A detailed description of our services is available as a downloadable PDF.
ADVICE AND SUPPORT – For Diversity Committees
Our new clients often say, "We have a diversity committee but we are not sure about what we should be doing," or, "We were doing well and then we got stuck," or worse yet, "We talk a lot, but we get nothing done." Verna Myers Consulting Group works closely with your diversity committee to develop a clear mission; with goals and norms for operating effectively. Most diversity committees will be responsible for developing and driving the firm's diversity action plan. VMCG helps a firm think through the composition of the committee, helps the committee work together, and offers Information and resources to help it carry out its mission. Often to jump-start the process for the committee, VMCG facilitates a retreat for the committee.
MENTORSHIP PROGRAM: To support retention and advancement
After working with you to define your diversity goals, VMCG designs a mentor program to support them. Retention is the issue with which so many of our clients are struggling. In every organization, we find that having someone who personally invests in the career of a developing attorney is crucial. Our process of encouraging mentoring includes consulting on the development of the program elements (participants, team goals, accountability, follow-up) and one or more training sessions with participants to:
-
Explain the roles, expectations, and responsibilities of mentors and protégé(e)s.
-
Teach effective mentoring skills.
-
Enhance understanding of the benefits and challenges of cross-cultural/gender mentoring matches.
-
Improve participants' ability to make such matches work.
AFFINITY GROUPS, RETREATS AND INDIVIDUAL COACHING: To support traditionally underrepresented groups
In order to help members of traditionally underrepresented groups develop the skills, confidence and knowledge they need to succeed in a majority work environment, your firm may want to sponsor various support systems for these attorneys. These support systems help attorneys build a community to stem their sense of isolation, learn skills to effectively deal with the negative assumptions and discomfort of others, confront their own assumptions and unconstructive behaviors, take responsibility for their career, learn substantive skills, develop business, etc. We offer our clients advice on the formation of affinity groups. Often we design and facilitate retreats just for women, attorneys of color and/or, gay/lesbian bisexual/ transgender attorneys and staff. We also conduct one-on-one sessions to help individual attorneys or staff.
METRIC AND MEASURES OF DIVERSITY & INCLUSION EFFORTS
How does a firm know if what it is doing is working? As part of the strategic action plan, we help the firm establish ways to measure its effectiveness. We also suggest that a firm do a benchmarking study three years after the initiative is launched to compare the results with the findings and issues identified by the initial assessment. We can help the firm develop a scorecard, evaluate programs and systems, and revise practices and policies as it refines its efforts.
A detailed description of our services is available as a downloadable PDF.