What Makes a Networking Group Valuable?

Networking is a valuable skill, not only for small business owners but also for individuals seeking to grow personally and professionally. But what makes a networking group valuable?

Let’s dive into a round of a guessing game!

So, here’s the question: Which amazing actress brought the iconic character Katniss Everdeen to life in “The Hunger Games” series? 

Need a little more hint? Well, she also rocked the role of Mystique in the X-Men movies and snagged an Oscar for her incredible performance in “Silver Linings Playbook” back in 2012.

If you guessed Jennifer Lawrence, you’re absolutely right!

She won the Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild Award and the Academy Award for Best Actress, becoming the second-youngest Best Actress Oscar winner at only age 22.

But what I love the most about Jennifer Lawrence is that most of her success can be attributed to her networking.

Picture this: She was once at a party, feeling a tad nervous, when she spotted none other than Hollywood heavyweight Harvey Weinstein. 

Now, instead of letting those butterflies get the best of her, Jennifer took a deep breath, walked up, and introduced herself. She even managed to gush about how much she admired his work and dreamed of collaborating someday.

Harvey was so blown away by her confidence and sincerity that he took note of her and recommended her for a lead role in the indie film “Winter’s Bone.” Lawrence’s standout performance in the film garnered critical acclaim and earned her an Academy Award nomination, catapulting her to stardom. Talk about a networking win, right?

Lesson to Be Learnt

You never know who you’re seated next to. They could be the bridge to your next big win!

When done the right way, networking can lead you to such big opportunities that you almost never even imagined.

However, when you are picking a networking group, you have to pick one that is valuable for you. 

Jennifer could have attended any party that evening, but it was the particular one that she chose that placed her in front of the right person.

In the same way, as a business owner, you need to go to the right paty that serves your needs.

Here are 5 things that make a networking group valuable:

1. Good Culture
2. Diverse Expertise
3. Common Interests
4. The Right Structure
5. Impact

5 Things That Make a Networking Group Valuable

1. Good Culture

Networking can be scary! It’s never easy to join a group of people who already know each other and fit in easily.

To make this process a little easier for you, choose a networking group that has a good culture. For example, choose one that has friendly and welcoming people.

You can get to know a networking group’s culture by simply reading through the website or contacting some of the existing members. You can even contact the owner or facilitator of the group and speak to them. 

Some of the things that you can look into are the behaviours, attitudes, relationships, values, and the environment.

Here are some factors to consider:

• Size

Size matters, too! If you join a smaller, closer-knit group, you’ll likely form more intimate relationships with the people around you. A big group exposes you to the right people, but you might not have the time or capacity to form close relationships.

• Culture

Culture is also about whether they meet online or face-to-face. Both of these formats have their benefits. An online networking group saves you time, money, and energy, while a face to face networking group helps you form relationships easier.

It all depends on what you are looking for and what matters the most to you. Weigh your options and join a group that offers what you’re looking for.

2. Diverse Experiences

Going to a networking group is more than just about meeting new people. It’s also about learning and gaining new knowledge.

A networking group can open your mind up to diverse opportunities if you choose the right one.

You need to interact with people that you would not ordinarily meet outside of the networking group. Otherwise, what’s the point?

Here are a few diversity factors to look into:

• Age

There’s a lot to learn from people who are much older than you and also those who are younger than you. When choosing a networking group, make sure that they cater to all ages and have people that fill all these ages. That way, you interact with a wider range of people.

• Industry

Industry matters. If you’re a marketer, you don’t want to go to a group with marketers only. Yes, this could be valuable in that you gain more knowledge about marketing. 

But what’s even more valuable is if you’re placed in a room with marketers, artists, HR people, accountants, salespeople, coaches, and more.

3. Common Interests

Networking comes in all shapes and sizes. Your high school friends are a network. Your university friends are a network. Your colleagues are another network.

When it comes to business, you get to build a network of people who share common interests with you. It could be that you all want to grow your businesses or that you are all seeking knowledge in a particular field of business.

Whatever the case, finding a networking group with common interests is motivation to actually make the most out of the group.

Here are two ways to make sure your group has common interests:

• Do Your Research

By simply going onto their website, you can find out what a networking group stands for. You can find the values, conversations, and interests. If the information is not readily available, connect with the members on LinkedIn and strike up a conversation.

• Trial and Error

Another way to do this is through trial and error. You show up, attend the event, and decide whether it’s for you. There are so many networking groups out there, I can guarantee that you will find your perfect match!

4. Structure

A well-structured networking group is valuable to your experience. To me, that means that it enables the members to easily interact with each other and form relationships in an easy, organised way.

Whether the group is online or offline, a networking group with a good structure will be almost seamless. Sure, everyone is allowed to make mistakes. However the errors will be handled easily and quickly. The facilitator will be able to command the room and the room will be receptive to what he has to say.

Here are two things to look out for when it comes to structure:

• Easy Communication Channels

A valuable networking group has easy communication channels. It should be easy to reach the facilitator of the group and/or the members of the group.

It should also utilise online platforms and communication channels, such as a website, social media groups, or dedicated forums, to enable members to stay connected between meetings and events.

• Breakout Rooms

The best networking groups allow space for people to interact in smaller rooms. If your networking group has 100+ people, it might not be easy to speak to that many people.

But through breakout rooms, group conversations can be had and you are able to meet a much larger number of people in a shorter amount of time.

5. Impact

The right networking group has a visible impact. You can see the growth of the members from the time they joined. This growth could be in terms of grown confidence, more knowledge, expanded business or even more money.

Networking is about being selfish together, and if you are going to put your money into it, you better set some goals and make sure that you achieve them.

Here are ways that you can tell what impact a networking group has:

• Relationship Building

It’s easy to tell the quality and depth of relationships built within the networking group by observing members’ interactions, collaborations, and ongoing communication.

Strong, lasting connections forged through the group indicate a meaningful impact on members’ networking efforts and support networks.

• Check the Testimonials

Almost all, if not all networking groups will publicly display their testimonials on their websites and social media channels.

If that’s not enough, you could also check for Google Reviews to find what people have to say about it.

More often than not, people will openly speak about what they gain from these networking groups.

Summary – What Makes a Networking Group Valuable

When done right, networking is a valuable skill for every small business owner. It’s affordable, quick, and can lead to a wealth of opportunities.

Here are five things that make a networking group valuable:

1. Good Culture
2. Diverse Experiences
3. Common Interests
4. Structure
5. Impact

This month, Networking-in celebrates its sixth birthday in business. Throughout the years, we have helped people form meaningful and lasting business friendships and relationships, and we are grateful to everyone who has been a part of our journey.

Join us as we celebrate our 6th birthday at Networking-in this coming Wednesday 6th March at 7:30 am – 9 am. Peter Mols will be speaking to us about ‘Networking like a pro.’

Reserve your spot here.