With the right values, direction and leadership, disability employee networks or resource groups can make a significant and lasting contribution to how an organisation anticipates, accommodates and celebrates its disabled talent.

Leading a disability employee network or resource group requires huge skill – the terrain is complex. There is no “one way” of doing networks – there are too many variables. One thing is for sure though, network leaders (whether they are starting out, stepping up or thriving) must be in constant learning mode to hone the skills they need to lead a high performing network. 

This month’s theme was about how disability employee network or resource group leaders can improve their performance through learning from everything and everyone.

Be like Satya.

If you joined us for part of our 24-hour global #PurpleLightUp Broadcast on 3 December 2020 you will have heard Satya Nadella, the iconic CEO of our Broadcast Sponsor, Microsoft introducing the company’s innovative approach to disability inclusion. We love Satya not only for his passionate championing of disability inclusion but also for his broader leadership philosophy. 

Check out this article which summarises leadership lessons from a conversation between Satya Nadella and Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess. We recognise the four leadership traits outlined here in the very best from the PurpleSpace community of disability ERG leaders. In fact, they’re almost identical to some of the key competencies and attributes we set out in our Ten Point Plan for Purple Networks and Leaders briefing. 

The article highlights four key takeaways from the conversation between Nadella and Diess:

• Don't be a "know-it-all." Be a "learn-it-all and succeed through learning, practice, and hard work. We see the benefit of this approach all the time at PurpleSpace. Not surprising really given that our members have chosen to be part of the world’s only networking and professional development community for disability network and resource group leaders!

• Bring clarity. Not confusion. In our experience, the best network leaders are systematic in project delivery and always work with the overall aim of the network in mind. If you missed it, check out January’s leadership theme for guidance on defining purpose and developing a strategy for your network.

• Create energy. The most successful network and resource group leaders know how to engage with people, enabling them to work outside their own job function and to tackle new areas. They also build great relationships with key stakeholders such as their organisation’s Diversity and inclusion team and senior disability champion. 

• No excuses. Great leaders create success ... no matter the circumstances. The best resource group leaders enjoy making progress in areas that have proven challenging for the business. They are unlikely to accept the idea of “we tried that and it didn’t work” when needing to resolve outstanding barriers.

What if I assembled a tribe of mentors to help me? 

Best-selling author Tim Ferriss wrote ‘Tribe of Mentors’, ‘a compilation of tools, tactics, and habits from over one hundred of the world's top performers’ to help him answer some big questions he had about the direction of his own life after turning 40. 

At PurpleSpace we’re all about leveraging the experiences and insights of our incredible community of employee network or resource group leaders. 'In The Chair' was one of our very first publications and is a collection of top tips and actionable advice for creating and maintaining successful disability employee networks or resource groups. Check it out now and access your very own tribe of mentors.

Learning and development opportunities in February

In February, we had exciting learning and development activities for you to maximise your PurpleSpace membership

• Learn directly from an extraordinary network leader in our ‘Spotlight on’ series where we interviewed Tiernan Brady, Global Director of Inclusion at Clifford Chance... 
• On 10 February, we were in conversation with the Power 100 team at Shaw Trust about how the programme celebrates the achievement of disabled leaders from across a range of categories. 
• We supported members to engage in real time with your thier tribe of mentors through our two Peer Group Learning. In February, we focused on honing your leadership skills
• Our CEO Kate Nash OBE and Director of Strategy and Networkology Brendan Roach explored lessons that ERG leaders can learn from the favourite books of some of the world’s most successful business leaders. The webinar recording for this can be watched here.
• Two months on from the launch of our Great Global Impact Report 2020-2021(sponsored by Barclays) we reconvened our Impact working group, chaired by Founding PurpleSpace Ambassador, David Caldwell. During this session we will reflected on the findings of the report and explored how we can use lessons as a catalyst for change. 

And finally…

We leave you with this quote from psychologist and best-selling author Dr Carol Dweck who reminds us that “most experts and great leaders agree that leaders are made, not born, and that they are made through their own drive for learning and self-improvement”.