Did you know that Wednesday 10th May 2023 is the next National Day for Staff Networks, the world’s only nationwide day dedicated to recognising networks/resource groups and the incredible value they add to the workplace.
Networks are all about people; they are about progressive change; they are all about supporting the employee journey, and inspiring a feeling of belonging. And they are great news for boosting employee experience and engagement. Done well, networks provide an effective employee voice and help to create a more inclusive environment.
The purpose of the National Day for Staff Networks is to shine a light and recognise the multiple benefits that staff networks/resource groups offer – and in so many cases offer their organisation.
Research in 2020/21 showed that 51% of workers wanted to join a network as they returned to work in shared physical spaces. Nearly 40% of organisations relied on their networks to keep them informed on the wellbeing of employees. Two years on, there is a worrying narrative emitting from parts of the media questioning the value of diversity and inclusion. As part of this, staff network groups have also been undermined.
This year’s theme therefore is #StayingStrong to remind networks that standing together with other networks, their allies and sponsors = power.
The day itself presents an opportunity to celebrate the contribution, share inspirational stories and offer insight into the lived experiences of underrepresented colleagues who help to transform the organisation. If you want to find out more about the National Day for Staff Networks check out their website here.
At the heart of staff networks is the power of employee-led change. The concept of employee networks, or champions, or change agents has been around for some time and used to great effect in many organisations. Essentially this tactic gives responsibility and power to a diverse and representative group of employees, rather than those higher up in the hierarchy.
This approach works well for a number of reasons.
Firstly research shows that people are more likely to trust “a person like me” or ”a regular employee” than the CEO or board of Directors.
Secondly the set-up of a network can also help to facilitate autonomy, purpose and mastery, which are critical for EX and engagement.
The representative nature of a network also helps to ensure different voices are heard contributing towards diversity and inclusion.
And the approach is also more sustainable; the network becomes greater than the sum of its parts, so while members may come and go, the network lives on, often for many years after inception.
The networks approach also uses ‘viral change’ to transform the organisation. Within his book, Viral Change, Leandro makes a compelling case for an alternative approach to the traditional large-scale change methodologies we are all familiar with. In essence Leandro argues that change happens when people start to do things differently, to behave differently, and that these behaviours spread in a way which is more akin to a virus than to a formal cascade down the company hierarchy. Networks are a powerful tool to bring this approach to life.
At the next webinar from The EX Space, taking place on 24th May, 1-2pm, we’re going to explore Employee Networks in more detail.
We’ve been involved in creating and working with a diverse range of employee networks and champions over the years and have seen first-hand the positive difference they can make to employee experience and engagement. We’ll not only share our experience and learning with you on the day, but we’ll also have some very special (practitioner) guests joining us too, to bring this topic to life and answer any questions you might have.
In this webinar we’ll look at:
- What networks/ champions groups are and why they matter
- A quick guide to viral change and how it can transform the work you do
- Some practical tools and templates to get your started with your employee network/ champions
- How to recruit your network/ champions
- The do’s and don’ts of working with networks and champions
- How to demonstrate the value of networks/ champions to senior stakeholders
- Case-studies which showcase networks and champions and bring this approach to life
Having seen the power of using this approach many times over the years, we’re really looking forward to sharing this one with you so sign up today to register your place. We’ll look forward to seeing you there!
If you would like us to help you with employee networks or champions at your organisation, then get in touch for a no obligation call.
