

 

For HR and DEI leaders, these numbers confirm what you already know: belonging drives performance. Yet traditional diversity and inclusion programs often fall short of creating that deep sense of community. Why? A common challenge is too much external focus and not enough self-reflection in DEI efforts. Employees may go through training on respecting others, but if they aren’t also encouraged to explore their own identity and biases, the impact stalls. The result is performative “inclusion” that leaves people feeling excluded and fails to make measurable change. To truly move the needle, organizations need a fresh approach that starts from within each individual and then radiates outward to the group.

 

This is where Creating Belonging comes in. It addresses the core gap in many DEI initiatives – the lack of personal connection – and provides a roadmap to build a culture where everyone feels they belong. No one should be part of the 25% who feel they don’t fit in at work. It’s time to replace token efforts with authentic belonging—and reap the rewards in engagement, innovation, and loyalty.

A New Model for Lasting Inclusion

Creating Belonging introduces a powerful model that reshapes how we approach DEI&B. Instead of starting with policies or “fixing” others, the journey starts with each of us. Creating Belonging guides participants to begin with deep self-awareness and self-acceptance, then quickly pivot to practicing “radical acceptance” of others . By first understanding our own identities, biases, and needs, we create a foundation to genuinely embrace differences in our colleagues. This balance of personal authenticity and acceptance of others is the cornerstone of the Creating Belonging Model .

 

At the heart of this model is the insight that belonging is a two-way street: when individuals are empowered to be their authentic selves and are committed to including others, a real sense of community emerges. This approach moves beyond surface-level diversity metrics to embed inclusion into everyday behaviors. In the book, Justin provides ideas and reflections and relatable stories illustrating how this model works in practice. Readers are prompted with reflective questions and action plans, making it a truly interactive experience—more workbook than textbook. By engaging with these exercises, leaders and teams uncover how they can personally contribute to a culture of belonging.

 

Crucially, the Creating Belonging Model ties personal growth to organizational change. It’s not a theoretical concept; it’s a practical framework your team can apply immediately. For example, you’ll learn how to:

​

  • Identify the communities and identities each team member holds, and how these shape their work experience .

  • Reflect on your own level of authenticity at work—do you feel safe being yourself? – and where you can grow in accepting others?

  • Practice concrete behaviors that balance “being yourself” with “fitting in”, so that diversity is celebrated and everyone feels valued.

  • Develop an action plan to improve belonging in at least one team or community you’re part of.

 

Teams can use these questions to discuss what makes it easier or harder to speak up, participate and work together. Any changes should be assessed in the context of your organization and the goals you agree to pursue.

 

Interested in how this could work for your team? Schedule a consultation to discuss how the Creating Belonging framework can be tailored to your organization.

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Untitled-4.png
Untitled-5.png

The Book and Optional Workshop

Creating Belonging isn’t just a book to read – it’s an experience to share. The book equips you with understanding and tools, while the workshop brings those concepts to life through guided group learning. Together, they offer the ultimate toolkit to build a culture of belonging: learn the concepts, then put them into practice with your team.

 

About the Book

 

In the book Creating Belonging: A Practical Guide to Accelerate Belonging in Organizations and Communities, author Justin Reinert lays out a step-by-step guide to create belonging. It’s filled with real-world examples, reflection prompts, and action steps drawn from Justin’s 20+ years of experience in talent development and DEI. Readers will discover how to apply the Creating Belonging Model in various scenarios – from onboarding new hires, to leading diverse teams, to community-building in employee resource groups. The book’s tone is authoritative yet friendly, making complex ideas accessible. Each chapter concludes with an “Accelerate Belonging” plan, so you can immediately translate insight into action. It’s a resource you’ll reference again and again as you champion inclusion in your role. (Many readers even bring these plans to team meetings to spark discussion and commitment.)

 

Key takeaways from the book include: how to assess your organization’s current belonging gaps, strategies to increase trust and empathy among team members, and techniques to measure the impact of belonging over time. By the final page, you’ll not only understand the importance of belonging – you’ll have a clear roadmap to create it. No wonder readers are calling it “brilliant and illuminating… thought-provoking” and “a great resource… Highly recommended”.

 

About the Workshop

 

A facilitated workshop offers space to explore the book’s ideas together. We start with your organization’s needs and agree on the focus, format and scope before proposing an engagement.

