In Touch: Three Letters to Make Us Run Faster and Jump Higher
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What if I told you I know three letters that can make you run faster and jump higher?
Not only that, they can train us to be leaders. They can teach us skills to get ahead in our careers and life. And they can make us a better County — by celebrating and respecting the things that make us different and by recognizing that valuing our differences makes us stronger collectively.
Well, OK, maybe they can’t make us run faster and jump higher.
But they can definitely do all the rest. And, I believe, much more!
The letters are E-R-G — shorthand for Employee Resource Groups. And we’re seeing a significant increase in the number of them and the people who want to be part of them.
We have five established groups — two that have been active in the County for decades and three newer groups that have started in the last few years — and three more forming! You may be more familiar with them by their formal names.
Our longest-tenured groups are the San Diego County Latino Association and the County of San Diego Filipino-American Employees Association. They’ve been joined in the last few years by the African American Association of County Employees; the Asian Pacific Alliance of County Employees; and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Allies Association. And we have three new groups forming: the Veterans Employee Resource Group (VALOR); the Emerging Workforce Association; and the Middle Eastern Employee Resource Group.
There was a time when employee resource groups were primarily social in nature. People with common backgrounds met to have fun, make friends and gain a greater sense of identity and unity.
Employee resource groups still do that. If you go to our County’s Insite page and look at the employee message section — it’s filled with events sponsored by our groups, from parties, to book readings, to brown-bag lunches, to cultural events.
But employee resource groups are much more than just social groups these days.
On the individual level, they’re places where employees access professional development and training. For example, workshops to train to take the tests for administrative analysts’ positions, coaching sessions to prepare for job interviews, or avenues to get scholarships.
They’re also places where employees enhance their leadership skills as the County’s leaders of the future — by taking seminars that discuss topics like emotional intelligence or organizational acumen; by helping plan and taking part in events and projects; by being engaged in group’s leadership structure; and by working alongside fellow County managers who belong to these groups.
But employee groups don’t just help us as individuals. They also have the power to make us stronger collectively, as a County.
For example, all of our groups have adopted four focus areas that support the County’s strategic plan. The first focus area, personal development, directly reflects two of the County Strategic Plan’s required disciplines: developing and maintaining a skilled, adaptable and diverse workforce; and continuous improvement and innovation.
The other focus areas are more communal, team-oriented: Cultural Awareness; Recruitment, Retention, Outreach; and Partnerships, Supporting County Initiatives.
You only have to look at our County’s Live Well San Diego initiative to see how our resource groups have embraced that last of those three. They’ve sponsored hiking events, group runs, Zumba and yoga classes.
And strong employee resource groups definitely help our County recruit and keep talented employees by creating networks that help everyone know they are valued and important members of our County team.
As for cultural awareness, our resource groups have the ability to become champions of Diversity and Inclusion. Diversity — the general idea of recognizing, valuing and respecting the things that make us different, whether that’s ethnicity, culture, gender, sexual preference, religious belief or physical abilities. And Inclusion — working together to use our differences to forge a stronger workplace that reflects the diverse communities we serve and makes everyone welcome and productive.
At first glance, it may seem counter-intuitive to think of groups created to celebrate specific collections of people as champions of inclusion. But a deeper look explains how inclusive they are.
First, the memberships of our groups are completely open. Any employee, whatever your background, can join any group. Second, our resource groups have been eager to work with each other, across groups, to help all employees.
Just recently, our employee resource group leaders devoted their own personal time to hosting a special weekend leadership summit. (By the way, I want to personally thank all of the committed employees who have worked so hard to establish our employee resource groups.) Over two days, more than 30 leaders from our groups, both established and still forming, gathered to talk about all of these ideas and issues with guest speakers and executive managers.
I know everyone left energized and ready to lead our County to the next level.
Three letters — E-R-G.
What fantastic resources for our County team!
They can make us run faster and jump higher!
