Recruiting Members

For some, recruiting members to join an ERG may be an easy task. People who have more visibility or tenure within the organization may already have a wide network of connections to reach out to when building a membership base. However, ERGs exist primarily to elevate people who are traditionally underrepresented so these individuals may need extra support to help grow their network. Below are a few ideas to help anyone interested in growing a membership base.  

For the person who wants to start and lead an ERG:

Every ERG at Fleet Feet needs 3 leaders to share the commitments and responsibilities of the ERG. If you are searching for others to join you in leading the creation and functions of an ERG, ask the following questions:

• Who do you already know that has shown strong leadership skills or the desire to lead more? Request time with them to discuss your ideas for the ERG and how you think they could contribute to the group. Schedule a virtual meeting, phone call, or in-person meeting. Avoid the possible temptation to ask them in a casual setting, during a meeting unrelated to ERGs, or in front of other people. Committing to leading an ERG should not feel obligatory but should be a decision made after thoughtful consideration.

• Who do you know that has strengths that complement your strengths? Someone in a different area of the business could offer helpful insights and see potential pitfalls. For example, a Retail Experience Manager will likely have valuable feedback on how activities can be structured to cause minimal disruption to store operations; an employee at our Distribution Center could provide black-out dates for events to avoid excluding Distribution Center team members. 

• Do you prefer all leaders to identify with the group the ERG is aiming to support? When considering approaching someone about their interest in leading an ERG, be careful not to make assumptions about identity or intersectionality. Also, be mindful that not everyone will be comfortable stepping into a leadership role. This could be for reasons ranging from current workload to past trauma. Always respect boundaries. If someone says no, be gracious and reassure them their presence will be welcome should they want to join as a member.

• Would you consider leading a group with an ally? ERGs exist to support underrepresented groups, so it is possible that you may not have a connection to someone who identifies with your group. Enlisting allies can be a powerful way to drive change. If you are unsure of who to ask, reach out to HR@fleetfeet.com. There may already be someone else interested and looking. If not, a member of the team can meet with you to offer suggestions. 

For the leaders who want to recruit members to join and create an ERG:

Once all three leaders have been identified, come together and begin to brainstorm ideas for your group using the resources on this site. Begin to ideate a mission for the group, draft potential goals, and put the information you have into the charter template. These should not be fully completed without giving members the option to provide feedback. Provide members with a specific time/s for collaboration, avenues for providing feedback, and a deadline so that all necessary documents are 

Remember, ERG membership is open to all Fleet Feet employees so it will be important to think through strategies to reach all business units. Some ideas could include - 

• Create a flyer with a QR code that links to a google form where people can share their contact details. Send out more detailed information via email. 

• Host multiple short virtual informational sessions - can they be held at various times to reach the most people (one morning, one afternoon, one evening)?

• Ask your manager for help! Can they share information about your group in a team meeting? Is there a platform for them to share it with other teams?

• If an Executive Sponsor has already been secured, enlist their help with disseminating information about the group. 

• Word of Mouth - Tell your peers and ask for their help.