My very first blog post on February 8, 2009 featured this same image and it is only fitting that my first post of 2010 do likewise. More importantly, the topic of this entry is the “Evolution of Face-to-Face Networking Groups”. The times, they are a changing.
If you have previously been to this site, you will know that I am a huge proponent of all forms of business networking and actually run B2B networking groups as a business. We began with one group in November 2007, added another in the last quarter of 2009, and launched our third group at the beginning of this year. I am planning at least one extra group for this year and will then decide whether to continue the expansion. Only so much “Craig” to go around.
What we do at NetWorks! Boise is traditional face-to-face networking. Every networking or leads group that I have ever been involved in does pretty much the same thing: share leads, get to know each other, network. What makes us different is that we do everything better. Way better. Our members are more committed. The quality and quantity of our leads are better. We use technologies that I have never seen introduced into any networking group environment. Our dues are double what the average group charges yet, we have over 10 member companies who have insisted that they need to be represented in more than one of our groups. I would guess that what we do … works.
Still, we always strive to be better. Technology plays a huge role in these efforts and that would include our use of a web-based CRM, dedicated group websites, and the employment of social media tools like Twitter, FaceBook, and LinkedIn to push member and group information out to the public. As these technologies continue to improve, what effect does that have, if any, on the evolution of the traditional face-to-face networking group? Are not FaceBook and LinkedIn, in reality, actually virtual networking groups? I’d have to say “yes”. Do they replace face-to-face networking? While some may think that they do, I would argue strongly that they do not. Relationships are developed face-to-face. Like everything else, that may change. For now at least, I consider this to be a universal truth.
What started me thinking heavily about all of this is the fact that my two more established networking groups have two entirely different and distinct personalities. The older of the two, “Bing!”, is everything you will find in a traditional networking group but one that has been juiced up on heavy does of steroids. This group is very strong on business intelligence (information is power) and has close to 3,000 leads in its CRM database. My second group, “Business Minds”, focuses entirely on relationships and flat refuses to write information down so that I can update that to their CRM. They see little value in what I would consider a networking group staple. What is up with that!!?? (smile).
In retrospect, I saw this coming but blew off any concerns that I might have had. When I was first approached about starting this group I was told .. “But, we can’t call it a leads group”. “Okay, then, what is it?” Seems to me that, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s probably… a duck. Furthermore, as I have a strong personality and am typically able to convince, or even manipulate, others to coming around to my way of thinking, I did not see this as an insurmountable challenge. However, I severely underestimated the fact that there are 20 of them and only one of me and that they are just as stubborn about refusing to conform to my will. I have whined, cajoled, scolded, sold, pleaded, and begged and have done all of these without achieving anything even close to my desired results. In fact, the more I do it, the worse they get. Bummer (smile).
This has caused me great consternation. I have a very strong belief that I know what it takes to make these groups work. “Business Minds” is running counter to this belief. My biggest concern has been that the members are not getting out of the group what I envision that they should be getting. And, there lies the answer. My perception of what works and their perception of the same is entirely different. And, frankly, it is their group. If they are perfectly satisfied, and I am told that they are, why would I want to change that? Maybe because I am…. an idiot (smile).
I have come to view this situation as a huge personal growth opportunity for me. I have always had difficulty with managing my expectations for both myself and of others. This forces me to address these challenges more directly. I will become more the listener and the learner and less the talker and the persuader. Is not the most important aspect of any networking effort the development of relationships that lead directly to personal introductions and referrals? Yes, it is. A warm call still beats a cold call but taking me and introducing me to your best client still trumps all other hands.
I continue to believe that business intelligence leads and relationship building are not mutually exclusive. What I need to do is figure out a way to do both and to make some determinations of how best to facilitate each activity. As previously stated, relationships are face-to-face. Business intelligence is really nothing more than data. Our weekly meetings are face-to-face and we already use technology to store data. What we need is better technology that will facilitate collaboration on-line amongst our members. Presently, we utilize no less than 5 different technology platforms to accomplish our goals. They do work but they can be cumbersome. As I was the one who researched, adopted, and adapted all of them … I am pretty comfortable in using them. Our members, I know, are not. But, hey, they are the best available low cost solutions that are out there that I have been able to find that will fulfill our needs. What we really need is one platform that combines all of our tools in an easy-to-use format. Is it out there already? Maybe. I continue to search. Perhaps I won’t have to look too far but that, my friends, will hopefully be the topic of another post (smile).
Thanks for visiting! Goodbye 2009. Hello, and thank God, for 2010!
Craig
