Jay Sachetti joined Jeff O’Brien, partner at Husch Blackwell and Dyanne Ross-Hanson, president of Exit Planning Strategies talked about the market for mergers and acquisitions, exit planning opportunities for companies that don’t end up for sale and how companies can maximize their eventual sale price during an early October panel at the first Upsize on Tap event at Summit Brewing Co. in St. Paul.
When the state Legislature passed a law requiring employers to provide paid leave and safe time for employees, Justin Bieganek started hearing differing details from friends, colleagues and peers.
Not every person is equipped with this extroverted demeanor, however. For the rest of us, consider the value in volunteering.
In his latest book, “Use Your Head to Get Your Foot in the Door,” business guru Harvey Mackay writes about reasons for professionals to volunteer as an advancement strategy. “Depending on the organization and the role that you take, volunteering will put you in contact with some of the most important people in your community. They will see you do your stuff,” Mackay writes.
Networking over a drink builds one type of relationship. Volunteering with someone, whether swinging a hammer to build a Habitat home or pulling together a panel discussion for an industry group, builds a much more meaningful relationship. Anybody can plunk down a membership fee for a trade organization, but it is those who get involved via a board seat or another volunteer role that gain the most value.
Here are five reasons why professionals and business owners should consider getting involved with a professional or industry organization.
1. Expand your network. A person’s professional network plays a large role in the direction his or her career or business takes. If a professional network only consists of coworkers within a company it becomes narrow and limiting. A professional organization brings together a network of people with the same business interests.
These people come from a variety of backgrounds and experience levels. As opposed to randomly meeting a person in your field and potentially losing their business card (the only contact you had with them), professional organizations put you in contact with some of these same movers and shakers on a regular basis. The collegial atmosphere fosters relationships. These contacts could be the next insight into an opportunity.
2. Extend your learning. Keeping up with new industry research and trends is essential in making you a market leader in your field.
Most groups have weekly or monthly meetings in which speakers and experts educate the group on a field-related topic. Conferences and seminars sponsored by these organizations are held all over the country, and usually bring in some of the biggest names in the profession.
As a bonus, by volunteering to organize such an event, you can gain access (and possibly a dinner or conversation during a car ride to the airport) to them in ways the event attendee can never achieve.
3. Increase awareness of your company. Not only does your personal brand and reputation follow wherever you go, but you also carry the company brand. By joining a professional organization, your company has the opportunity for increased name recognition through awards, case studies and the simple art of networking.
Companies can collaborate on mutually beneficial projects and gain recognition in their fields, or even establish one of their own employees as an expert on a related topic and expand the company brand. With the newfound growth in the social media world, the reach of awareness can gofar beyond the boundaries of a room. The reputation built and matured in a professional or industry organization has the capacity to reach worldwide.
4. Gain exclusive privileges. Along with conferences and seminars, professional organizations offer exclusive access to career-building resources. Members gain access to a member directory list where they can directly contact and build relationships with other members. Certain trade publications are also limited to member-only status, and offer recent field related news. For example, the American Bar Association offers members access to more than 90 periodicals every year. Members of professional organizations also obtain exclusive access to job boards. Companies searching for employees frequently post to the organization’s website early in the process.
5. Build your future. To quote Harvey Mackay one more time, “Volunteering involves marketing, selling, time management, public speaking, fund-raising, and creativity. What could be more targeted to your needs than learning, practicing, polishing your strengths, and overcoming your weaknesses?” He continued that he would have never learned to sell if he hadn’t been a volunteer trying to raise money for countless causes.
The networking may be the primary motivation to volunteer within a professional organization, but the skills you acquire along the way provide a career-long benefit.
Andrew Chollar,
Brand Chemistry:
612.209.1556
in**@*******em.com
www.brandchem.com
