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Action Step – Framework for Affinity Group Meetings

The Alliance’s Action Steps are designed to assist organizations with implementing practical strategies and policies related to diversity and flexibility. Members can access full versions of all of the Alliance’s Action Steps in the Member Resource Center.

Effectively running affinity group meetings presents a valuable opportunity to enhance member engagement and drive meaningful impact, especially in today’s hybrid environments. A well-designed meeting framework can help affinity group leaders maximize this opportunity, fostering deeper connections, facilitating learning, and spurring action. By implementing the following 5-part structure, you can create more purposeful and effective affinity group meetings that align with your group’s mission and goals while providing an engaging experience for all participants.

  1. Celebrate and Connect (10-15 minutes):
    • Begin with shout-outs for member accomplishments, both personal and professional.
    • Use a “choreographed connection” question to align with the meeting’s purpose or foster personal connections.

Members: continue reading this Action Step in the Member Resource Center

To read this entire Action Step become a member of the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance. 

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Diversity & Talent Leader Innovation Circle – September 27, 2024

Members – please join us an upcoming Innovation Circle for Diversity & Talent Leaders that focuses specifically on DEI organizational structure, including discussion about the role of DEI Committees, DEI professionals, and Affinity Groups (Employee Resource Groups).

September 27, 2024 | 1:00pm – 2:30pm EST

We invite individuals at member organizations who hold the following roles (or the equivalent thereof in your organization) to register:

  • Chief Diversity Officer or DE&I Director
  • Chief People Officer or Director
  • Chief Talent Officer or Talent Director
  • Chief HR Officer or HR Director
MEMBERS - REGISTER HERE
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Maximizing Employee Retention – September 26, 2024

2024 Signature Seminar

Maximizing Employee Retention: Insights from the NALP Foundation’s Stay Study Report & Leveraging Stay Interviews for Organizational Success

September 26, 2024 | 1:00pm – 2:00pm EST

Featuring:

Fiona Trevelyan Hornblower, President & CEO, NALP Foundation

Jennifer Mandery, Vice President for Research, NALP Foundation

Mindy Herczfeld, Chief Legal Talent Officer, Cozen O’Connor

Manar Morales, President & CEO, Diversity & Flexibility Alliance

This session will delve into the NALP Foundation’s inaugural Stay Study Report, detailing the key factors driving associates’ decisions to remain at their firms. Our expert panel will provide an in-depth analysis of the report’s key insights exploring associates’ valuations of work allocation, compensation, benefits, firm policies, hybrid work, professional development, mentoring, DEI initiatives, and more.

We will further discuss how these findings can be practically applied within your organization, offering best practices for conducting effective stay interviews. Attendees will gain valuable knowledge on crafting meaningful questions, creating a comfortable interview environment, and analyzing the data collected. Additionally, we will share actionable tips for utilizing the insights from stay interviews to develop targeted retention strategies and to foster a supportive work culture.

This event is open to all individuals at member organizations. Not a member? Contact Angela Whitehead Quigley for more information. 

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Action Step – Leveraging Generational Differences

The Alliance’s Action Steps are designed to assist organizations with implementing practical strategies and policies related to diversity and flexibility. Members can access full versions of all of the Alliance’s Action Steps in the Member Resource Center.

With five generations working side-by-side, there’s a lot of talk about generational differences and how that affects work preferences. Expert Chris DeSantis recently led a very informative “Embracing Generational Diversity” Signature Seminar for the Alliance, during which he discussed generational perspectives and how these different perspectives can be beneficial to a team. With so many generations in the workplace, it is truly in everyone’s best interest to work respectfully with each other to leverage everyone’s strengths. We discuss a framework below to help cross-generational teams work successfully.

