ERG leaders leverage CliftonStrengths to strengthen leadership and collaboration
October 20, 2026 •
Since supporting the establishment of UCOP employee resource groups, the Office of Culture and Inclusive Excellence (OCIE) has sought learning opportunities for ERG Officers. As a dynamic community of volunteer leaders, OCIE aspires to support their professional growth as individuals and teams.
In partnership with OCIE, UCOP Learning & Development facilitated a customized CliftonStrengths Session for ERG leaders focused on understanding and leveraging their individual and collective strengths to advance their goals and initiatives. Throughout the interactive session, more than 30 ERG leaders explored an asset-based, strengths-focused approach to professional development. Rather than focusing on gaps or weaknesses, the session encouraged participants to recognize, appreciate and intentionally leverage their natural talents as a foundation for individual growth, leadership development and collaboration.
Beyond growing individual appreciation for strengths, the steering committees reflected on their CliftonStrengths team grids, which are visual representations of the collective talents within their leadership. Through discussions, leaders identified patterns across their strengths, recognized the diverse contributions of their fellow members and discussed how to leverage talents to strengthen teamwork and navigate challenges. The result was an afternoon-long training session that was positively received by those who participated.
Participant testimonials
- “I plan to take classes to build my strengths to foster teamwork and unity.”
- “It helped me recognize that my strengths are most valuable when I intentionally use them to support and collaborate with others.”
- “Moving forward, I plan to be more mindful of my individual strengths when leading my ERG, particularly by using them to build stronger relationships, encourage collaboration and help bring out the strengths of others.”
- “I enjoyed seeing how our different strengths can complement one another and contribute to our team’s success.”
Building on the momentum of the session, the ERG steering committees will continue to engage in opportunities to explore and apply their strengths with the Office of Culture and Inclusive Excellence and their executive sponsors. They will serve as a foundation for new ERG leaders at the start of each term.
Interested in bringing CliftonStrengths to your team? Read the CliftonStrengths Team Development Program overview.
Tags: CliftonStrengths, employee resource groups, professional development
