In any profession it is essential that local professionals work to achieve The Three C's - connect, collaborate and conquer. We are stronger together and no one knows that better than either those who are connected with a caring community of like minded professionals or those who are pulling their hair out trying to figure it all out on their own. Through founding and facilitating the Eugene, Oregon based Local Facilities Manager's Connection (LFMC) we have had the pleasure of connecting with local professionals, collaborating with industry leaders such as FM World / BIFM (see article) and working to combine these resources to conquer in our respective roles. Take a peek at this article published in the FM World Magazine in April of 2017 which grabs some lessons learned as well as best practices from criminal justice and applies those to facilities management - A Bit of RNR: What FM Can Learn From Probation.
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Often networking meetings follow a strict format of allowing for a few minutes for interaction, smash in a business pitch for the sponsors, hit everyone with a lengthy lecture style presentation, perhaps squeeze in one more pitch and then disperse. Business networking in this sense is very similar to church, get in and get out while speaking to as few people as possible, meanwhile the power of connection and collaboration is never harvested from the gathering. Lectures from professionals can provide a level of exposure to information that attendees might otherwise have had access to, which is a positive addition, but with so little time created for interaction to build trust, relationships or engagement the potential often flat lines. Our communities, personal and professional, are rich with individuals who have years of experience that compliment our areas of inexperience if only we would take the time to connect. Networking meetings are a medium where attendees have set aside time from their busy schedules to participate and it would be a great benefit to all parties if more of an emphasis was placed on connection and collaboration at the community level. We have been working to build a peer to peer network for local facilities, maintenance and risk professionals which we call Local Facilities Manager's Connection (LFMC). In many ways we are breaking all the trends as we do not charge members to participate, members host at their locations to minimize costs and our primary focus is centered around discussion of a relevant topic to connect our industry peers and enable collaboration of ideas as well as resources in our community. You can read more about the LFMC network in our article featured in Facility Executive HERE and check the group out through their website - localfacilities.com. How have you been working to create connection and collaboration in your community? How does one network is the wrong question. In fact, its a dumb question that will lead to many hours spent chasing rooms full of hollow people gathered for free coffee and stale donuts (Exhibit A). How does one find and/or start a gathering of professionals that will generate mutually beneficial relationships? This is the right question or at least a question that will lead to better results that that other stupid question that you started with. What do you do if you have an Exhibit A mentality but you want to stop asking dumb questions and attending dumb meetings? Step 1: Define what you are doing (or what it is that you want to do). Answer the key question - what is your business? Step 2: Find others who are doing what you are doing? Step 3: Observe others who are doing what you are doing and take note both of A) what is working and B) what is not working from the subjects you are observing that are doing what you are doing. Step 4: Attempt to gather with those professionals who are doing what you are doing and that fall into category (A) from Step 3. This is value focused networking. Networking by its Google definition (ˈnetˌwərk) involves interaction + exchange of information + development of contacts especially to further one’s career. It is a verb. In order for a group to create a collection of valuable persons they must collectively define what value will look like, pursue persons in that vein and then deputize the membership to grow those connections. A cattle call will bring the cattle in, but that won’t do if your group is looking for birds of prey. Might we recommend our trademark the master equation of quality networking, A + B = C (When and only when): A = quality of members B = quantity of member involvement C = a strong localized networking group Conversely, C is not achieved when: A = a bunch of random visionless people assembled in a room B = irregardless of their activity, in fact their activity may be hurting them. Stop them immediately and refer them to this article. Remember, we are not seeking Exhibit A individuals or groups (as referenced in our opening statements). Our rally cry is not a cattle call for the masses of grazing business persons who are willing to sit in a stagnant field of mediocrity nibbling on trampled greens. We are becoming Exhibit B individuals who are building Exhibit B groups that are following the master equation. We are a gathering of professionals who are birds of prey in their personal and professional lives, hunting and devouring business flesh with their wings outstretched in glorious displays of plumage. A strong value-centric group should be able to answer: Why are we here meeting with strangers? Define what the group is about. What will we do to elevate each other? Establish what quality looks like and apply that as a standard to attracting members and structuring the group. How will we push each other? Generate momentum by living lives of vision that are enhanced by the sharing of insights, experiences and encouragement exchanged between members of the group. Members working together to define objectives, elevate each other and work towards collective goals is a decent manifestation of humanity as well as the secret sauce (aka master equation) that can fuel a local group of professionals into mutually beneficial relationships. Opportunities for development and motivation come in many forms, on June 21st and 22nd 2016, the Professional Insurance Agents Western Alliance (PIA) will be bringing their annual Oregon & Idaho EXPO to Eugene, Oregon. PIA primarily assists professionals working in the insurance industry with education, networking and resources but events like these are open to interested individuals who may find value in the two day conference. The keynote presentation to open Day 2 of the PIA EXPO on Wednesday, June 22nd will cover EPIC NETWORKING: Use Narrative Intelligence to grow and develop your contacts, a topic that has a broad application to anyone engaged in business. This presentation will be given by Steve Donahue, a motivational speaker and best selling author who, "Grabs your attention and never lets go. His highly interactive and deeply researched presentations touch the heart and soul of corporate purpose and individual motivation." Steve's own epic journey started as a young man when he ventured across the Sahara Desert overland. An experience that has fueled him for over 25 years to share the story of that epic journey to help companies and individuals change and experience epic success. Steve is a bestselling author and one of the world’s leading experts on the business applications of Narrative Intelligence. His first book, Shifting Sands, has sold over 125,000 copies in half a dozen countries. Steve has spoken to 500 organizations on 4 continents. As a former standup comedian, Steve’s presentations are highly entertaining and packed with easy to implement ideas that produce immediate impact. Most understand that networking is crucial to success in any business but networking is often an calendar item that doesn't get the time or value that it needs to flourish. Steve Donahue will show you how use Narrative Intelligence to achieve epic results through face-to-face networking and all forms of follow up. To be the hero of your own career you need to become the best supporting actor or actress in the epic tale of others. Instead of learning to “work the room” Steve will show you how to “start a story” that will build your network naturally and effectively with a follow up system that is fun and efficient. For those interested in attending the Professional Insurance Agents Oregon and Idaho annual EXPO, information and registration details can be found on the PIA website. Utilize the resources available to you, especially when they show up in your backyard. |
AuthorThoughts on personal and professional development. Jon Isaacson, The Intentional Restorer, is a contractor, author, and host of The DYOJO Podcast. The goal of The DYOJO is to help growth-minded restoration professionals shorten their DANG learning curve for personal and professional development. You can watch The DYOJO Podcast on YouTube on Thursdays or listen on your favorite podcast platform.
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