  1. Listen & Interact: Providing opportunities for interaction leads to understanding each other’s values/needs and breaking of stereotypes. In a hybrid environment, this is especially important, because deeper relationships lead to less bias and greater understanding. As Chris DeSantis discussed in the Alliance’s Signature Seminar, we often unconsciously use confirmation bias (the tendency to favor information that confirms or strengthens one’s beliefs) to support stereotypes.

Members: continue reading this Action Step in the Member Resource Center

To read this entire Action Step become a member of the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance. 

Members: Don’t forget to schedule your annual strategy session!

Alliance Members have access to one Strategy Design & Development Session each year. During these sessions, you may choose to discuss any of your organizational priorities related to diversity and inclusion, flexibility, caregivers, well-being, or talent development objectives. During these one-hour virtual sessions Manar Morales and the Alliance team will share data-driven best practices and advice customized to your organization’s unique needs. Members should provide us with the topics most relevant to their organization’s current needs and anyone who is involved in leading or implementing these initiatives should participate in the meeting (usually no more than 3-4 people).

Sample topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Brainstorming and best practices for launching a new initiative (DEIB, flexibility, well-being, etc.)
  • Parental Leave & Caregiver policies and practices
  • How to effectively on-board and integrate new hires in hybrid work environment
  • Best practices for supporting flexible work schedules
  • Optimizing women’s affinity groups
  • Effective ways to support affinity groups/employee resource groups

Members: Contact Angela Whitehead Quigley to schedule your Strategy Session.

Learn more about the 7 other types of customized member sessions HERE.

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Action Step – Leading Through Change

The Alliance’s Action Steps are designed to assist organizations with implementing practical strategies and policies related to diversity and flexibility. Members can access full versions of all of the Alliance’s Action Steps in the Member Resource Center.

Many organizations have faced a great deal of change over the last few years, including: the pandemic; a new way of working; economic growth and a war for talent; recession/inflation concerns and layoffs; tightening of hybrid work; and reorganizations. Organizations that navigate through these changes systematically and intentionally fare much better. Take a look at the Alliance’s framework for how to successfully lead through change:

  1. INSPIRE – 
    • Power of the Frame: Frame your change initiative in an inspiring way that rallies people around a shared vision of the desired future state. Specifically, connect the change to a broader purpose and organizational values. By doing so, you will likely gain more buy-in and support…

Members: continue reading this Action Step in the Member Resource Center

To read this entire Action Step become a member of the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance. 

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The Wellbeing Quotient in Cultivating Belonging – July 25, 2024

2024 Signature Seminar

The Wellbeing Quotient in Cultivating Belonging

Featuring Kori Carew, Chief Catalyst Officer & Founder, Bridge 68 LLC

July 25, 2024 | 1:00pm – 2:00pm EST

In this comprehensive 60-minute presentation, we will explore the critical intersection of well-being and belonging within professional environments. This session will delve into the definitions and interconnections of belonging, well-being, and employee engagement, and their vital roles in fostering inclusive, high-performing cultures.

Furthermore, the presentation will provide actionable strategies for cultivating a sense of belonging both at the individual and organizational levels, as well as for creating well-being-centric cultures within teams and organizations. By the end of this session, attendees will leave with practical, actionable tools and understanding to enhance their well-being, professional environments and relationships, promoting diversity, equity, and overall organizational success.

Program Objectives:

  1. Define Key Concepts: Provide clear definitions of belonging, well-being, and employee engagement, and explain their significance in the workplace.
  2. Explore Interconnections: Discuss the impact of well-being on inclusion and belonging, and how belonging influences well-being and employee engagement.
  3. Highlight Cultural Impact: Illustrate how belonging and well-being affect organizational culture and performance, and their dependence on diversity and equity.
  4. Strategize for Belonging: Present strategies for creating and enhancing a sense of belonging at both the individual and organizational levels.
  5. Promote Well-being Cultures: Offer practical approaches to foster well-being-centric cultures within teams and organizations, supporting overall employee well-being and engagement.

