"There's a huge difference between networks and networking," says author James Millar. "Networking is often desperate and transactional; whereas networks are groups of peer we trust."
While few enjoy "networking," many crave authentic conversations with peers, clients, and key stakeholders. The pace of change is accelerating, and leaders, business owners and executives need peer groups more than ever to understand what others are thinking and doing.
Research into how small business owner’s prefer to learn demonstrates that action-based learning and small group interactions with peers is the most effective and satisfying with time and business constraints considered.
However, time, trust, and low expectations too often get in the way.
"In the U.S. there are more than a million conferences a year and nearly every vendor in every industry hosts round-table meetings, webcasts, or seminars. Some are substantive, while others are less so," says Millar.
Even when a group of peers gets together, the design and nature of their interactions rarely supports an increase in trust over time.
James Millar’s book, ‘Building Bridges’, urges business leaders and executives to demand more. Because, in a transactional world, we all need to belong.
Reference: James Millar – “Building Bridges: The Case for Executive Peer Networks”
