Ep 787: How Belonging Transforms Talent Acquisition

Many organizations are struggling with attrition, disengagement, and costly mis-hires that quietly destroy value. The real problem isn't finding talent, it's creating conditions where people can perform. Research suggests that when people feel they belong, organizations see significant gains in productivity, retention, and innovation. Belonging can be measured, built into how work gets done, and connected directly to business outcomes. So how can talent acquisition use belonging to change how it hires and the strategic value it delivers? My guest this week is Eric Knauf, Founder and CEO of BelongHQ and author of The 56% Solution. In our conversation, he shares a practical framework for measuring belonging and explains how it could reshape TA's role in an AI-driven world. In the interview, we discuss: The five pillars of belonging Measuring belonging against business outcomes Why workforce planning comes before EVP Breaking roles down to the task level Belonging as a talent differentiator Shifting TA from seats to strategy The hidden cost of untapped potential Building trust during the recruiting process What does the future look like Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify.