Sense of belonging
During the unconference at Henkaku Week this March, there was a discussion around the theme, “When do you feel or have you felt the strongest sense of belonging?” Several members of the Digital Architecture Lab (DAL) who were participating in the unconference responded, “When I am at DAL.”
DAL was established by Joi in 2022. Its members have diverse backgrounds from around the globe and operate as a flat and decentralized community. Considering it is a relatively new team with many members working remotely from both abroad and within the country, what could be the reasons why they felt such a strong sense of belonging?
One likely reason is DAL’s ethos of “Being evaluated for who you are.”
At DAL, we aim to evaluate individuals without bias and accept various perspectives, based on our core value of respecting diversity in language, gender, culture, and more. There is also a strong trend within DAL to prioritize cultivating a sense of community, and the time we dedicate to this may contribute to the strength of our individual team members’ bonds and the smoothness of communication across teams and the organization as a whole.
What are the core values that guide you in your life?
The “DigitALL” initiative, which began in March 2023 within Digital Garage (DG), is based on the values of inclusion, decentralization, sustainability, and respect for diversity that are central to DAL’s mission. Through the development of more sustainable and cyclical technologies, this initiative aims to enhance people’s well-being in a globally-minded society. DigitALL seeks to ensure that all DG employees are evaluated for who they truly are, regardless of gender, race, or ethnicity.
Although employees get along well, I’ve heard several times that there seems to be a lack of horizontal connections across teams and segments at Digital Garage which is a large organization of over 1,000 people. I wanted to create a place for DG members where employees might connect regardless of their team or segment; I organized a lunch event as part of the DigitALL initiative, hoping that DG members would feel the same “Sense of belonging” and “inclusiveness” that DAL members feel.
The event was scheduled during the lunch break so that those who find it difficult to attend in the evening could participate. To encourage conversation, the lunch menu was pizza, which everyone could share.
It’s not just about having lunch together—we also designed a game incorporating DAL’s sensibility, which involves physical activity and simple exercises for self-reflection.
“What are the core values that guide you in your life?”
This was one of the questions that we asked the participants. Some said, “This is the first time I’ve been asked something like this, and I don’t know how to answer, ” while others came up with their answers by conversing with the person next to them, and some answered without hesitation. There was also one person who said, “I can answer if I have a drink!”
At DAL, we regularly discuss what our values are and how we can incorporate our values and strengths into the team. Thinking about our core values leads to a better understanding of ourselves, and understanding others’ core values will lead to a better understanding of them.
By collaborating in a way that respects each other’s values, the team can identify and nurture individual talents, continuously supporting each other to reach their fullest potential. This should in turn help us all to evaluate one another based on who we really are.
Among the responses, “family, integrity, continuous growth, enjoyment, speed, respect, and choosing happiness over being right,” were included as core values. It was also striking that several people gave the same answers.
Playground for everyone
After lunch, we played a strike-out game called “Ohtani Game,” devised by Oliver, the community designer of Crypto Cafe & Bar. Not focused on success or failure, the moment was filled with laughter. Colleagues who rarely interacted, yet worked in the same company, genuinely enjoyed the experience, regardless of their affiliation or work.
Through the DigitALL initiative, we will continue to work toward the goal of having each employee feel connected to others and be evaluated for who they are. We have only just begun, but we are very much looking forward to the future of DigitALL as it continues to change its shape together with the community!
Madoka Tachibana is the Community Lead at DAL (madoka@dalab.xyz)
Illustration: Asuka Zoe Hayashi
Edits: Joseph Park & Janine Liberty
