Joining a business networking group can be an excellent move in making strong relationships with like-minded professionals and providing yourself a means of continuous referrals. It really can be a valuable and fulfilling experience. If you can find the right group and participate accordingly, you may wonder why you had not become involved sooner.
The "Right" group would consist of real professionals who engage in real professional behavior. In other words, a great networking group is one that interacts in a warm manner but keeps professionalism alive at all times. This is a vital element if a group is to survive for any great length of time.
A few reasons why this is so important;
- As potential new members visit the group and are considering joining, the professionalism aspect will show through very strongly. Serious business people love this kind of atmosphere because it could prove productive and profitable for them.
- When professionalism is kept in mind, all of the groups activities will reflect it. A professional business networking group doesn't deviate or take detours from its primary objectives. When a group begins to practice activities that aren't consistent with its original purpose, it could be a sign of a lack of focus and could begin to fall apart.
Some may say that there is a fine line between business dialogue or general business interactions and that of more personal exchanges in communication. This is true to a large extent but nevertheless, there is a line. Sometimes things can happen when people begin to get very comfortable around one another.
Personal issues can make their way up to the surface and into what is supposed to be business speak intended to grow and improve careers. It can be a subtle merging and blind side the very integrity of the group. An example, is when someone in the group is perhaps going through a difficult divorce. This is a highly emotional experience and the individual can lose perspective and discuss such things openly.
When such things are brought to the surface, it causes the other members of the group to be affected because they are naturally empathetic human beings and want to show their sympathy as well as help. This is amicable on their part as real people but directly contradicts the purpose of the group and its objectives.
If such behavior is left unattended for too long, a pattern could develop and the productivity of the group will lessen until its ultimate failure. This is not to suggest being non-caring or cold but keeping the focus on appropriate activities could mean the survival of the group.
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