July 2026
Priceless Impact
When your Executive Sponsor or a key stakeholder asks how things are going, do you default to saying how busy the ERG/Network has been? Perhaps you’re also able to provide some input metrics to demonstrate this industriousness, such as the number of newsletters that have been sent or events held.
Tracking this ‘effort data’ can be useful to evidence the ERG/Network’s commitment and can secure the agreement of resources such as continued or additional budget, or for committee members to use their work time on ERG/Network activity.
But they only tell part of the story and if you only have two minutes of a Sponsor’s attention, you need to make an intentional selection of what you want them to hear, take away and share more widely.
Consider instead the potential of having a single-sentence impact statement to hand.
“In the last quarter, our ERG/Network has delivered a story telling campaign, which has directly resulted in improved workforce disability data, because colleagues feel more confident in sharing personal information at work.”
In order to have compelling output metrics – those that demonstrate the significant ‘so what’ of the ERG/Network’s hard work – you need to be intentional about outcomes at the outset.
At the point of creating a schedule of activities, make sure the driver of that design is what you want people to think, feel and do as a result. Be clear about the impact you are aiming for, such as an increase in requests for workplace adjustments or in the engagement scores of disabled employees.
Also consider the way that these results can be easily captured and meaningfully shared. It is essential that what the ERG/Network achieves is evidenced to and understood by those making decisions about resourcing, recognition and reward.
Last but not least, what’s in this for you? What recognition do you want of the value of your ERG/Network Leadership?
Everyone is unique in their human needs for acknowledgement. Some enjoy gratitude expressed publicly, an award or the status of the position. For others, the bigger prize is within: it’s about knowing they are making a contribution in alignment with their purpose.
Consider a final build on the impact statement above; when you talk about your ERG/Network’s delivery and the resulting impact, perhaps add the following:
“I’m proud of the impact we are having, and I want your help to secure our next year’s funding, so that we can continue to deliver these results.”
This month we invite you to consider:
What’s your best brag for your ERG/Network’s achievements?
What would be the most compelling ‘impact statement’ to your ERG/Network’s key stakeholders?
What recognition do you value as an ERG/Network Leader, and have you told the people who can make that recognition happen?
July Peer Leadership Roundtables
Our July roundtables will explore the proven and compelling KPIs that members use, and how you approach getting the recognition and ‘reward’ you deserve.
Connect with your peers during these interactive one-hour sessions for disability ERG/Network leaders. These sessions are a great way to share good practice and challenges, swap ideas and build your ERG/Network leadership capacity.
In July, we have two Peer Leadership Roundtables to choose from: