Before You Join A Networking Group…

Written by Mike Shapiro | | October 13, 2015

Your good friend invites you to join a networking group.  You don’t want to hurt his feelings, so you agree to go to a meeting as his guest.

So make the most of your time! Don’t just go there, introduce yourself around and hand out business cards.  You’ll probably be asked to join and you want to be ready with an answer. Remember, this is a time commitment, and you should make a conscious decision whether you’re likely to benefit.  Ask yourself some questions before, during and after the meeting:

  1. Have you found conversations with this friend to be a source of useful ideas? You don’t know the other people, but you know him.  Have your interactions yielded ideas that have been helpful to your business, or is he just a buddy?
  2. How long has the group been in existence?  If it’s been around awhile, chances are at least some of these folks are getting something out of it.  Is it more than camaraderie?
  3. Is there a cost for membership?  If so, is it in line with fees for other groups? If it’s more than the cost of the breakfast or lunch, where does the rest of the money go? What do you get besides networking, which could be free if you formed an informal group that meets for coffee or joined an online conversation.
  4. Ask members to tell you one thing they’ve accomplished in their business they can attribute to membership in the group.  Ask for something specific. Don’t just ask whether they’ve “found it worthwhile.”
  5. Ask them what you should know/consider in making your decision about joining.  Asking people to put themselves in the shoes of someone on the threshold of joining helps them help you.
  6. Do you like being with these people? Does it feel right? Do they pass your Doorway Test?  If you find you connect with one or two, can you continue the conversation afterward in a one-on-one.
  7. Can you see yourself adding value to the discussion?  It’s not just about how you benefit, but about what you have to offer others.
  8. If they’re promising more than networking, apply a reality check to your expectations.  What kind of business help are you looking for? Some groups offer business discussions facilitated by a Chair.  That model is based on the assumption that the best way to get real insights about the challenges you’re facing is to interact with other people facing similar challenges. That may or may not be true.  People who do what you do are often stuck on the same things you are.

Whether or not you decide to join, it’s a good exercise to check out these groups.  You’ll get closer to determining what you’re looking for, how much of that you’re likely to find in conversations with others like you and how much you’ll have to look for somewhere else.