Don’t Settle for Checking the Box… Empower Your Diverse Workforce
Group Coaching for Your Employee Resource Group (ERG)
The Secret to Sparking Sustainable Company-Wide Change
Your leadership initially welcomed the idea of an Employee Resource Group (ERG) within the organization. This showed employees that the company cared about topics like diversity and inclusivity.
But it’s clear that this powerful resource is being severely under-tapped. And you’re not alone in thinking so. According to Great Places to Work:
Every single executive sponsor of an Employee Resource Group (ERG) surveyed said that company leadership actively fosters engagement across ERGs. But, only 52% of ERG leaders agree!
91% of executive sponsors report feeling a strong sense of belonging at work, while only 76% of ERG leaders express the same sentiment.
Around 78% of executive sponsors think participating in ERGs benefits career advancement, but only 40% of ERG leaders share this perspective.
Having your Employee Resource Group (ERG) simply check an HR box when it comes to pursuing diversity and inclusion doesn’t provide this group with any true value.
You already know this.
But you want to be able to honestly say that your organization is committed to taking action toward diversity, equity, and inclusion when asked.
The good news is that it’s absolutely possible to create sustainable organizational change around ideas like belonging and inclusion within your organization.
And if you’ve tried a few different things and still haven’t seen the change you were expecting to occur, you might be wondering… where do you go from here?
Foster Organizational Change That is
Group coaching can support your Employee Resource Group (ERG) or groups and help enable sustainable, positive organizational change.
At least, that’s the potential outcome.
Let’s picture a coach as a farmer and your employees as seeds that the farmer would like to grow into a thriving vegetable plot. The farmer can’t simply sprinkle seeds on some dirt and call it a day. The seeds need a safe environment (your organization) where they get sunlight, water, and protection from weeds and pests.
It’s a team effort. And even still, growth and change aren’t instant.
They take time and patience combined with a consistent intentional strategy.
When individuals in an Employee Resource Group (ERG) are fully seen and cared for by their organization, positive growth and change are almost inevitable.
Coaching That Drives a Collaborative Culture and a Sense of Belonging
When an Employee Resource Group (ERG) is given a safe space and the resources it needs (like a healthy budget), it can have a significant positive impact on its organization. From improved retention rates to a more collaborative culture, contributions from ERGs are the stuff of dreams!
But make no mistake — ERG coaching participants aren’t given additional responsibilities or tasked to develop a greater sense of belonging and inclusion outside their ERGs.
Instead, they receive leadership development and emotional support while being challenged to consider their contributions and overall impact.
ERG group coaching increases individuals’ capacity as leaders, managers, and humans by helping them uncover the best use of their energy and capabilities. This helps ensure work can be shared by the whole team by communicating and leading differently.
Because teaching someone how to plant and grow the seeds of change means they’ll be able to naturally pass on these lessons to others.
This will lead to a ripple effect that will have positive, long-term impacts on your organization.
Group coaching topics usually relate back to Being Human at Work. Some topics that have been explored or received focus in previous ERG group coaching sessions include:
Self-Empowerment
Intentionally choosing to take control of your own life and decisions.
Resilience
Navigating setbacks and thriving despite external circumstances.
Self-Awareness
Exploring your values and reactions and their impact on others.
Interconnectedness
Considering how you connect with others and all the parts of yourself.
Tactical to Strategic
Understanding how situations can be tactically and strategically approached.
Choosing the Right ERG Coach
As an authenticity optimizer, change motivator, challenge chaser, fun and uncertainty enthusiast, awesomeness instigator, and possibility expander, Christina is the perfect choice for your organization’s ERG coach.
Her appreciation for the whole person is foundational to her work with ERGs. What’s more, her coaching contains common elements of everyday work and life, like showing individuals the importance of having a positive mindset, embracing possibilities while remaining practical, and acknowledging their impact on the overall health of their workplaces.
By balancing universal themes with a grounded, unique approach (and a little fun and humor), Christina will bring the perfect blend of positivity and possibility to your ERGs.
ERG Group Coaching Agreements for All Participants
Individuals within the same Employee Resource Group (ERG) or from multiple ERGs within the same company will focus on exploring shared and individual challenges and opportunities, diverse perspectives, and gaining helpful feedback from one another. The following are coaching agreements that all participants must follow when working with Christina:
- I will attend and be fully present at all sessions, including turning on my camera. If I am not able to participate during any given scheduled session, I will communicate this as soon as possible.
- I will focus on my own growth and create space for other group members to do the same.
- I will refrain from advocating for my point of view or advising or directing others in the group.
- I will be open and honest with the group about my goals and challenges and will remain open-minded and curious about other group members’ goals and challenges.
