What if feedback felt like care—clear enough to guide, kind enough to grow, and courageous enough to build a sense of belonging at work? In this episode of I Know I Belong When, host Christopher Bylone welcomes Ama Agyapong—the “feedback guru” and “that inclusion lady”—to turn buzzwords into behavior and inclusive culture into daily practice. Through lived experience as an athlete, facilitator, and executive coach, Ama shows how authentic leadership recognizes names, honors stories, and uses feedback as a vehicle for love, accountability, and advancement. Together, they explore belonging vs inclusion, the power of curiosity, and the responsibility leaders carry to land with care—because being “right” is not the same as being effective.

You will hear a practical playbook for creating belonging at work: micro-habits like a sincere “good morning,” rituals that strengthen trust, and feedback loops that share information during the process—not only at the end. Whether you are building belonging in hybrid settings or belonging in remote teams, this conversation gives you language and structure to elevate people’s experience and drive human-centered innovation. Rooted in “love & belonging needs,” it is a reminder that workplace belonging is not a destination—it is a practice leaders model, teams feel, and cultures sustain. If you have ever asked, “I know I belong when…?” this episode helps you answer—and scale—the how.

Must-hear insights & key moments

• Feedback as care: Correction signals commitment; feedback builds trust when it is clear, consistent, and compassionate.
• Names & humility: Belonging begins with pronunciation—and deepens in how we recover from missteps with grace.
• Right vs. effective: Choose landing well over being “right” to sustain inclusive culture and performance.
• Curiosity rituals: Ask crafted, open-ended questions; notice the unspoken; document follow-ups to elevate people experience.
• Share information reliably: Communicate updates during the journey to strengthen psychological safety and trust.
• Micro-habits that matter: Say “good morning,” mean it, and linger to hear the real answer—on site or across remote teams.
• Act on feedback: Close the loop visibly; asking without action erodes workplace belonging.

Ama’s standout quotes

• “Do you want to be right, or do you want to be effective?”
• “If you correct me, you care—and you want to see me get better.”
• “See me and see my unlimited potential… feedback is a vehicle in which to do that.”
• “The connection really happens in how you recover from the mistake.”
• “Include people in the decision-making so they see themselves in the solution.”
• “Say good morning. Speak—and stick around long enough to hear a response.”
• “I know I belong when someone is listening to me and we can laugh together.”

Why this episode matters

Belonging is the outcome of IDEA work—not another pillar. Ama’s story gives leaders practical language and structures for how to create a sense of belonging at work—from curiosity rituals to reliable updates and inclusive decision-making. It is a usable roadmap for strategic inclusion that transforms feedback into care, strengthens trust, and powers cultures where people are invited, seen, heard, and needed.

Who should listen

HR leaders, DEI/IDEA practitioners, people managers, and executives shaping hybrid or remote teams. Anyone seeking clarity on belonging vs inclusion and ready to apply micro-habits that elevate people experience and workplace belonging. If you design culture, lead projects, or coach talent, this episode equips you to build human-centered systems where feedback fuels growth.

An Innovation Unbiased Production

https://www.iknowibelongwhen.com/about-the-show

When do we feel workplace belonging? When a leader chooses a tiny, intentional moment—offering presence, saying your name with care, cleaning up a misstep—and lets trust ripple through a team. In this episode, host Christopher Bylone sits down with Chris Rollins, creator of Ripple Effect Leadership, to explore how small acts of authentic leadership build an inclusive culture where no one must self-edit. Chris brings the 'pebble' metaphor to life, showing how micro-actions transfer energy and strengthen psychological safety. You’ll hear lived stories that humanize strategic inclusion and show how leaders can start building belonging across onsite, hybrid, and remote teams.

This conversation gives listeners practical language for belonging—usable phrases and rituals that frame belonging as the outcome of IDEA work (inclusion, diversity, equity, accessibility). Chris’s human-centered innovation centers everyday behaviors: vulnerability, kindness, curiosity, and empathy. Expect storytelling that equips managers and HR/DEI practitioners to create belonging in the first five minutes, not the next five years—so more people can confidently say, “I know I belong when…” and carry those ripples into their next interaction.

Must-hear insights & key moments:

• The “pebble” metaphor: why leadership is a transfer of energy and how micro-moments create lasting ripples of trust across teams.
• A father’s response—“I’m so proud of you. That’s awesome.”—as a masterclass in title-free leadership and psychological safety.
• “Invisible friction”: what happens when we don’t fully see or hear each other—and a simple ritual to clean up the mess.
• Belonging vs inclusion: how showing up in the first five minutes sets the tone for inclusive culture and workplace belonging.
• Moving to Tampa, challenging assumptions, and building community as a backbone for strategic inclusion.
• A live workshop moment: one leader’s vulnerable admission that unlocked safety and scaled trust across an entire room.
• The qualities behind ripple-effect leadership—vulnerability, kindness, curiosity, empathy—applied to everyday interactions.

