For many of us, the past couple years have been the toughest times of our lives, both personally and professionally. No one has gone through anything like this. We all had many considerations. “How will I respond to isolation?” “How will I handle this new routine?” “Is my product or business still relevant?” And one of the most frequently asked questions, “Am I even in the right career?”
As millions of people were leaving their jobs, I knew one thing. I wasn’t going anywhere. I loved what I was doing and the people I was doing it with. As a matter of fact, I wanted to do it better than ever before. But some things were creeping into my mind. “Is business going to be the same?” “What do I need to do to ensure we’re still relevant?” “What are other agencies doing?”
Then, out of the blue, one of the partners at our agency asked if I’d want to be part of a peer group for other agency executives who are involved in running their businesses. I couldn’t believe it. It was just what I was looking for. Having access to a network of like-minded folks has never been more crucial. So without hesitation, I said, “Yes, please.”
Before I knew it, I was signed up and headed off to Chicago to meet my group. What a great group of professionals. It was three days I’ll never forget. Smart, engaged people who were facing the same challenges as I was. I couldn’t believe I had all these resources at my fingertips.
After three days of discussions, presentations, discussions, challenges and maybe a few more discussions, I headed back to St. Louis with the comfort of knowing I had a great group of people that I could always reach out to—for anything. I wasn’t alone.
So, if you’re thinking of joining a peer group, do it! Here are a few reasons why.
Safe Space – Confidentiality allows people to be totally open about issues they are unable to discuss with others. Commiserate over loses and celebrate over victories.
Honest Feedback – Like it or not, you’ll receive nothing but honest feedback. It’s good to hear different opinions that challenge you.
Guidance – You don’t know it all and a little guidance can go a long way. Listen and learn from other execs.
Motivation – When you leave your meeting, you’ll be more motivated and excited than ever. You’ll have a list of new ideas to implement. It’s awesome!
Give it a try. It won’t hurt. You’ll discover new business and financial strategies, best practices, new business development ideas and you’ll make some new friends. And one thing for sure, the process works. I will attest to that.