In other words, business resource group members have the chance to directly influence the candy and snacks that land on shelves. Stories from their cultural backgrounds are a window into our consumers’ preferences. Groups can have an affinity with a certain candy or snack, and our brand teams will ask the group to contribute ideas to enhance products, conduct taste tests to aid in research and development, and provide perspectives on marketing. By gaining exposure to your colleagues’ unique experiences, you’ll develop a richer, more nuanced world-view, which can serve you in the workplace and beyond.Īt Ferrara, where I work, we’ve transitioned our affinity groups to business resource groups to align our culture and business initiatives. In fact, it’s smart to sign up for groups in which you don’t have a direct affinity so you can listen, learn firsthand what issues your coworkers are facing, and serve as an ally. Remember, you aren’t obligated to join only groups whose members look or live like you. Participating in a range of affinity groups can help you sharpen your listening skills. Good listeners have the capacity to respect and appreciate diverse perspectives and find common ground. The best colleagues and most effective managers know how to listen well. You may also have the chance to head up affinity group projects or initiatives, which could help position you for leadership and people management roles down the line. Joining an affinity group grants you the opportunity to practice public speaking and conversation skills in a safe, relatively low-stakes environment. Say you get nervous during big presentations at work or have a hard time articulating thoughts and ideas among new people. Build new skills (and enhance confidence)Īffinity group membership can help you develop (and showcase) expertise, especially leadership and communication skills. Through an affinity group, you may end up finding your next mentor or your future manager.Ģ. Your new connections can alert you to upcoming job openings or other opportunities. Affinity groups gather regularly, and these frequent interactions allow you to forge deeper connections with colleagues from different teams and departments-people you wouldn’t typically encounter during your daily job duties. But networking events tend to be one-offs, and depending on your industry or company, they may be few and far between. We all know that networking is crucial to advancing your development goals. Here are six ways that joining affinity groups can send your career and professional reputation soaring, and uplift those around you.ġ. Foster meaningful relationships with coworkers Also known as employee or business resource groups, affinity groups represent diverse, under-represented interests in an organization.Īffinity groups are not cliques or exclusive clubs they’re immensely useful in your career and your community. For instance, an affinity group may be organized around race or ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation. Now there’s another tactic: joining affinity groups.Īffinity groups are groups employees with a shared background or experience. Advancing your career has a few established tactics, including networking, skills building, and finding mentors.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |