The Tara Birch Newsletter #4

The moment I chose to venture out on my own and break free from the norm of course thoughts crossed my mind… was I being too idealistic? Did I have my head in the clouds? Is the traditional working world prepared for my unfiltered honesty, good intentions, and my deeply human-centric approach to revolutionising the workplace, one head and one heart at a time.?

Well, it seems many are ready and I cannot believe how fast this month has flown by. How can we be in the second half of 2024 already? And what an exciting year it has been so far! It has been a whirlwind of activity and I am grateful for these next few weeks to really focus on my business and personal growth before my girls’ school holidays arrive.

So, what has been my focus this June??

This month, I have enjoyed delving a little deeper into the value of Employee Resource Group frameworks for organisational success.?

Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) play a crucial role in promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace. However, my recent surveys revealed that there is still room for improvement in how ERGs are perceived and utilised within organisations.?

A staggering 78% of employees lack confidence that ERGs are strategically aligned with organisational goals, while 75% believe that ERGs are simply a box-ticking exercise for companies. Shockingly, over a quarter of businesses do not appear to have ERGs at all.?

Despite these challenges, 58% of employees recognise the positive impact ERGs can have on business success. It’s clear that there is a need for organisations to reevaluate and enhance the effectiveness of their ERG programs to ensure they are truly aligned with organisational goals and promote genuine diversity and inclusion.?

We need to be optimising the value that these ERGs can bring by working together to make them an effective and impactful resource for all employees.

My Top 5 Values of ERGs:

1. Greater talent attraction, engagement and retention.

2. Enhanced #BIDE efforts, learning and appreciation.?

3. Innovation and creativity, through diverse thought leadership.

4. Deeper understanding of employee needs and expectations.

5. Positive impact on organisational culture, brand and reputation.

I want to to be helping organisations with creating, crafting and assessing their ERGs, as it’s such a waste of time, resources and emotions when they are not well thought out, supported and managed.?

Men’s Health Month:

I had the pleasure of hosting a free online event during Men's Health Month, creating a safe space to discuss men's mental health and allyship. The event was a success thanks to the support of my co-hosts Matt Wilson and Helen Hannah. We had insightful conversations and I look forward to driving positive change on the issues discussed.

Connections & Collaborations:

I had the honour of being invited by Andrew Cooper and Mike Reddington to attend their British Security Industry Association (BSIA) Awards at the Royal Lancaster London, where I had the privilege of celebrating some truly exceptional security professionals. It was inspiring to see their hard work and dedication being recognised.

I consider myself extremely lucky to have caught the attention of Helen Attia, Vice President of People and Partnerships at Kadence, a reputed company specialising in Hybrid Workplace Software Solutions. Helen has been following my progress and increasing influence on LinkedIn for a while now, and we have had some fantastic discussions about potential collaborations that could greatly benefit our clients by seamlessly integrating these hybrid solutions for optimal success.

Helen has invited me to an exclusive dinner hosted by Kadence, which will give me an opportunity to meet with the in-house talent, clients, and key partners, many of whom I may have the pleasure of collaborating with on hybrid working solutions. Together, we will work on initiatives such as community building, influencer programs, and advocacy for positive change and successful adoption of hybrid working practices.

Podcast News:

Yes, I finally surrendered to the world of podcast guesting…

I recorded my very first podcast, "Bringing Your Weird and Woo to Work," with The Change Tribe hosted by Nikki Finucan and David Papa. It was a fascinating discussion on bringing authenticity and innovation to the workplace.

My next recording will be with Helen from Kadence, Our session will be recorded on 5th July and I will share the link with you on my profile, and in the next news letter.?

Last, but certainly not least, on 8th July I’ll be joining the wonderful Yolanda Hamblen on The Security Circle Podcast. I just know this is going to be a deeply insightful conversation about my positive, and negative, experiences in the industry and the learnings I have been gifted to help improve the lives of security employees, leaders, businesses and beyond.?

Moving forward:

July already looks to be an exciting month for me and I’m feeling my head, heart and diary full of wonderful connections and opportunities. I never believed my future could look quite so bright as it is beginning to right now. I am blessed to serve my learning and experiences, to bring light and love to so many in being their personal and professional best selves.

So, as we approach the upcoming month, I wish you all happiness, health, and success… and for my working parents network… let's make the most of this calm before the school holiday storm begins!?

If you want to learn more about how I can help you please don't hesitate to reach out to me here on LinkedIn, or via my website.?

Be well.

Tara ?