What is a lead or referral sharing group? For clarification purposes, this article will reference both, as interchangeable groups. A lead or referral is a professional or business that is interested in your services because of a previous recommendation by a group member. A lead or referral sharing group is typically a fee-based membership group. Usually, made up of business professionals, that communicate with each other their business, their professional role, and their success and struggles. The application and membership process will vary based on the criteria set by the lead or referral sharing group. Generally, there will be an application, membership fee, expectation policy, and scheduled meetings. An effective lead or referral sharing group has dedicated members who routinely attend and participate in meetings. Thereby cultivating trust and fostering more opportunities to form credible esteem and long-term professional relationships within the group, encouraging quality business referrals. Brian Morris (Author for PsPrint Design & Printing Blog stated), “One of the most common pieces of wisdom more experienced business people have shared with me is that business networking is the fast track to success. It’s also one of the most commonly ignored pieces of advice.”
Whew, now that we have that out of the way. Here are the five crucial benefits.
1. Producing Esteemed Professional Partnerships and Personal Relationships
“Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” – Will Rodgers
Let's be honest; whether it's finding a soul confidante or a soul mate, it takes time and efficient effort to engineer a genuine partnership. The same standards should apply to create a soul partner. Only issuing your business card does not commonly nurture a continuing business relationship, much less a stable business referral. Skilled professionals strive to create trustworthy relationships before releasing a business referral because of their awareness that a reference will reflect on their business and their reputation. Therefore, becoming a dedicated participating member of a lead or referral sharing group will allow you to demonstrate your ingenuity to not only yourself but also group members. Your resourcefulness will assist them in recognizing your business ethic, your value to the group, and their business. It can also prompt collaborative services and products. Additionally, your efficiency will encourage your fellow members to participate and display their talents. Being proficient in your role as an active group member will inspire members to support you and your business intentions and create an eagerness regarding generating business referrals; thus, establishing reciprocity within you. Most likely, you will be surrounded by compatible personalities and share complementary intentions, which may flourish into a lifelong personal friendship.
2. Various Perspectives
“The best ideas emerge when very different perspectives meet.” – Frans Johansson
I get it; it's only natural to get engrossed in the mundane activities of your daily professional grind. This routine is why, if you are only viewing your business from your overview or the perspectives of professionals like you, you need to expand your vision. Your Referral Sharing group can offer different viewpoints and concepts to stimulate you in your professional performance better. Being your authentic self, regarding your professional toils and endeavors, will benefit your group and yourself. It will allow your group members to hear your challenges and correspond to how they may conquer a similar issue. And even if you think it may not work for you and your professional world. It may just conjure a pearl of different wisdom that you have not obtained before opening up the conversation or be useful in a later stage of your profession. Guidance and constructive criticism from qualified professional associates is invaluable. It will aid in researching specific modalities. Research certain ideas or patterns and ask for their constructive criticisms. Those qualified professional associates can help you recognize best practices and professional performances within your industry and standardized business development. Again, be reciprocal and offer your solutions and suggestions to the group when they voice their struggles. Your resourcefulness will exhibit your creativeness in your profession. And as a trusted group member, establishing your dependable character and their eagerness to provide continual support to you.
3. Personal Development
“Whether you think you can, or whether you think you can’t, you’re right!” – Henry Ford
But if you had to choose, wouldn't you prefer to think you can? The more you attend and become an active member of your group, the more you can pry yourself from your safety net. Let's face it; networking is not the most effortless ability for most professionals. Through means of repetition and being uncomfortable, you will increase your teachability index and place yourself in the learning state. You will be able to seamlessly introduce yourself to new professionals in different professional and social settings. This practice will serve you in experimentation with variations of your introduction and market research because realistically, one size rarely fits all. Therefore the more you attend and participate, the more you will learn and thrive into the professional who will exude confidence and have genuine conversations with an invaluable lasting impression.
4. Career Advancement
“All progress takes place outside the comfort zone” – Unknown
Career advancement is an integral part of the expansion of any professional. Being dedicated to the group and illustrating regular attendance to professional and social events will benefit you in your group and within your professional career. It will demonstrate your supportiveness and loyalty within the group and reinforce your recognition with your fellow industry professionals. You can utilize these attendances in your interviews, resume building, and online portfolio. Being a more reliable member of the group will afford you to establish endorsed vendors for your business. Which will facilitate the convenience of both time and cost-effectiveness, as the business owner, or encourage notoriety as a trusted professional who is financially capable of their business' needs. By maturing these relationships as an industry expert, you can raise your company profile by your dedication, loyalty, and overall professional courtesy. Jules White (Business Development Specialist), expresses”...joining a networking group means that you get your company noticed. If you are committed to developing relationships, group members will remember you and mention your company name to their friends and other network associates.”
5. Finding the Career or Niche You Love
“Doing what you love is freedom. Loving what you do is happiness” – Lana Del Ray
Most likely, you are not psychic, and you do not know what professional opportunities await, or perhaps you may desire or require in your future. It is the sheer magnificence of increasing your contacts, which can contribute to fresh opportunities for a career change if wanted or needed. Being a proactive participant within your group can advocate you as an ideal candidate for an employment opening. Additionally, your attentiveness could gather ideas regarding a distinct imperfection within your industry that you could resolve.
What are some benefits you would like to share?