Additional resources include:

This program has been approved by the Board on Continuing Legal Education of the Supreme Court of New Jersey for 1.0 hours of total CLE credit. Of these, 1.0 qualify as hours of credit for diversity, inclusion and elimination of bias (BCLE Reg. 302:1). If you would like to receive a certificate of attendance, please note the three codes provided during the session and submit your information HERE.

This event is open to all individuals at member organizations. Not a member? Contact Angela Whitehead Quigley for more information. 

Members: Contact Angela Whitehead Quigley for access to the recording (available through August 26, 2024).

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Announcing the 2024 Leadership Symposium

We’re excited to announce our 2024 Leadership Symposium curriculum – which includes three virtual seminars for individuals at Champion and Leader-level member organizations looking to expand their personal leadership style and business acumen.

We encourage Champion & Leader members to register even if you are unable to attend live as we will send the link to the recording directly to your inbox.

CHAMPION & LEADER MEMBERS - REGISTER FOR ALL 3 PROGRAMS HERE


Session 1: ERG/Affinity Group Leader Training feat. Manar Morales

July 11 | 1:00 pm ET

As a leader, you understand the need for structure, resources, and training to make sure your employee resource group (ERG)/affinity group succeeds. Join Alliance President & CEO, Manar Morales, to learn how to: structure ERGs/affinity groups and delegate responsibilities; best run and manage meetings; share lessons learned with other ERGs/affinity groups; impact leadership and decision-making; and, continuously monitor results.

This training is designed for anyone who leads or participates in an employee resource group or affinity group, or anyone who would like to start an ERG/affinity group at your organization.

CHAMPION & LEADER MEMBERS - REGISTER HERE


Session 2: Give to Grow: Invest in Relationships to Build Your Business & Your Career feat. Mo Bunnell

September 11 | 1:30 pm ET

Everyone knows developing relationships and business is a top priority, but what people aren’t taught is that you can do it in a way that feels great, where everyone wins at every turn.

In this dynamic session, Mo Bunnell, author of the book Give to Grow, will show you how to invest in relationships how to win the work you want at the clients you want—so you can make the impact you want.

*Please note that while most of our programs begin at 1:00 pm ET, this session starts at 1:30.

CHAMPION & LEADER MEMBERS - REGISTER HERE


Session 3: Diffusing Power Dynamics feat. Rudhir Krishtel

November 13 | 1:00 pm ET

Every relationship has power dynamics, often existing across race or gender-based differences. Is the power you exert dominating or empowering others? Hierarchical environments driven by dominant power dynamics are commonly not inclusive. Especially in dynamics where people feel unheard or uncomfortable sharing their experiences. In this workshop, participants will be guided to understand power dynamics, encouraged to explore how to diffuse them, and ultimately create workplace environments that can evolve past the unhelpful complexities that power dynamics create.

CHAMPION & LEADER MEMBERS - REGISTER HERE

The Leadership Symposium is open to Champion and Leader-level members. If you are an Advocate member that would like to learn more, please contact Angela Whitehead Quigley.

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Registration now open for the 2024 Annual Conference

We’re thrilled to announce our 2024 Annual Conference: Harnessing the Power of Your Organizational Culture to be held at the Washington, DC offices of Akin, (2001 K Street, NW) on Thursday, October 24, 2024.

Each year our conference brings together trailblazers and thought leaders to share cutting-edge strategies for optimizing recruitment, retention, and engagement through DEI, flexibility, and well-being.

This year’s conference will focus on how to drive success with a strong organizational culture that prioritizes diversity, flexibility, and well-being. Stay tuned for more details on inspirational speakers, innovative content, and this unique opportunity to connect with other leaders focused on humanizing the workplace!

Alliance members receive two complimentary tickets to the Annual Conference. Members – please reserve your complimentary tickets no later than September 6th to ensure availability.

Early bird registration is now open through July 31. Reserve your spot today!

REGISTER FOR THE 2024 ANNUAL CONFERENCE