Gone are the days where Employee Resource Groups / Networks are seen as 'nice to have's'. They are increasingly seen as the most vital vehicle in driving cultural change. Just listen to Martin Taylor, Chief Operating Officer, Air, BAE Systems talk about the role of their resource group/network and how they are extending that across the world when we interviewed him as part of our #PurpleLightUp activities in 2019. 

In April we turn our attention to the topic of 'Networkology', the phrase invented by our Founder and CEO Kate Nash OBE to describes the 'art and science' of running a high-performing disability network/Employee Resource Group and it sums up our core delivery.

As we are going fully digital this month, our 'Networkology' learning and development programme offers something for everyone, wherever you are based and whatever sector you work in: whether you have been running a resource group for years and looking for some fresh ideas, or a brand new chairperson just starting out, tap into our offerings for the month ahead.  

We offer you five challenges for the month ahead: 

1. Give yourself a gift by connecting and sharing with other resource group/network leaders and break down the loneliness that can come from running a network / ERG
2. Get inspired by learning from others - because there is nothing wrong in stealing great ideas!
3. Dig deep and conduct your own 360-degree appraisal - because you can't mark your own homework
4. Check out the PurpleSpace Impact Report - start to think about how you will take part in our annual benchmark survey
5. Understand your own leadership style - if we don't understand ourselves, then we can't begin to understand others

To help you complete the challenges this month, we have lots of sources of inspiration, resources and services to tap into. Log in, before you take a look:

Start the month by giving yourself a gift. Decide to meet another ERG / Network leader from a completely different sector - and become "Buddies" for the next year. Reach out to someone on the PurpleSpace Member Zone. Tell them what makes you tick. What you want to achieve in your role. And ask them what they want to achieve - and how you can help each other.

Get inspired by learning from others - for example, why not listen to one of our most well-loved podcasts such as 'The A-Z of Networkology: Part One' with PurpleSpace interviewer Phil Friend talking to Tulsi Patel, Nationwide about her experience. 

And read the latest issue of 'Spotlight On...' where we interview 'leading lights' and 'ones to watch' in the world of disability inclusion. Our new Communications and Marketing Officer Lauren Pemberton-Nelson interviews Tassja Wiseman, Founder and Co-Chair of the Welsh Government Autism Spectrum Disorder Support Group who became one of our first certified Networkologist in 2019.  Read our interview with Tassja here.

And of course, you simply MUST join our Networkology Foundation Workshop webinar series on 30th April, the ultimate workout for any PurpleSpace member wanting to supercharge the contribution of their disability network/resource group. We are encouraging all members wherever you are in the world to join our Networkology webinars. We have five enticing webinars for our members to digitally gain the skills and knowledge to strengthen your network and resource groups. And to supplement your webinar learning we are launching a new factsheet on 'Five key Networkology fundamentals'.

We dare you to dig deep in April...and think about conducting your own 360 degree: Purple Performance Review appraisal process for your ERG / Network. We have a new tool to help you do that - these are core questions that you can adapt and ask a variety of internal stakeholders about how well your ERG / Network / Committee are doing. We can do that for you too through our consultancy services but why not try and do your own first?

Check out the PurpleSpace Impact Report 2019. You may already have read the report when we published it late last year but it really is worth taking your time to read between the lines. We keep hearing how ERG / Networks are wanting to get much more involved in 'self-actualising' activities such as helping to set up coaching and mentoring programmes. It may be that you have already introduced these programmes in your organisation. If so, we would love to hear from you.

And last BUT NOT LEAST find some time in the month of April to understand your own leadership style. There are some fantastic TEDx Talks available on-line. Take this one by Peter Anderton made in 2016 about the two things to understand about leadership.  

Want to share your experiences by writing a blog?

Why don't you write a blog about your experience in running an employee resource group/network? Contact hello@purplespace.org if you would like to write a blog about this month's theme or one of our future leadership themes.

And finally...

have the best April wherever you are in the world. The PurpleSpace community of change agents grows and grows and you are part of that. Day by day, making the world a better place. 

Find the space you need to feel good about the work you do.PurpleSpace.