So, you’ve been asked to consider leading an employee resource group. You might be wondering about the benefits of doing this. How can being an ERG leader help you grow your career? Many employees have discussed how being in charge of an employee resource group changed their career trajectory. Today, we wanted to show you some of the many benefits you can get from leading one of your company’s groups.
1. Planning Fun Events That Bring Your Company Closer Together
One of the best parts about leading an employee resource group is that you get to plan fun networking and educational events for your organization.
Event planners have several skills that are highly relevant at work, such as creativity and communicativeness. In addition, learning how to throw events on a budget or get people to attend your events will serve you well throughout your career.
2. Learning How to Set Goals and Create a Plan to Reach Them
As an employee resource group leader, you are responsible for a lot of tasks. One of your main objectives is to connect with company leaders and ERG members to determine goals for your group. After you pick your goals, you have to create a plan to reach those targets.
Leading an employee resource group isn’t easy because sometimes the goals are a bit lofty. For example, your ultimate goal might be to increase diversity or obtain better benefits for parents. As a leader, you need to determine the best strategies to get you where you want to go.
3. Gaining Valuable Leadership Skills You Might Not Get Outside of an ERG
Let’s be honest, sometimes organizations don’t offer tons of leadership opportunities outside of an ERG. However, leading this group might be exactly what you need to showcase your leadership and excitement about your company.
ERGs are a microcosm or smaller community of your organization. Leading in an ERG will help company executives and employees understand your leadership style and what you offer the company.
4. Connecting and Working With Cool Colleagues You Never Knew About
When you choose to lead an ERG, you open yourself up to many networking opportunities. Employee resource groups attract employees from all over your company. You will get to know engineers, marketers, salespeople, HR professionals, etc.
As new people join and leave the organization, you’ll have connections with a ton of people.
ERG leaders have a profound impact on employees. As a leader, you will have a hand in making new employees feel welcome and excited about your organization.
These connections will only help you as you get other leadership positions or move to other companies.
5. Getting a Chance to Help Other People Develop Their Workplace Skills
One of the best parts about leading an employee resource group is seeing other employees develop their workplace skills. As an ERG leader, you organize events that help colleagues work on their networking and communication skills.
Your events support employees in making cross-departmental connections that will serve them as they decide how to move up the ladder in their own professional careers.
Overall, you will have a positive effect on many people in and outside of your department. The impact that you have in an ERG can have a ripple effect throughout the organization.
6. Engaging With HR and Company Leaders on Topics You Care About
If you are thinking about leading an ERG, consider all the opportunities you will get to engage with HR and company leaders on topics you care about.
Now, this isn’t always a guarantee. Sometimes, you’ll have to work hard to get your foot in the door with HR leaders and company executives. You might need to work closely with your ERG’s executive sponsor to get the right meetings and make an impact.
On the other hand, if your organization takes ERG leaders seriously, you’ll have an awesome opportunity to make an impact at work. For example, ERG leaders can influence company culture by letting HR and company executives know what new and existing employees need to be happy at work.
So, how do you get that seat at the table? First, get results and learn how to share them with HR leaders and executives. Your executive sponsor should be able to help you with this, but you should feel empowered to take the reins as well.
For example, consider gathering data on things like employee retention based on members of your resource group. Are you helping employees find their place and stay with the organization? That’s worth noting as you share your ideas with other company leaders.
7. Leading an Employee Resource Group Directly Associates You With Positive Company Changes
As you are working to advance in your career, imagine how great having a track record of positive change would be. If you advocate for yourself and your accomplishments, leading this group can create a positive reputation for you.
Here’s the kicker: as we discussed before, company leaders won’t automatically think about you or associate your actions with changes. So you have to connect with various leaders and let your team know about what you are doing.
For example, maybe you can create a monthly newsletter that showcases all of your work on behalf of the organization. Try different approaches to getting people to understand what you do.
Conclusion: Step up by Leading an Employee Resource Group
Are you ready to take your career to the next level? Leading an employee resource group is the perfect place to start, and your company thinks you’re ready to lead! We hope that this article gave you some things to consider as you evaluate whether this move is right for you.
Do you want to show your first form of ERG leadership? Try suggesting a tool that will make creating and maintaining employee resource groups easier.
Workrowd might be the perfect partner for your organization’s resource groups. Encourage your leadership team to email us at hello@workrowd.com to see if we are right for your organization.
