When it comes to communicating your key message in building a better working world, you have to think clearly about what people think when they think ‘disability.’ It’s complex territory and not always easy to get the language right, your tone right, your pace right. So, this month we are on hand to help you navigate the ‘communication challenge’. How do you spread the word about the work and purpose of your network / ERG or ally programme in a powerful way?

Remember the wonderful Diversish video made in 2019? – the spoof “Top 100 ‘Diversish’ Companies. None of our members would want their leaders to be that awkward!

Take a look to remind yourself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOQYFZMglCc

That's not the only video we'd recommend watching this month. We also have When Movements Take Off with Alia Cooper, HSBC UK and David Caldwell, PurpleSpace Ambassador. It is a great resource to get some insight about the value in communicating “Big Messages” in how to support people to bring their authentic selves to work. 

Along with When Movements Take Off, we also are launching our new best practice guide Stance to help set you on the right road. Stance is a short simple “how to” guide about communicating your work on disability and building your organisation’s ‘disability identity.’ Our long-standing advisor Vanessa Hardy has drawn together best practice hints and tips. Stance will offer a fantastic suite of ideas to help your organisation to communicate your higher purpose in a modern, fresh and attractive way. 

On 7th of this month, we launch the annual Great Big Impact Survey – make sure you take part in the world’s only comprehensive review of Networks / ERGs and allys programmes. Complete the survey here.

In addition, we are reconvening our #PurpleLightUp reference group, chaired by PurpleSpace Ambassador, Andy Kneen, Shell. We know how many of you are already planning activities to celebrate the economic contribution of disabled employees across the world as part of the UN International Day of Persons with Disability. And we know how important it is to share ideas. So, by popular request, we are bringing members together in September, October and November to gear up for the #PurpleLightUp extravaganza. The first meeting will take place on Thursday 24th September. 

And to round the month up, we invite you to our Peer Group Learning Sessions where this month we will be focussing on “Putting It into Practice: Navigating the Communication Challenge” taking place on Monday 28th September at 10.00 (BST) and Wednesday 30th September at 15:00 (BST). 

This month’s ‘Spotlight On’ features Darren Rowen, Eli Lilly, who tells us his story about how he's learned to communicate his, and his ERG's, higher purpose - as well as discussing the ERG Global Forum, and what he's most looking forward to for this year's #PurpleLightUp. 

Member Challenges for this month:

• Make friends with your own in-house communications expert. The chances are, you already have good contact with them. In not, now is the time to get close 
• Think about how you can introduce humour into the mix of messages you use. Nothing is as special as laughter to break down barriers and put people at ease – hold a planning session about how you can add some humour to your communication messages
• Make sure you have taken part in our annual Great Big Impact Survey – the deadline for survey is 5th October 2020.

And finally….

Have the best September wherever you are based in the world. Everything the PurpleSpace community does adds value to the lived experience of disabled employees. Is this easy? No. Is it worthwhile. Yes. Who is making this happen? #YouAre

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