Belonging Beyond the Buzz Words… Belonging lays the foundation in which businesses stand stronger, innovative, and more profitable. In the book, you will find that research supports this statement, and the chapters include creative and practical tools to help leaders build better teams with inclusion in mind. It’s no secret that topics surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion can be difficult to discuss for many reasons. Some feel they need to be an expert in the subject to contribute to the conversation. Simply, most people do not want to offend someone by saying the wrong thing. These are valid and valued perceptions to have as a facilitator, an organizational leader, and a team member. Reflections on each chapter provide insight to help the reader achieve creative self-discovery, foster team diversity, establish inclusive standards, and uncover pathways of connection that foster belonging. This book demonstrates that you do not have to be an expert in the subject matter, but you can gain the skills to be confident, knowledgeable, and successful in your organizations. Moreover, this book will equip facilitators, team members, leaders, etc. to be Creative Champions of Change. What’s the Secret Sauce?... Have you ever considered the way you think or process information to be an extension of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging? In 2018, the author set out to uncover if we could measure implicit bias of different thinking styles within teams in real time. The results of her research investigation yielded a new theory she calls Cognitive Diversity Appreciation or (CDA). CDA is the secret sauce to inclusion and belonging that builds community as it champions how we connect with one another regardless of how we think or process or perceive information. Employing Scientific Research that Works! CDA supports how a cognitively diverse group of individuals—introverts, extroverts, ambiverts, internal and external processors, neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals—can build a culture of innovation and belonging. Practicing CDA enriches an individual’s experience when working within a team where we can learn from those whose lived experiences, beliefs, perspectives, and ways of receiving and processing information differ from our own.