Love them or loath them, rules help us to get value from our business networking groups.
Some networkers thrive in highly structured business networking groups with strict rules, targets and accountability. Others find that too many rules can stifle genuine connection and make networking feel forced.
So, what actually works best? And is it possible to create business networking groups that are both structured and enjoyable—without losing authenticity or results?
Let’s take a closer look…
How rules impact Business Networking Groups
Rules definitely assist in creating fairness, efficiency and strong levels of accountability, but when they are taken to the extreme, it can lead to a ‘transactional’ culture.
We all know about the networking groups that take rules really seriously. They even have sanctions if you don’t “do as you’re told!” But lots of people love it and get great result, so rules certainly give them confidence in the process.
Everyone knows where they stand with a strong and prescriptive approach and it keeps members focused on what’s expected of them, including setting targets for attendance, guest inviting and referrals. Results are often measured and tracked by the group and top performers are celebrated. But it can be demotivating for those that are feeling the pressure.
Agendas also tend to be run as a tight ship, including time limits on pitching, and they offer differing experiences for members versus guests. Structured networking groups usually have rules around industry exclusivity and only allow guests to attend for 1 or 2 meetings unless they commit to a membership.
Attendance quotas are taken very seriously, with members expected to attend or send someone in their place to every meeting. This is great for keeping the quality and consistency of the group in check, but can put excessive pressure on already busy people.
While it seems a bit austere, if you have a very competitive spirit, you are likely to do well within a more prescriptive system and find the rules and structure reassuring, rather than stressful. Certainly there are many large organisations operating this way very successfully and many happy networkers in their communities.
Do Strict Rules Improve Networking Results—or Create Pressure?
Rules might create structure, but what happens if you are more of a ‘free spirit’ and don’t respond well to being told what to do?!
Networking is a very ‘human’ activity and you need to provide enough space for friendship and connection to flourish for sustainable relationships to be built.
If the environment is too forced, and the focus becomes primarily on data and ticking boxes, it will effectively kill the authenticity between members making the whole experience become cold and transactional.
While having quotas does definitely work, it quickly becomes the main focus, as people struggle to ensure they delivering on expectations.
And the problem with referral quotas is that people often find themselves scrabbling around for ‘tit bits’ rather than allowing for higher quality opportunities to develop more naturally.
Good quality, sustainable relationships need time and space to build Trust before the referrals and growth opportunities start to arrive. Trust means that we believe someone to be credible AND reliable. So, it’s not something that can be rushed.
No amount of pressures and targets will change that, and if you’re not careful, you’ll end up with a diluted transactional approach and stressed out people desperate to tick all of their boxes!
But of course, if people are paying for a membership of a business networking group, they have expectations of service levels and professional standards, so your group must be focused on accountability and delivering results.
The good news is that there is another way…
Finding the Balance in Business Networking Groups
Many networking groups opt for the idea of simply diluting the strict rules of more austere models, thinking that this will release some of the pressure.
But actually all it does it reduce the levels of accountability, without filling the gap with something productive.
There is no getting away from the fact that groups with strict rules do deliver!
At The Growth Community we think we’ve created the happy medium.
We don’t do rules… we do value systems.
A Different Approach: Value-Driven Networking Without Strict Rules
Our meeting agenda is designed specifically to resonate with people who share our value system and work ethic, and we allow people to select themselves to be part of our community – rather than the heavy handed selling of memberships that is common with most other structured groups.
Not everyone is right for our community, so there is no point selling memberships to people who aren’t going to stay and thrive with us.
Everyone is invited to attend our meetings as a guest for free up to six times per calendar year. There are no membership pressures or expectations.
Our networking meeting agenda is structured to ensure that everyone has a fair and equitable experience and leaves with purposeful expectations.
We don’t ‘force’ our members to follow a set of rules. They are simply invited to be their authentic selves and to recognise the importance of maintaining Trust levels if they want a return on their networking.
All new members of The Growth Community receive a thorough induction, which makes certain that everyone has the same levels of knowledge and expectation, and that they understand the dynamics of gaining success in a structured networking group.
We recognise the difference between simple introductions and high quality referrals and our members pass them naturally through #WorkingTogether in many different ways.
Our six weekly member-only meetings foster excellent levels of accountability through members having space to talk about what’s going well in their business, what’s challenging them and what goals they are working on that other members can support them with. Having time outside of the usual networking room, builds stronger friendships and ultimately better referrals in the long run.
We leave it up to our members to measure their own success based on their own networking goals. And we offer support in achieving them if they need it.
Our members recognise that success from their networking time isn’t just about the amount of money they’ve gained in referrals but all the knowledge and experience they’ve tapped into that has made them profitable in many other ways.
We reinforce our value system through various initiatives like Member of the Month and an Annual Awards event to recognise people who are living and breathing our values and going the extra mile for other community members. This creates some ‘healthy’ competition, reminds people what we are all about and keeps accountability on track.
The value system is what makes it work
Our members are:
Growth minded people who genuinely love helping others to be successful.
They are highly collaborative and love #WorkingTogether in many different ways.
They do what they say they are going to do.
Freely share their knowledge, support and experience.
They say thank you and appreciate what people do to help them.
Attracting the right people onto the bus means that we don’t have to hold people down with prescriptive rules and regulations. They do it because they want to.
It might sound utopic, but it actually does work.
Structure is necessary for business networking groups. But too many rules stifle the natural connections that happen between people who share a similar approach to business…
Do Business Networking Groups Really Need Rules?
Well it depends on who you’re working with.
If you attract a subset of people with a work ethic and value system that matches yours, then a simple framework of conduct should just do the job.
But if you enjoy the security and have greater confidence in a more structured and driven organisation then that’s the right option for you too.
The important thing is to enjoy your networking and feel positive about the results you gain from it.
Want To Try One Of Our Relaxed But Purposeful Business Networking Groups?
Have a look on our locations page and find a business networking group near you. We pride ourselves on our friendly and welcoming approach – no pressure – just good conversations and opportunities to work together with people who are genuinely interested in your business growth journey. AND you can visit up to SIX times per calendar year, free of charge.
Further Resources
Why not have a read of some of our other blogs in our library.
Identify the right networking format for you
Decide if networking groups are worth the effort
How to get the most out of your 121s
Ways you can build trust with your connections
Learn more about Growth Community member only meetings
Why member only meetings add value to membership
Try some Growth Community relaxed but very purposeful networking?
Find a location that suits you. And don’t forget you can visit us up to SIX time a year for free!
Small Business Podcast
or if you are looking to expand on your small business knowledge then check out the Everyday’s A Business School Day Podcast.