​

A Creating Belonging workshop begins with open conversation – we meet teams where they are and guide them to deeper self-awareness and connection.

 

Customized to your needs: The workshop can be delivered as a concise 90-minute awareness booster or expanded to a half-day or full-day deep dive – depending on your goals and team size . We offer live online or in-person formats for flexibility. Every workshop engagement includes pre- and post-consulting to tailor the content to your unique culture and to follow up on impact, ensuring this isn’t a one-off event but a sustained initiative .

 

What to expect in the workshop: Participants will engage in interactive exercises and candid discussions guided by our model’s core objectives. We will:

  • Define the communities and identities present in the room, acknowledging the rich tapestry of experiences on your team .

  • Reflect on each person’s experience with authenticity and acceptance at work – uncovering where they feel free and where they feel they “mask” or hold back.

  • Discuss & Learn through stories and examples. (Our facilitators share relatable stories, and we encourage team members to share their own in a safe setting – a highlight many participants “really loved” about this workshop.)

  • Create individual and group action plans for fostering belonging going forward. Each attendee will identify at least one concrete action to implement in their daily work or team interactions.

 

Sessions can include reflection, discussion and practical exercises. We agree on participation options and accessibility needs during planning so people can contribute in ways that work for them.

 

The intended takeaway is a shared vocabulary and practical actions participants can try in their own work. We agree with you on useful outcomes and how progress will be reviewed.

 

Pro Tip: Many organizations choose to distribute copies of the Creating Belonging book to all workshop participants. This way, everyone leaves with a personal copy of the guide to reinforce what they learned and to drive continued reflection after the workshop. (Volume discounts are available for bulk book orders – just ask during your consultation.)

 

If a workshop may be useful, we can discuss the challenge you want to address, your participants and your budget. Virtual delivery is available; in-person delivery by Justin is limited to Chicagoland and subject to accessibility and scheduling.

Research Context

Job Performance

 

BetterUp’s 2019 research reported higher job performance among employees with stronger belonging. This association is a reason to explore belonging at work, not a prediction of the results your organization will achieve.

Turnover Risk

 

BetterUp’s 2019 research reported lower turnover risk among employees with stronger belonging. This is an association, not a promise of reduced turnover from a book or workshop.

Making Space for Ideas​

 

A useful discussion can explore whether people feel able to contribute ideas, raise concerns and disagree respectfully. The next step is to identify specific practices your team can test and review.

Praise for Creating Belonging

Selected reader and workshop participant feedback is shown below. These comments reflect individual experiences.

​

  • “Brilliant and illuminating… an enriching and thought-provoking read.” – Reader review

  • “Incredibly relatable and quite thought-provoking…feels like a resource that can help anyone orient to inclusive community standards.” – Reader review

  • “As a DEI professional, I found this book to be a great resource in helping to advance the concept of belonging… Highly recommended.” – Reader review

  • “If you’re interested in the success of DEIB efforts, this book is for you… I found the Creating Belonging model and action plans very helpful.” – Reader review

  • "The workshop was wonderful and important, and I loved the integration of stories throughout the discussion.” – Workshop Participant feedback

 

The comments above offer readers’ and participants’ perspectives on the material.

 

Reader and participant feedback describes individual experiences. It does not establish that the model or workshop will produce the same results for every person or organization.

Justin Reinert

About the Author

 

Justin M. Reinert is the visionary behind Creating Belonging. A seasoned talent development expert, Justin has over 20 years of experience building high-performing, inclusive teams . He has led learning and leadership development programs at global companies as large as HSBC and Oracle, where he spearheaded initiatives to improve engagement and culture. He’s also built award-winning training functions at high-growth firms, proving that even lean organizations can achieve big impacts with the right approach .

 

As the Founder and Principal of Performance Accelerated Learning, Justin now channels his passion into coaching and consulting with organizations across industries . He holds a Master’s in Educating Adults from DePaul University, and is certified as a Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) and Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) – reflecting deep expertise in how people learn and thrive at work . In 2022, he distilled his insights into the Creating Belonging book to address a critical gap he observed in workplace inclusion efforts .