Chris’ standout quotes:

• “The real power of leadership is not in a title—it’s in how we show up for people in the small, seemingly insignificant moments.”
• “One small moment can have a huge impact. I call them ripple-effect moments.”
• “We have to be willing to come back and clean up our mess.”
• “I know I belong when I don’t have to edit myself in conversations.”
• “When we’re not fully seeing and hearing each other, we create invisible friction.”
• “If we all emit positive ripples, we can scale belonging in this era of distrust and disconnection.”

Why this episode matters:
Organizations are searching for how to create a sense of belonging, not just definitions. This conversation reframes belonging as the outcome of IDEA work (inclusion, diversity, equity, accessibility), powered by authentic leadership. You’ll leave with practical language for building belonging, a clearer view of belonging vs inclusion, and steps to strengthen the people experience. It’s a playbook for creating belonging without buzzwords, grounded in stories that HR leaders and managers can immediately apply.

Who should listen:
Leaders, managers, and HR/DEI practitioners seeking human-centered innovation to build trust quickly. If you’ve been searching for synonyms of belonging, another word for belong, or connecting Maslow’s love and belonging needs to team performance, this episode gives you usable language and micro-actions to start building belonging today—so more people can say, ‘I know I belong when…’ in your workplace.

An Innovation Unbiased Production

https://www.iknowibelongwhen.com/about-the-show

What does it truly mean to feel seen, heard, and valued at work? In today’s world of rapid change, remote teams, and evolving expectations, the need for belonging in the workplace has never been more urgent—or more complex. In this episode of “I Know I Belong When…,” inclusive leadership expert Simone Morris invites listeners into a deeply personal and practical conversation about building belonging at work, one authentic interaction at a time. Simone’s journey—from searching for her name on a keychain as a child to leading global teams and mentoring the next generation—offers a powerful lens on what it takes to create an inclusive culture.

Through stories of vulnerability, resilience, and human-centered innovation, Simone shares how leaders at every level can foster workplace belonging, model authentic leadership, and turn strategic inclusion into everyday practice. Listeners will discover that creating belonging at work isn’t just about grand gestures or policies—it’s about the small moments of listening, the courage to show up as your true self, and the willingness to lift others as you climb. Whether you’re an HR leader, DEI practitioner, team manager, or someone seeking language for belonging, this episode delivers actionable insights and inspiration for building a people experience where everyone feels welcomed, appreciated, and empowered.

Must-Hear Insights & Key Moments

• Modeling authentic leadership: Meeting leaders wherever they are on their inclusive leadership journey, creating space for trust and honest dialogue.
• The power of being seen: A pivotal moment with a CEO shows how workplace belonging is created when leaders invite authentic voices to the table.
• Navigating microaggressions and mispronunciations: Highlighting how small acts of recognition can foster or fracture a sense of belonging at work.
• Vulnerability as a leadership superpower: Simone encourages leaders to “bumble, stumble, rise”—embracing imperfection and modeling grace for themselves and their teams.
• Creating psychologically safe spaces: Practical strategies for managers to listen deeply, receive feedback, and recognize the diverse ways people experience belonging.

Simone’s Standout Quotes

• "You do not have to be perfect. As an inclusive leader, you are going to mess up… Give yourself compassion and love, you’re human."
• "If you don’t notice that extroversion continues to win, then you miss out on people who are more thoughtful about their response."
• "Your employees are going to tell you… If there are belonging challenges, it’s not a one-and-done. The Rubik’s Cube is going to consistently change."
• "I know I belong when I feel seen, appreciated, welcomed, and included."
• "It’s exhausting to filter. Anyway, that’s the moment that came up for me."

Why This Episode Matters

This episode is essential for anyone wanting to create belonging at work—especially HR leaders, DEI practitioners, and managers of remote or hybrid teams. Simone’s narrative offers language for belonging, bridging strategic inclusion and everyday experience. Her insights help organizations go beyond surface-level inclusion to build authentic, human-centered cultures where everyone belongs.

Who Should Listen

• Leaders committed to building belonging in the workplace
• HR and DEI professionals seeking actionable strategies for inclusive culture
• Team managers navigating remote or hybrid environments
• Anyone searching for ‘how to create a sense of belonging at work’ or exploring ‘belonging vs inclusion’
• Listeners looking for language, stories, and practical tools to foster authentic leadership and workplace belonging

An Innovation Unbiased Production

https://www.iknowibelongwhen.com/about-the-show