Which Networking Group is Best For You?
We’ve all had those moments when we’ve been invited by a friend to a networking event or group and once we got there, immediately thought, “Oh dang this is horrible”.
Maybe the venue is crappy, the food is terrible, or the small talk is extra bad. Maybe it’s too formal, and the people too pushy! You know, where someone tries to sell you a membership that you have zero interest in on the spot and are thrusting themselves into your inbox the same day asking when you’ll be back. Or perhaps the flow of the event just doesn’t suit your style…
Sound familiar? Sure! We’ve all been there… wishing with every fibre of our being that there was a way we could be teleported out!
But as we’re stood there hating life, what we must remember is that it’s not networking that’s the problem. IT’S THE GROUP! We’re simply at the wrong one!
Connecting with the right people isn’t easy when you don’t know where to find them!
So how do I know where to find the right networking group for me? Which one am I going to vibe with best?
Good question! Well, if you don’t have a lot of spare time, (which let’s face it none of us do) and need to find the right networking groups, then firstly you need to understand the different types…
I like to categorise Networking in 2 groups:
1. Traditional Networking Groups
2. Non-traditional Networking Groups
When you venture out into the world of networking, you’re typically faced with the “traditional” groups. You know the ones I’m talking about...people dressed uber smart, you’re handed a name badge, some sparkling water, and you’re thrown head first into a group of mostly strangers. (You’ll see why I say mostly later on).
Traditional Networking Groups
Within this “traditional” bracket we have 4 types. Let’s break this down further…
1. Casual Groups - I’m talking Chamber of Commerce. Informal and super friendly. Usually, these groups are packed to the brim with A LOT of people from the same industry, so the competition for business is always higher. But nevertheless, it’s an easy-going place to be. Penguins and Lone Wolves do well in these types of groups….. (If you’ve suddenly got no clue what I’m talking about right now, don’t worry I haven’t got all Nat Geo on you! Check out my Blog: What type of Networker are you?
Every city these days seems to have a Chamber of Commerce group, but joining them comes at a cost. The price is based on your business size so I highly recommend speaking with a Relationship Manager to explore this option further as they can be sure to open the right doors for you.
2. Referral Groups - Okay next up is our Referral groups and I mean it when I say in the world of networking, we’re talking hardcore. Le Tip, BNI, the groups with real structure! Sometimes even on an international scale. Typically, these groups only allow one person per profession in. It’s super strict! And you tend to be measured on your performance for how many referrals you give, as well as how many new members you bring to the party. There’s even attendance requirements and you’re asked to take on committee roles. It’s a whole lot of fun but it sure isn’t for the faint hearted. Bees and Sharks thrive in these groups but it can be daunting and challenging for any first timers.
3. Non-Profit – Kiwanis, Rotary, Soroptimist, Boys and Girls Clubs...with these kinds of groups the service is always at the center, and the business side of things very much takes a back seat. Fees to join are often on an annual basis but they aren’t terribly high. It’s a place where Bees, Penguins, and Lone Wolves all do well. Definitely something worth considering for sure
4. Industry Specific - and finally, our industry specific networking groups. Comprising the perfect blend of Trade Shows, Conferences, Workshops, Internal Gatherings and Trainings, these events tend to feel more within our comfort zone. You aren’t just meeting strangers here (remember what I said earlier on), your industry is tight. You’re engaging with familiar faces, maybe even old faces, and you’re sharing visions and developing ideas to push key topics within your industry to the forefront.
I recommend that when you try out any of the traditional groups that you explore at least 5-7 different ones before you make a decision on officially joining. Why? Well, think of it this way… You’re gona be investing A LOT of time there! So, do your research! You wouldn’t land a new job having never researched the company beforehand! (At least I hope not!) So, the same applies here!
Now let’s get into my favorite… Non-traditional Networking
Non-traditional Networking, as the name suggests is pretty open ended, and as such falls into several buckets…
From my experience, one of the best Non-traditional Networking groups you can get into is an Interests based group. This is where your interest takes center stage and the networking comes second, to the point you don’t even know it’s happening, which in my opinion is how it should always feel. The shared interest could be anything from:
1. Cycling
2. Music / Being in a Band
3. Yoga
4. Cross Fit
5. Golf…. You name it. The list really is endless!
Often, people in these groups shy away from weaving in their goals when conversing with someone at these events which is CRAZY because in my mind it’s the PERFECT time!
When you connect and form relationships on a shared interest, the awkwardness of finding common ground has already been eliminated. You’ve literally given yourself the queue jump to nurture those conversations and steering them in a direction that totally aligns with your goals.
The trick however, is just talking about what you want to accomplish while you are doing said interest. Rather that completely moving it off topic!
For example,
I like CrossFit and in a conversation with one of my friends who also shares a love for CrossFit, she said she was looking for a car. So, I hooked her up with my friend who's a car broker. I saved her time, money and a whole lot of hassle than she would have had doing it all herself.
This discovery could have been anything... but no matter what it was, I made a conscious decision to use our common interest to create a space where we could network naturally, to the point it didn’t feel like networking at all. I simply helped her! And THAT’s the beauty of it.
Another place where non-traditional networking can be found is on Social Media. Connecting with people through DMs on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. The art of networking via social media is a whole blog piece in itself which I promise we’ll work on next, but for now let me just say whilst this can be a really great tool in your networking arsenal, there is a right and wrong way to do this - so be careful.
Dormant Ties, our last in the non-traditional bucket that we’ll be exploring in this blog. This is where the REAL action takes place. Dormant Ties refer to the people that we used to talk to but for some reason or another we lost touch. Maybe it was a relocation or a new job change. Nothing necessarily went wrong in your relationship...you just haven’t spoken to them in a really long time. Now’s the time to pick back up where you left off :-)
So that’s the run down - which type of Networking fits best with you?
Don’t know which one fits with you and your business? Let’s hop on a 15 min networking strategy call and sort it out. Booking link is here.