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How to Network With a Large Group
Written by: Ivan R. MisnerArticle Overview: A simple game of "business card bingo" will get the introductions rolling.
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Free Download - Sorting Out Who's Who By Ivan R. Misner |
How to Network With a Large Group
Q: I am the co-founder of a local women's networking group. The organization has grown to more than 400 women, with 120 in attendance at some meetings. We are looking for ways to network with such a large group. Having each person do a personal introduction takes too long for the entire group. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.
A: Networking with such a large group is both good and bad. It's good because there are many people that your members can meet. However, it can also be a problem because it's very easy to get lost in the crowd with so many people involved.
There are several things you can do to make a large group's networking efforts more effective. If you have a speaker and there are tables around the room, you can use the tables as the focal point for networking exercises. Ask everyone to sit down and do a 60-second introduction at their table. Depending on whether a dinner is involved, you would even be able to have everyone switch tables at least once, move to another table and repeat the process. I've been at several large networking events (with as many as 500 people) where this process worked incredibly well because it was very well-orchestrated.
It's important with this technique to ask people to sit at tables where they don't already know the majority of other people. That helps to ensure that people are really networking rather than simply sitting with their friends.
It's also good to add something to the mix from time to time. For example, you might instruct everyone to include in their introduction some other businesses that they are currently looking for, or trends that are occurring in their industry or any other point of interest that breaks up the routine a little bit.
If you don't have tables for people to use as a focal point for smaller networking opportunities, there are a number of things you can do for larger group-networking situations. One of my favorites is "business card bingo." This is how it works:
First, as you enter the room, you drop your business card in the "bingo box," as does everyone else. You are then given a "bingo card," and you write your name in the center square.
Next, you circulate with everyone throughout the room. To complete the card, you need to meet 24 other people, collect their business cards and have them write their names in the open squares.
Later, someone calls off the names on the business cards that everyone dropped in the bingo box when they arrived. Regular bingo rules apply thereafter. The winner is the first person with five names in a row, either across, down or diagonally. This person receives one of the many door prizes that are often given at these events. Of course, everybody really wins, because everyone makes new contacts through the process.
The bottom line here is that as the networking group leader, it's important for you to provide exercises and activities that get people to actually network. I have found that people, like water, tend to seek the path of least resistance. Without some structured activities at networking events, they will often do what is easiest, not what's best. Therefore, it's very important that you offer exercises and activities that remind them that it's not called "netSIT" or "netEAT; it's called "netWORK," and in order to have a successful networking event, your members need to "work" the network.
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Dr. Ivan Misner is the Founder and Chairman of BNI, the world's largest business networking organization, which has more than 4,600 chapters in 37 countries. Dr. Misner is also the author of several books, including the New York Times bestseller TRUTH OR DELUSION? (www.truthordelusion.com), and he is the Senior Partner for the Referral Institute (www.referralinstitute.com), a referral training company with operations around the world.
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About the Author: Ivan R. Misner RSS for Ivan's articles - Visit Ivan's website  Dr. Ivan Misner is the Founder & Chairman of BNI, the world's largest business networking organization. BNI was founded in 1985. The organization has over 5,800 chapters throughout every populated continent of the world. Last year alone, BNI generated 6.5 million referrals resulting in $2.8 billion dollars worth of business for its members. Called the "Father of Modern Networking" by CNN and the "Networking Guru" by Entrepreneur magazine, Dr. Misner is considered one of the world's leading experts on business networking and has been a keynote speaker for major corporations and associations throughout the world. He has been featured in the L.A. Times, Wall Street Journal, and New York Times, as well as numerous TV and radio shows including CNN, CNBC, and the BBC in London. Dr. Misner is on the Board of Trustees for the University of La Verne. He is also the Founder of the BNI-Misner Foundation and was recently named "Humanitarian of the Year" by a Southern California newspaper. He is married and lives with his wife Elisabeth and their three children in Claremont, CA. In his spare time!!! he is also an amateur magician and a black belt in karate. Click here to visit Ivan's website   Making WordofMouth Marketing Work Success Isnt an EntitlementIts Earned Master Networkers Ask the Right Questions Sorting Out Whos Who Become a Networking Mentor |
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- My advice is:
1) Go to the library and start reading business books (accounting, finance, etc.)
2) Go to your local community college and enroll in night classes
3) Join the local Chamber of Commerce
4) Network / Network / Network -- through the above sources.
Once you have spent two years doing the above, then look for a 55 - 60 year old business person that is looking to reduce their time in the business. Then you can work on a sweetheart financing option.
BNI Groups - do they work?
- Hi Lesley,
From the members in my Mastermind Group I've heard a number of positive and negative things about BNI Groups. Just like a Mastermind Group, it all depends on who the people are. If the personalities fit and the members can add value to your business it can be worth checking out. The best bet is to go to a meeting as a guest to get a sense of who is in the group and if it is for you. It doesn't cost you anything except a little extra sleep the morning of.
Good luck!
Re: On Which Social Media Sites Are You Most Active?
- I must respectfully disagree completely with that premise Evan. When speaking of a "Small Group", we are talking abotu a "Mastermind Group". As we all know, such a group is instrumental to success, online or off. The groups can grow quite large too. My group currently has 35 members, but several are actively participating and sharing content.
Re: UPDATES: New Campaign! New Layout! New Ideas!
- GT - thanks for the FYI - I'm not sure if we'll put a link back. Something to consider though!
Trent - the new category is "Social Network and Media" which was put in to compliment the Online Businesses category that currently exists.
Overall the new categories are:
- Looking For, Networking and Events
- Review My...
- Social Network and Media
- Brags and Rants
These came as a result of Ringo doing research on other forums and thinking about what could be improved on ours to give a better experience for everyone. I hope you enjoy them! David, I'm looking forward to reading your Brag / Rant!
RE: Life isn't fair / 'Ol Boy Network
- I certainly won't argue that 'Ol Boy Network practices exist and probably always will to some degree because, yes, people like to work with those like themselves.
I am curious, though about reactions to the content and approach of the article itself, particularly given that it is from an HR / Management consultant:
1) What does the phrase "'Ol Boy Network" mean to you?
2) Do readers view his discussion as an impartial observation of the phenomenon or do his comments such as "...is not a bad thing," "it's natural," and "are normal occurences" sound like he's expressing an opinion that the practices are OK to continue because that's how it's always been?
3) Would the nature and direction of the content affect your tendency to hire this individual as a consultant?
I tried to explore this with the author himself but he was extremely defensive and somewhat insulting regarding the possibility that his article might be perceived as endorsing the practice. I'm looking for a barometer check.
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