 

Justin is not only a practitioner but also a recognized thought leader in the field. He’s been published in talent development publications, including authoring the cover story of TD Magazine (ATD’s flagship publication) in January 2025 . Whether he’s speaking at a conference, coaching an executive, or facilitating a workshop, Justin’s core message is consistent: belonging drives performance. He brings an infectious enthusiasm and empathy to this work, informed by his perspective as an LGBTQ+ business owner (Performance Accelerated Learning is proud to be an NGLCC-certified LGBT Business Enterprise) and as someone who has seen firsthand the transformation that occurs when people truly feel they belong.

 

Justin brings his experience in learning and leadership development to the discussion. Together, we agree on the focus and intended outcomes before an engagement begins.

 

(Want to learn more about Justin’s approach before committing? Feel free to schedule a short intro call – he’s happy to answer questions about the model and discuss how it can fit your needs.)

Cover of Creating Belonging (2022) by Justin M. Reinert

Ready to Create Belonging in Your Organization?

Start with the needs of your team. We can discuss whether books, a facilitated conversation or a workshop would be useful, and what you would want to change as a result.

​

Tell us about your goals, participants, timing and budget. Availability and the scope of any engagement will be confirmed during planning.

 

A discovery conversation gives us space to understand your priorities and decide together whether there is a useful fit.

 

You can begin with the book on its own. Additional support is optional and can be shaped around your organization’s needs.

 

For organizational orders or to explore an engagement, email [email protected] or schedule a conversation.

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Bring Creating Belonging to your organization.

Considering copies for a team, leadership group or shared reading conversation? Tell me how many books you need, where they should be delivered and your preferred timing. I’ll confirm availability, fulfillment costs and a quote for your order.

You can purchase books on their own. If a facilitated conversation or workshop would be useful, we can discuss that separately.

Ask about organizational book orders
Planning an organizational book order

For a quote, please include:

  • Approximate number of copies and intended use.
  • Delivery destination or destinations and the date you need the books.
  • Any purchasing requirements, such as a purchase order or invoice.
  • Whether you want books only or would also like to discuss a facilitated conversation.

Printing and fulfillment use IngramSpark. Availability, shipping costs and delivery timing will be confirmed before you commit. Accessibility needs for any accompanying session can be discussed during planning.

Creating Belonging: Accelerate True Inclusion in Your Workplace

Creating Belonging is a practical guide to exploring authenticity and acceptance in organizations and communities. Use the book for individual reflection or shared discussion. If your organization needs facilitated support, we can explore whether a conversation or workshop fits your goals.

Cover of Creating Belonging (2022) by Justin M. ReinertBOOK MY FREE CONSULT

Why Belonging Matters

Untitled-1.pngUntitled-2.png

Belonging matters to people and organizations. BetterUp’s 2019 research, which included a survey of 1,789 full-time employees and separate experiments, reported an association between high belonging and higher job performance, lower turnover risk and fewer sick days. These findings provide context for the topic; they are not measured outcomes of this book or PAL’s workshops. Read BetterUp’s September 2019 research summary

For HR and DEI leaders, these numbers confirm what you already know: belonging drives performance. Yet traditional diversity and inclusion programs often fall short of creating that deep sense of community. Why? A common challenge is too much external focus and not enough self-reflection in DEI efforts. Employees may go through training on respecting others, but if they aren’t also encouraged to explore their own identity and biases, the impact stalls. The result is performative “inclusion” that leaves people feeling excluded and fails to make measurable change. To truly move the needle, organizations need a fresh approach that starts from within each individual and then radiates outward to the group.

This is where Creating Belonging comes in. It addresses the core gap in many DEI initiatives – the lack of personal connection – and provides a roadmap to build a culture where everyone feels they belong. No one should be part of the 25% who feel they don’t fit in at work. It’s time to replace token efforts with authentic belonging—and reap the rewards in engagement, innovation, and loyalty.

A New Model for Lasting Inclusion

Creating Belonging introduces a powerful model that reshapes how we approach DEI&B. Instead of starting with policies or “fixing” others, the journey starts with each of us. Creating Belonging guides participants to begin with deep self-awareness and self-acceptance, then quickly pivot to practicing “radical acceptance” of others . By first understanding our own identities, biases, and needs, we create a foundation to genuinely embrace differences in our colleagues. This balance of personal authenticity and acceptance of others is the cornerstone of the Creating Belonging Model .

