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The Ultimate Guide for ERG Leaders
Learn how to lead an ERG and grow Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). For new and experienced ERG leaders and chapter leads who want a clear playbook for planning, engaging members, and proving their ERG's impact.
What is The Ultimate Guide for ERG Leaders?
The Ultimate Guide for ERG Leaders is a free PDF guide from Teleskope for employee resource group (ERG) leaders and chapter leads, especially those new to the role. It sets out 25 practices for running an ERG, from writing a charter to tracking metrics, plus 10 ways to manage the role alongside a full-time job.
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Build your ERG's foundation with a charter, an annual activity calendar, and a simple way to join.
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Grow engagement through events, newsletters, surveys, recognition, and partnerships with other ERGs.
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Prove impact with ERG metrics, custom reports, and a long-term strategy tied to business goals.
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What is inside The Ultimate Guide for ERG Leaders?
How ERG programs are structured
A sample structure showing how ERG program managers, ERG leaders, executive sponsors, and chapter leads fit together. Use it to clarify who owns what before you plan anything.
Foundations
Writing your ERG charter, building an annual activity calendar, creating awareness, and making it simple to join. Use it to launch or reset your ERG with a clear purpose and plan.
Member engagement
Newsletters, discussion boards, events, access for frontline and remote employees, new storytelling formats, surveys and polls, and a shared resource library. Use it to keep members active between events.
Budget, sponsors, and partnerships
Managing the ERG budget, joint events with other ERGs, working with an executive sponsor, partnering with other departments and nonprofits, ERG mentoring, and open sessions for non-members. Use it to extend your reach beyond your current members.
Measurement and governance
ERG metrics, documentation and approval workflows, regular reviews with program managers, celebrating wins, member recognition, custom reports, business impact, and a five-year strategy. Use it to show leadership what your ERG delivers.
Beyond day-to-day ERG work
Ten habits for sustaining the role, including tracking your time, building a support team, adding ERG work to your performance review, and planning succession. Use it to lead your ERG without burning out.
Who is this ERG leader guide for?
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New ERG leaders and co-leads stepping into the role for the first time.
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Chapter leads running a location-based chapter of a larger employee resource group.
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Experienced ERG leaders looking to grow membership or restart a stalled ERG.
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ERG program managers onboarding new leaders across many ERGs.
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Executive sponsors who want to understand what their ERG leaders are working on.
Frequently asked questions about leading an ERG
What should an ERG charter include?
An ERG charter should include the group's purpose, a vision and mission statement, the roles and responsibilities of each contributor, objectives, key performance indicators, and membership criteria. Treat it as the reference point for decisions about activities and membership, and revisit it as the group grows. The guide shows where the charter fits among the first steps a new ERG leader should take.
What metrics should an ERG leader track?
Track from day one so you can show progress over time, starting with membership numbers, event attendance, email open rates, number of chapters, budget use, and member interactions. As your ERG matures, connect membership to business measures such as retention and performance. The guide explains how to turn these metrics into custom reports for your program manager and senior leadership.
What does an ERG executive sponsor do?
An executive sponsor is usually a senior leader, often at the C-suite level, who acts as a guide, mentor, and ambassador for the ERG. ERG leaders should keep their sponsor informed about long-term plans and ask for their input on relevant topics. A sponsor who speaks up for the ERG can lift membership and participation, and the guide covers how to bring one on board.
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