Being part of a professional community can greatly benefit you on a personal and professional level, and today I’d like to explain why this is the case.
Looking for a Career Move? Start Here
Looking for Your Next Employee? Contact us
We all have friends and coworkers within our own company, but what about the connections we’ve made within the industry? These connections, which we can draw upon to improve ourselves both personally and professionally, are what I’d like to challenge you to reflect on today.
I was recently reminded how important professional communities are while attending a Pinnacle Society conference. This society is comprised of a group of highly successful industry leaders who have been vetted for industry excellence, experience, and expertise. Personally, I find tremendous value in my affiliation with this group, as the society’s members occupy several niches throughout the recruiting universe.
Professional communities exist at the national level through trade associations and other groups within virtually every industry, but they’re also important on the local level.
You can’t run a business in a vacuum. Local networking groups like BNI or neighborhood associations like the Rodeo Drive Committee in Beverly Hills are two examples of such organizations. There are also national organizations with local chapters, like Rotary International or Toastmasters. Groups like this serve to gather local professionals, but may also have a mission relating to local service or improving professional skills.
“
You should always strive to surround yourself with
people who are more advanced in their career.
”
Using what others are doing to be successful and learning best practices will allow you to benchmark your performance against others. In addition, these communities can help you answer questions, solve problems, and gain motivation. Being surrounded by other high performers will not only supplement your ambition, but it will also help you broaden your network.
And if you’re able to take a leadership role within one of these organizations, that’s even better. You should always strive to surround yourself with people who are more advanced in their career because these role models will provide valuable insight and motivation. It’s easy to become inwardly focused, so seeking out outside perspectives is essential.
If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.