Training Industry Magazine - Winter 2023 - 15

DIVERSITY AND
INCLUSION
DR. KRISTAL
WALKER, CPTM
REPURPOSING EMPLOYEE RESOURCE GROUPS
TO SUPPORT LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT
As learning leaders continue to
incorporate diversity, equity and inclusion
(DEI) into their respective learning and
development (L&D) strategies, creating
or repurposing employee resource
groups (ERGs) might be an essential
method for furthering progress.
Traditionally, ERGs were established
to support employees with shared
interests or identities. However, when
we consider their use in contemporary
work cultures that welcome innovation
from high-performing talent, they can
play an important role in expanding
or creating a more effective learning
ecosystem within an organization.
ERGs can provide a space for employees
to come together and share knowledge,
experiences and best practices
associated with work roles and career
experiences. For ERGs to best support
skill acquisition and application, these
groups should be created with purpose,
structure and rules for engagement.
DEFINE THE PURPOSE
OF THE GROUP
One ERG might be focused solely on
supporting new hires, while another
group might be geared towards helping
employees develop skillsets that are
specific to their job function. In all cases,
it
is important to be clear about the
group's purpose from the outset. Three
questions that learning leaders might
consider when defining the purpose of
the group might include:
* What type of learning activities will
take place within the group?
* Who is the target audience for
the group?
* What are the goals and objectives of
the group?
The answers to these questions will not
only help to shape the group's purpose,
but also create guardrails that will keep
learning on track. Purpose also helps
to ensure that the time commitment
invested by employees in the group will
be most effective and efficient.
CREATE STRUCTURE FOR EFFICIENCY
In addition to defining the purpose, it
is important to establish structure. This
will require the group to consider things
like membership criteria, meeting times,
cadence and locations (including virtual
considerations), as well as how decisions
will be made. It might also be the time
to establish how the group will measure
its success. A few questions to consider
when creating structure might include:
* What are the rules for joining and
leaving the group?
* Who will be responsible for leading
the group?
* What is the expected time commitment
for group members?
* Where will the group meet?
Consider these questions early on to
ensure the greatest efficiency. Establishing
structure with the initial group makes
it easier for future members because
expectations will have already been set.
ESTABLISH RULES FOR ENGAGEMENT
The final piece of the puzzle is to
establish rules for engagement. Rules
help ensure that the group can have
productive conversations, share best
practices and develop actionable plans.
Some initial considerations might include
things like maintaining confidentiality,
being respectful of diverse opinions and
determining how the group's time and
resources are best spent. For example,
if the group is focused on professional
development, then time spent discussing
personal matters might not be an
acceptable use of the group's time.
ERGS SHOULD BE
CREATED WITH
PURPOSE, STRUCTURE
AND RULES FOR
ENGAGEMENT.
A few questions when establishing
rules of engagement might include:
* What is the process for sharing ideas
and information within the group?
* How will
handled?
controversial topics be
* What is the process for making
decisions?
The rules of engagement should not
feel punitive. But they should provide
a framework within which the group
can operate. Above all, the group's
activities, outputs and outcomes should
feel inclusive to all while the rules of
engagements should result in each
member feeling a sense of value while
transferring their newly acquired skills to
their real-world experiences.
Dr. Kristal Walker, CPTM, is the vice
president of employee wellbeing at
Sweetwater. Kristal is also a facilitator
for Training Industry's Diversity and
Inclusion Master Class. Email Kristal.
TRAINING INDUSTRY MAGAZINE - WINTER 2023 I WWW.TRAININGINDUSTRY.COM/MAGAZINE
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Training Industry Magazine - Winter 2023

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