On Networking Groups (Part Two)

The conversation that has been going on in the comments of the post, “On Networking Groups” got me thinking about something. What would it take for someone who doesn’t feel like they have anything at all to offer a networking group to get over their fears and try one of these groups? Sometimes you just need to know that you can succeed before you can start succeeding.

This is a follow-up blog post on how networking groups work and what benefits there are from joining one. In part two, I will talk about some more reasons why people may be hesitant to join a networking group, as well as ways that these fears could be overcome.

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In this part of the series, I am going to cover 3 main concerns that come up when trying to join a networking group: why certain people are in the group, what happens when you join and what happens after you join.

Identifying Networking Groups

First and foremost, there are different types of groups. According to the Harvard Business Review , "There can be many different motives for joining a group, but it is important to understand their individual roles in the organization's campaigns and issues." There are two types of groups: The superficial variety is where everyone crams into a room together and talks about whoever is willing to talk. This is the group that feels different every week, has speakers and probably everyone knows everyone.  The second variety is more organized and structured. In these groups, there are certain issues that are being dealt with in a more formal and professional manner. The individuals who attend these types of groups will represent themselves in a more professional manner.

This brings us to our next point: Who goes to networking groups? There are four types of people that are represented at networking events:

1) People who want to control the group agenda or drive out competition - They don't want new people coming in and changing the group because they think it will hurt their image or they don't want new people driving business away from them.  2) The people there to play the game - These are the people who don't really care about what they are doing and just want to network. They may be in it for the perceived benefit, but their goal isn't really clear. These people are often self-serving and as a result, they don't always represent themselves well. 3) Those who want to help others succeed - These individuals welcome newcomers because of the potential that they could be very successful.  4) People who are genuinely interested in issues related to the group - This is where you will find individuals that aren't there for any other reason than giving back and helping others learn. These people are usually there because of the issues that they want to learn more about.

Now that we know who goes to networking groups and why, let's talk about what happens when you join a group.

Joining a Networking Group

You will be welcomed by the members of the group and feel as though you belong right away. It's really no different than joining any other social community - you have to be open and let others accept you. You will have to go through an initiation process just like any other social network - people will ask questions, get to know you and see how well you can represent yourself. If they like what they see, they will invite you back next week or to another event in the future.

It's an uncomfortable feeling to walk into a group for the first time and not know anyone. What's more uncomfortable is walking into a room and realizing that there are people there who know each other, but don't know you and you're all strangers. This is the moment where you have to determine if it will be easy to get along with these people or if they are going to be too stuck up for their own good.

This common fear is one of the many reasons why some people won't join a formal networking group. On top of that, they may have social anxiety or have never really been around groups of people before. For some people, it may feel like walking into a room full of people and not being able to decide who is going to be your friend. You may have already decided in your mind that you will do just fine on your own, but when you walk in there are going to be about 30 other people around - some of whom know each other and have been talking about you. This can be a very uncomfortable feeling for many people.

The thing about networking groups is that the reason for a group will determine the way it works. For example, if you are in a group that wants to introduce new technologies into the workplace, then it will operate differently than if you are in a group that cares more about helping others succeed with their business.

In some groups, like the technology group mentioned above, you will be there to help each other out. They could have a speaker come in and talk about the new technologies at hand, but it would be extremely difficult for anyone to present their business or product.

Another way that networking groups operate is when everyone within the group does one presentation about whatever they want. This makes everyone feel equal because everyone gets to speak and say what they need to say, regardless of whether or not they are an expert on the subject. In a lot of cases, these presentations can be all over the place which can lead to problems if there isn't really anything to tie them together.

After you have joined a networking group, you will start to see where the leaders of the group come from and what their strengths and weaknesses are. Some groups are run by people that really aren't that experienced in business or in life, so they will rely heavily on what everyone else says to do their research - this can be very time consuming and actually does a huge disservice to everyone else who is giving information. In other groups, there are more motivated individuals that will take charge of everything and make sure things run smoothly.

In addition, after joining a group all of your ideas become important because they can be used by others within the group. Your ideas will influence others and could become the catalyst for someone else's success.

In general, networking groups are a valuable resource and can help you with your business in more ways than you can imagine. Just be careful about which group you choose to join, because there are many out there that aren't that good. The main thing to remember is that anyone can be a leader or an expert, but it all depends on what they have to say, along with how well they present it.

Conclusion

In this article, we've looked at how networking groups work and why they are a valuable resource for business owners. Going to these groups and talking to people is a great way to know what is out there, which is always important for any type of business. There are some people that think it's a waste of time and money to participate in a group, but if you find the right group it can be a very rewarding thing. For those who are skeptical about joining groups, remember that no one is going anywhere - everyone plans on being part of the group in the future. Even if you have never been part of one before, take the plunge because there will be people out there that need you; your help or your product.