At the heart of this model is the insight that belonging is a two-way street: when individuals are empowered to be their authentic selves and are committed to including others, a real sense of community emerges. This approach moves beyond surface-level diversity metrics to embed inclusion into everyday behaviors. In the book, Justin provides ideas and reflections and relatable stories illustrating how this model works in practice. Readers are prompted with reflective questions and action plans, making it a truly interactive experience—more workbook than textbook. By engaging with these exercises, leaders and teams uncover how they can personally contribute to a culture of belonging.

Crucially, the Creating Belonging Model ties personal growth to organizational change. It’s not a theoretical concept; it’s a practical framework your team can apply immediately. For example, you’ll learn how to:

  • Identify the communities and identities each team member holds, and how these shape their work experience .

  • Reflect on your own level of authenticity at work—do you feel safe being yourself? – and where you can grow in accepting others?

  • Practice concrete behaviors that balance “being yourself” with “fitting in”, so that diversity is celebrated and everyone feels valued.

  • Develop an action plan to improve belonging in at least one team or community you’re part of.

Teams can use these questions to discuss what makes it easier or harder to speak up, participate and work together. Any changes should be assessed in the context of your organization and the goals you agree to pursue.

Interested in how this could work for your team? Schedule a consultation to discuss how the Creating Belonging framework can be tailored to your organization.

Untitled-3.pngUntitled-4.pngUntitled-5.pngBOOK MY FREE CONSULT

The Book and Optional Workshop

Creating Belonging isn’t just a book to read – it’s an experience to share. The book equips you with understanding and tools, while the workshop brings those concepts to life through guided group learning. Together, they offer the ultimate toolkit to build a culture of belonging: learn the concepts, then put them into practice with your team.

About the Book

In the book Creating Belonging: A Practical Guide to Accelerate Belonging in Organizations and Communities, author Justin Reinert lays out a step-by-step guide to create belonging. It’s filled with real-world examples, reflection prompts, and action steps drawn from Justin’s 20+ years of experience in talent development and DEI. Readers will discover how to apply the Creating Belonging Model in various scenarios – from onboarding new hires, to leading diverse teams, to community-building in employee resource groups. The book’s tone is authoritative yet friendly, making complex ideas accessible. Each chapter concludes with an “Accelerate Belonging” plan, so you can immediately translate insight into action. It’s a resource you’ll reference again and again as you champion inclusion in your role. (Many readers even bring these plans to team meetings to spark discussion and commitment.)

Key takeaways from the book include: how to assess your organization’s current belonging gaps, strategies to increase trust and empathy among team members, and techniques to measure the impact of belonging over time. By the final page, you’ll not only understand the importance of belonging – you’ll have a clear roadmap to create it. No wonder readers are calling it “brilliant and illuminating… thought-provoking” and “a great resource… Highly recommended”.

About the Workshop

A facilitated workshop offers space to explore the book’s ideas together. We start with your organization’s needs and agree on the focus, format and scope before proposing an engagement.

A Creating Belonging workshop begins with open conversation – we meet teams where they are and guide them to deeper self-awareness and connection.

Customized to your needs: The workshop can be delivered as a concise 90-minute awareness booster or expanded to a half-day or full-day deep dive – depending on your goals and team size . We offer live online or in-person formats for flexibility. Every workshop engagement includes pre- and post-consulting to tailor the content to your unique culture and to follow up on impact, ensuring this isn’t a one-off event but a sustained initiative .

What to expect in the workshop: Participants will engage in interactive exercises and candid discussions guided by our model’s core objectives. We will:

  • Define the communities and identities present in the room, acknowledging the rich tapestry of experiences on your team .

  • Reflect on each person’s experience with authenticity and acceptance at work – uncovering where they feel free and where they feel they “mask” or hold back.

  • Discuss & Learn through stories and examples. (Our facilitators share relatable stories, and we encourage team members to share their own in a safe setting – a highlight many participants “really loved” about this workshop.)

  • Create individual and group action plans for fostering belonging going forward. Each attendee will identify at least one concrete action to implement in their daily work or team interactions.

Sessions can include reflection, discussion and practical exercises. We agree on participation options and accessibility needs during planning so people can contribute in ways that work for them.

