Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEI&B) is vital for any organization, but it can be difficult to know where to start. A good Employee Resource Group (ERG) can provide an excellent opportunity to better your firm and incorporate the voices of your employees. Wendy Culver recently wrote a Zweig Letter article detailing how Mead & Hunt formed our ERG and how it has benefited us as a firm.
Some of the steps she outlines to create a successful ERG include:
- Create a team. Get your employees involved and excited about DEI&B. Your employees are your strongest asset.
- Get employee buy-in. It means more when change comes from the heart of the organization, rather than being imposed from the outside, or the top down.
- Establish a mission. Knowing exactly what your goals and vision are is key to moving forward.
- Define and diversify. It is vital to define specific subgroups that reflect the needs of your organization. These may change—we should always be changing and growing.
- Formalize your processes. Formalizing different processes and procedures will keep your group sustainable.
Establishing an ERG to work through various necessary diversity initiatives is not always easy—but the work is worth it. Through working and growing together, we have no doubt that lasting, substantive change is possible. You can read more here.