When you’re at work, have you ever wanted to meet people who can really relate to your own situation outside of your immediate circle of friends? You may be just starting out your very first job. You may be a working mother, or a “young” Baby Boomer, struggling with caregiving responsibilities at home. You may be working from home on a full-time basis and miss the daily interactions of colleagues at work. Or, you may feel that you’re the only Latino or African American in the office.

Here’s the great news. You’re not alone. There are individuals like you who are active at work in what many companies call employee resource groups (ERGs), designed to help you connect with, and learn from, others who are going through a similar experience. They focused on Latinos or Asians or Women, or Gen Y or Gen X or Baby Boomers, or Gay/Lesbian, and many others. You are in good company.

What’s an ERG, you ask? It is a company-supported and employee-managed team comprised of employees who share an affinity, a common background, or a similar set of experiences who work together to promote each other's development while identifying opportunities that support a company’s  goals. These groups serve their members by providing a forum to network, develop personally and professionally, identify issues of concern and ways to solve them, and provide mutual support.

Does this promote segregation among different groups, you ask? It most certainly does not, as long as membership remains open to all employees, regardless of the employees' backgrounds. This means, for example, that an employee doesn't have to be Latino to join the Latino group. Thus, ERGs also offer an opportunity for employees to learn and better appreciate the background of employees who may be different than their own.

ERGs are increasingly being used to strategically advance business goals by using members' ideas for marketing campaigns, targeting fast-growing markets, and as a means of strengthening the company's ability to attract, develop, and retain the best talent. Because they often work with the local communities, they also help to enhance the company's brand image.

Want to join an ERG? There is very good chance that there are a number of them to choose from in your office. Join one of them. If none exists that meets your needs, ask around. You may be able to start one yourself, and in the process you will meet new, talented people while demonstrating your leadership skills to everyone around you.

New research by the University of British Columbia confirms the link between happiness and generosity. The study shows that individuals who give to friends regularly or make charitable contributions are more fulfilled than those who don’t. This is something that different faiths around the world have known for a long time. Money can indeed buy happiness, but only if you don’t keep it all for yourself.

Whether you are giving of your time to mentor a person, taking the time to buy a cup of coffee for a colleague, or writing a check for your favorite non-profit organization, you’re creating a sense of fulfillment that is hard to replicate. Your thoughtful gesture is likely to be appreciated by those around you.

This practice is similar to building a personal network – the more you give, the happier you will be.  I have never met anyone who has built a strong network by regularly asking for support from members without making himself available to help as well. The network will ultimately chide away from the ones who repeatedly ask for favors but do not give.

To be successful you first have to build a sound infrastructure based on your own reputation for giving.  Luke Visconti, DiversityInc’s co-founder and partner, and Charles P. Garcia, senior managing director for Hispanic Capital Markets Group, are exceptional individuals who understand the importance of giving. They are successful, have strong and growing networks, give selflessly, and are on stand-by to help, virtually 24/7. As Charlie says: “You can’t achieve your full potential or maximize your network’s potential if you don’t give freely. Further, you must make yourself available to your network.”

It is by giving freely and selflessly that a personal network is strengthened and success is achieved. Quoting David Rodriguez, Chief Lending Officer of Ponce de Leon Federal Bank, the best way to share is giving t-cubed – giving your time, talent, treasure.

What will be your excuse for not giving? Is it one of the ones listed below?

—      80% say job demands left them no time

—      79% say they had no excess income to give

—      70% say family commitments consumed their extra time

It is likely that you are challenged to find a balance between your professional demands and your personal time. At night, when everything is quiet at home, I try to catch up with my e-mails. As I suspect you’ve experienced, I respond to one e-mail and one more comes in. There’s no catching up. There will never be a perfect time to give time. Today is your day.

The gift of time is your most valuable gift. If you’re interested in building your network, offer your time to your network.  They will be glad you did (and you will, too). Without giving your time, you’re not likely to experience strong personal growth. Without giving, you will not be as fulfilled as you should be and, for certain, you will not grow your network.

Giving isn’t as hard as you might think. It could be as simple as promptly answering an e-mail. Little things often mean more than the big actions (remember, there are many more of them). It could be returning that phone call, writing a recommendation, making a referral, forwarding an email with a unique message, sharing a job opportunity, or exploring a business venture.

When was the last time you reached out to someone in your network to offer your assistance or support?  The mere gesture of asking will differentiate you as not many people do this. You can send a congratulatory note expressing joy or reach out to share someone’s grief. These actions let them know that you care. An e-card works well too for most people. A real card works even better. You will make their day – and in doing so, they will make yours. Give a little, selflessly; most likely you’ll get back a lot.