The Early Adolescence phase begins immediately after the ERG program launches. For new programs, it’s a time of rapid growth—membership spikes, excitement is high, and ERG leaders are actively applying what they learned during training. It’s also the first time the structure built during Infancy is put to the test.

This stage typically lasts about six months. It’s an intense period where momentum builds quickly—but can just as quickly begin to break down without consistent reinforcement. This is the second heaviest lift for ERG Program Managers, and how it’s handled will either stabilize the program or send it into a cycle of confusion and burnout.

ERG Leaders: Focus on Consistency Over Creativity

The primary focus for ERG leaders during Early Adolescence is execution with consistency. This is not yet the time for innovation or reinvention. It’s about practicing the fundamentals: following the planning process, staying within scope, using the templates and resources provided, and building confidence through repetition.

ERG leaders will start fielding more member requests, ideas, and suggestions. Without strong grounding, it’s easy to get pulled in too many directions. But if Infancy was handled well, they should already have a clear understanding of their role, the limits of their scope, and the process to follow. That clarity is what makes this phase manageable—even as engagement and expectations increase.

ERG Program Managers: Reinforce, Don’t Rebuild

In this phase, the ERG Program Manager becomes less of a builder and more of a reinforcer. Your job is to hold the line—not to redesign the structure, but to keep bringing ERG leaders back to it.

That includes:

• Referencing the ERG handbook often, as the source of truth
• Recognizing when leaders follow best practices—not just when they deliver results
• Sharing metric updates consistently across all ERGs to normalize performance reflection
• Calling in leaders early when they begin to stray outside their scope

This is also an opportunity to build shared momentum across your program. Some PMs choose to host a program-wide kickoff session that celebrates each ERG, reinforces the framework, and generates visibility through internal comms and engagement campaigns.

Input Metrics and Checkpoints

A meaningful milestone for this phase is hitting 75% of your program’s input metrics—a sign that leaders are taking action in alignment with their role expectations. It shows that your structure is working, your leaders are engaging, and the foundation is being reinforced in real time.

But progress doesn’t mean it’s time to step back. Not yet. Early Adolescence requires ongoing review and iteration. This is the phase of feedback loops, not full overhauls. If something isn’t working, adjust—but keep the structure in place. You’re not building a new house. You’re tightening the bolts.

The ERG program is officially moving—but like a toddler learning to walk, it still stumbles. Early Adolescence is about staying close without holding on, reinforcing the framework you built, and letting repetition build rhythm. The program is growing fast. Your job is to make sure it grows in the right direction.

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