The intended takeaway is a shared vocabulary and practical actions participants can try in their own work. We agree with you on useful outcomes and how progress will be reviewed.

Pro Tip: Many organizations choose to distribute copies of the Creating Belonging book to all workshop participants. This way, everyone leaves with a personal copy of the guide to reinforce what they learned and to drive continued reflection after the workshop. (Volume discounts are available for bulk book orders – just ask during your consultation.)

If a workshop may be useful, we can discuss the challenge you want to address, your participants and your budget. Virtual delivery is available; in-person delivery by Justin is limited to Chicagoland and subject to accessibility and scheduling.

BOOK MY FREE CONSULT

Research Context

Job Performance

BetterUp’s 2019 research reported higher job performance among employees with stronger belonging. This association is a reason to explore belonging at work, not a prediction of the results your organization will achieve.

Turnover Risk

BetterUp’s 2019 research reported lower turnover risk among employees with stronger belonging. This is an association, not a promise of reduced turnover from a book or workshop.

Making Space for Ideas​

A useful discussion can explore whether people feel able to contribute ideas, raise concerns and disagree respectfully. The next step is to identify specific practices your team can test and review.

Praise for Creating Belonging

Selected reader and workshop participant feedback is shown below. These comments reflect individual experiences.

  • “Brilliant and illuminating… an enriching and thought-provoking read.” – Reader review

  • “Incredibly relatable and quite thought-provoking…feels like a resource that can help anyone orient to inclusive community standards.” – Reader review

  • “As a DEI professional, I found this book to be a great resource in helping to advance the concept of belonging… Highly recommended.” – Reader review

  • “If you’re interested in the success of DEIB efforts, this book is for you… I found the Creating Belonging model and action plans very helpful.” – Reader review

  • "The workshop was wonderful and important, and I loved the integration of stories throughout the discussion.” – Workshop Participant feedback

The comments above offer readers’ and participants’ perspectives on the material.

Reader and participant feedback describes individual experiences. It does not establish that the model or workshop will produce the same results for every person or organization.

Justin Reinert

About the Author

Justin M. Reinert is the visionary behind Creating Belonging. A seasoned talent development expert, Justin has over 20 years of experience building high-performing, inclusive teams . He has led learning and leadership development programs at global companies as large as HSBC and Oracle, where he spearheaded initiatives to improve engagement and culture. He’s also built award-winning training functions at high-growth firms, proving that even lean organizations can achieve big impacts with the right approach .

As the Founder and Principal of Performance Accelerated Learning, Justin now channels his passion into coaching and consulting with organizations across industries . He holds a Master’s in Educating Adults from DePaul University, and is certified as a Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) and Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) – reflecting deep expertise in how people learn and thrive at work . In 2022, he distilled his insights into the Creating Belonging book to address a critical gap he observed in workplace inclusion efforts .

Justin is not only a practitioner but also a recognized thought leader in the field. He’s been published in talent development publications, including authoring the cover story of TD Magazine (ATD’s flagship publication) in January 2025 . Whether he’s speaking at a conference, coaching an executive, or facilitating a workshop, Justin’s core message is consistent: belonging drives performance. He brings an infectious enthusiasm and empathy to this work, informed by his perspective as an LGBTQ+ business owner (Performance Accelerated Learning is proud to be an NGLCC-certified LGBT Business Enterprise) and as someone who has seen firsthand the transformation that occurs when people truly feel they belong.

Justin brings his experience in learning and leadership development to the discussion. Together, we agree on the focus and intended outcomes before an engagement begins.

(Want to learn more about Justin’s approach before committing? Feel free to schedule a short intro call – he’s happy to answer questions about the model and discuss how it can fit your needs.)

Cover of Creating Belonging (2022) by Justin M. Reinert

Ready to Create Belonging in Your Organization?

Start with the needs of your team. We can discuss whether books, a facilitated conversation or a workshop would be useful, and what you would want to change as a result.

Tell us about your goals, participants, timing and budget. Availability and the scope of any engagement will be confirmed during planning.

A discovery conversation gives us space to understand your priorities and decide together whether there is a useful fit.

You can begin with the book on its own. Additional support is optional and can be shaped around your organization’s needs.

For organizational orders or to explore an engagement, email [email protected] or schedule a conversation.

BOOK MY FREE CONSULT