When ERGs Have Heart, But No Strategy

Passion Will Get You Started. Strategy Is What Keeps You Going.

Every ERG starts with energy. People raising their hands, driven by lived experience and a desire to create space. You’ll see events pop up. Slack channels light up. Maybe even a mini leadership team forms.

And then… things stall.

Not because the passion isn’t real. But because passion, in and of itself, burns hot and fast. Without a plan – without direction – ERGs are relying on sheer willpower to carry something that actually needs infrastructure.

What’s Really Going On When ERGs Feel “Busy but Stuck”

You’ve got meetings. You’ve got events. You’ve got a long list of ideas and a short list of people doing the work. But ask any lead, “What are your goals this quarter?” or “What does success look like?” and you’ll get silence. Or ten different answers.

That’s the red flag.

Without shared goals, it’s hard to prioritize. Without a roadmap, everything feels like a fire drill. And without alignment, leadership support stays passive because they don’t know what they’re supporting.

You end up with a lot of effort and not a lot of progress.

So What Does Strategy Actually Look Like?

Let’s kill the idea that “strategy” means a 40-slide deck nobody reads. Or alot of information thrown at leads without instructions on how to actually do the work without burning out.Real ERG strategy is simple. It’s structured. It’s focused. Here’s what that can look like:

• A few clear focus areas – things like retention, education, culture 
• Defined goals per quarter or year
• A rough roadmap – when things are happening, who’s doing what
• Alignment with business priorities (so it doesn’t feel like a side hustle)
• A cadence for check-ins, so you’re not just reacting

That’s it. It doesn’t have to be fancy. It just has to exist.

Why It Matters

Without strategy, leads burn out. Sponsors disengage. Senior leadership abandonment. Members fade. And all the amazing energy you started with ends up stuck in a cycle of last-minute planning and unclear results.

With strategy, ERGs become trusted, visible, and sustainable. People know where they’re going and why it matters.

Want More?

There’s more where this came from. Browse our blogs for more insights that speak to the real stuff ERG leaders face every day.

And if you’re ready to stop spinning and start building Book a Discovery Call