- I will keep all information and experiences shared by other group members confidential.
- I will follow through on commitments to actions I set for myself at the end of each session.
In following these agreements, Christina’s past ERG coaching participants have benefitted from a brilliant community that celebrates wins, shares ideas, normalizes situations and complicated emotions, decreases self-doubt, and readily gives feedback.
How’s that for utilizing your Employee Resource Group (ERG) to its fullest potential?
*ERG Group Coaching sessions can occur monthly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is group coaching for Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)?
Group coaching for Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) involves joining a small group (typically 6-8 individuals) consisting of participants from one or multiple ERGs. Individuals receive support from the group and get personal attention on their priorities through highly interactive, facilitated conversations that are both supportive and challenging.
ERG group coaching focuses on expanding participants’ mindsets, helping them see new perspectives, and showing them how to experiment with different actions to create new possibilities. Group coaching typically includes up to ten 90-minute virtual sessions. Sessions are not recorded. Participants are encouraged to define a priority they’d like to make progress on and put energy into that they are willing to share with the group. Group coaching can significantly support those in ERGs who:
- Feel unsupported and lack mentorship/growth opportunities
- Want to be more assertive and own their voices
- Tend to put others’ needs before their own and minimize their own value
- Feel things deeply
- Want to trust themselves more and have more confidence
- Are tired of being overlooked or held back
- Are working in ways that are unsustainable
- Feel frustrated with always being the team player and stepping up to help
How can ERG group coaching benefit our organization?
Employee Resource Group (ERG) group coaching is a powerful opportunity to drive positive change and return that value to your organization and teams. Through coaching, ERG participants are given the tools and support needed to be heard and to experiment, which will improve retention and engagement and help cultivate a workforce known for embracing difficult conversations while catalyzing the evolution of the modern workplace.
What do the participants receive from attending ERG group coaching?
Participants attending ERG group coaching sessions gain invaluable benefits, including enhanced workplace connections and a more positive, inclusive environment where they can authentically show up. Through guided discussions and reflective exercises, individuals develop heightened self-awareness and learn to regulate their emotions, enabling them to make deliberate choices in their actions and interactions. Moreover, past participants’ desire for ERG group coaching to be accessible to all employees underscores its potential to promote inclusive thinking and actions throughout the organization, fostering collaboration and understanding of diverse perspectives. By actively engaging in discussions and activities focused on personal and professional development, participants take ownership of their roles in the workplace, contributing to a more skilled and empowered workforce.
What is ERG group coaching like with Christina?
ERG group coaching with Christina provides a dynamic platform for individuals within the same ERG or across multiple ERGs within the organization to delve into shared and individual challenges, diverse perspectives, and exchange of constructive feedback. Participants engage in real-time problem-solving with a strategic approach, leveraging a community enriched with diverse viewpoints. This coaching experience fosters an environment where individuals explore authentic self-expression in the workplace while creating room for others to do the same within a group context. Unlike traditional training formats or workshops focused on best practices, ERG group coaching encourages active participation and ownership of personal growth, emphasizing areas such as emotional and cultural intelligence, empathy, and self-awareness.
What focus areas can be expected for ERG group coaching sessions?
Overall, the topics usually relate back to Being Human at Work. Some topics that have been explored or received focus in previous ERG group coaching sessions include:
- Self-Empowerment: Intentionally choosing to take control of your own life and decisions.
- Resilience: Navigating setbacks and thriving despite external circumstances.
- Self-Awareness: Exploring your values and reactions and their impact on others.
- Interconnectedness: Considering how you connect with others and all the parts of yourself.
- Tactical to Strategic: Understanding how situations can be tactically and strategically approached.
What can I expect from employees who participate in ERG group coaching?
From common workplace hurdles to shared victories, ERG coaching participants will engage in reflective sessions that pave the way for a deeper understanding of their collective journey while addressing their individual personal and professional priorities. ERG group coaching supports, empowers, and enables individuals to return to their teams with renewed confidence and skills while presenting opportunities to practice presence, empathy, and active listening skills. They can build the critical mass required to insert a true sense of belonging and inclusion throughout your organization.
What is required of ERG group coaching participants?
All ERG group coaching participants must agree to the following: Confidentiality, assume positive intent, candid and direct communication, cameras on at all times (with a few exceptions), everyone owns the space, and feedback is everyone’s responsibility. These terms are strict and will be adhered to at all times.
What is the typical meeting frequency for an ERG group coaching program?
Once a month is typical. However, depending on the size of the group and the desired outcomes, the length and frequency of meetings can be adjusted. Please book a call with Christina to learn more.