Utilizing Networking Groups

Are we realising the potential of our networks to make change happen? Most innovation emerges from collaborative projects where teams openly “borrow” & adapt each other’s (often small but powerful) ideas. Many networks & communities of practice could achieve so much more by experimenting together around collective priorities to generate & share new solutions. This is beyond spreading known “best” or “good” practices. It is about innovating to design new solutions collectively. So I appreciated this piece from Ed Morrison about three different kinds of networks: - Advocacy networks are communities that seek to mobilise people, creating pressure to shift policies, priorities or messages in a particular direction. Their aim is to connect & influence rather than to change how they themselves work. - Learning networks are communities of practice. They share knowledge, compare practice & build shared capability. Learning networks often excel at spread & improvement of existing practice, but only sometimes move into structured innovation work. - Innovating (or transforming) networks are communities that combine their assets - ideas, relationships, data, capabilities - to create new value that none could produce alone. They manage collaboration as a process of experimentation: agreeing a shared outcome, running multiple connected tests of change, learning by doing & amplifying what works across the network. https://lnkd.in/edbbexiG. Every learning network has the potential to become an innovating/transforming network. Some actions to enable this: 1. Build a foundation of strong, trusting relationships within the network, understanding each member’s starting point & motivation for change 2. Focus on helping each other to succeed; listen to each others’ stories & plans, co-coach, give advice to each other & build shared inquiry 3. Move from “sharing” or “raising awareness” to some concrete outcomes the network want to change together through collective experimentation 4. Agree some simple norms for the network so that members help each other to make progress, make it safe to try things, fail fast & share incomplete work 5. Encourage multiple, parallel tests of change around similar outcome so projects can “steal with pride” from one another & quickly refine promising ideas 6. Put simple routines in place for noticing patterns (what is shifting where & why), capturing these insights & amplifying them across the network 7. Add additional success metrics including innovations tested, adapted & adopted in multiple places Graphic by Ed Morrison. Content with added inspiration from June Holley.

Struggling to “add value” when networking? Engagement Plans make it easy. Here’s how to craft one in 6 simple steps: 1. The Struggle To “Add Value” Every job seeker is told they need to network. Every job seeker is also told they should focus on “adding value” when networking. I’ve coached thousands of job seekers and the idea of adding value / knowing what to say when networking is one of the biggest challenges they face. I came up with the “Engagement Plan” strategy to help solve for it. 2. What Is An “Engagement Plan?” Engagement Plans are blueprints for relationships. They’re step-by-step outlines for engaging and working to build a relationship with someone. The recipe is simple: - Research your contact - Identify areas of opportunity - Brainstorm ways to add value - Map out the plan Let’s break down each. 3. Research Your Contact Start with their LinkedIn profile. Review their past roles and experience, check their education, look to see if they create content, etc. Expand to other channels too: - Google them - Look them up on other social platforms - Etc. The goal is to learn more about them and what they care about. 4. Identify Areas Of Opportunity & Brainstorm Ways To Add Value You can use AI to speed up this process: - Take a full page screenshot of their LinkedIn profile - Head to ChatGPT - Attach the screenshot and use the following prompt: “Please share 10 different ways I could add value to this person that I'm trying to network with. I'm attaching a screenshot of their LinkedIn profile.” 5. Pick The Top 3 And Think Two Steps Ahead Choose the 3 avenues you think will give you the best shot of getting their attention. Pretend it does. Now brainstorm different strategies and value-adds you could use to progress the relationship and keep the conversation going. Repeat for each one. 6. Take Action On Your Plan & Track It Start messaging contacts and test the different avenues you brainstormed. Track your results for each strategy in a Google Sheet. It can look something like this: 7. Start Slow To Go Fast In the beginning this will take time and effort. But as you repeat the process, you’ll begin to see patterns. You’ll understand what to look for, which strategies work best in certain situations, etc. Then you’ll get to the point where you can build an engagement plan for a contact in just a few minutes. —— ♻️ Repost to help make networking easier for your connections ➕ Follow Austin Belcak for more

One of the biggest challenges in customer experience (CX) initiatives isn't just getting buy-in—it's making sure communication flows seamlessly across different teams to drive meaningful progress. It's not enough to have passionate people involved; it's about aligning everyone around a shared purpose and ensuring that action follows. I see it all the time—CX councils or teams that meet to discuss customer feedback, but the conversation doesn't always translate into real change. It's critical to go beyond just reviewing the numbers. We need to collaborate, co-create, and drive real impact for our customers. So how do we ensure communication within cross-functional teams leads to action? ▶️Structure your meetings to drive progress. If you have cross-functional buy-in, it's essential to manage those meetings effectively. Make sure that everyone understands their role, the goals, and what success looks like. It's not enough to simply review metrics—what are the actions you'll take based on those insights? ▶️Unify efforts across the organization. In many organizations, different teams—like those working on journey mapping and those focused on customer insights—work in silos. We need to bring those efforts together around your customer experience mission, ensuring that all teams are aligned with a shared definition of success. ▶️Be proactive and resourceful. Don't wait for things to fall through the cracks. Be a resource to your team members, follow up, and offer support where needed. This could mean helping a colleague facilitate a journey mapping session or providing customer feedback to help illustrate a challenge. Communication is key, but proactive support is what drives progress forward. When working cross-functionally, the responsibility doesn't end with the meeting. We need to be deliberate about setting expectations, following up on actions, and ensuring everyone understands how their efforts contribute to the larger customer experience mission. Great communication can turn fragmented efforts into unified progress. Let's make sure we're not just talking about customer experience, but working together to make it happen. How do you ensure effective communication across teams in your organization? Drop your process below! #CustomerExperience #CX #CrossFunctionalTeams #Collaboration #Leadership #Communication #CXStrategy #CustomerJourney

Over the years, I've discovered the truth: Game-changing products won't succeed unless they have a unified vision across sales, marketing, and product teams. When these key functions pull in different directions, it's a death knell for go-to-market execution. Without alignment on positioning and buyer messaging, we fail to communicate value and create disjointed experiences. So, how do I foster collaboration across these functions? 1) Set shared goals and incentivize unity towards that North Star metric, be it revenue, activations, or retention. 2) Encourage team members to work closely together, building empathy rather than skepticism of other groups' intentions and contributions. 3) Regularly conduct cross-functional roadmapping sessions to cascade priorities across departments and highlight dependencies. 4) Create an environment where teams can constructively debate assumptions and strategies without politics or blame. 5) Provide clarity for sales on target personas and value propositions to equip them for deal conversations. 6) Involve all functions early in establishing positioning and messaging frameworks. Co-create when possible. By rallying together around customers’ needs, we block and tackle as one team towards product-market fit. The magic truly happens when teams unite towards a shared mission to delight users!

#LinkedIn is saturated with people selling “growth hacks.” The uncomfortable truth: no one actually understands the algorithm end-to-end. Most advice is recycled folklore—outdated tests, anecdotal wins, or short-lived spikes mistaken for strategy. Based on direct observation across thousands of posts in 2025–2026, the algorithm consistently rewards three things: relevance, demonstrated expertise, and genuine conversation within your professional graph. Not viral reach. Not theatrics. You don’t need to stand out to everyone. You need to stand out to the people who matter in your niche. LinkedIn evaluates your content primarily against your 1st- and 2nd-degree network, shared industries, and topical authority—not the entire platform. Growth is contextual, not global. What actually moves the needle: 1. Comments now outperform original posts. Thoughtful comments (15+ words) from relevant professionals often generate 2–5× the reach of likes. One recent comment crossed 60K impressions while the original post stayed under 100 likes. Comments drive dwell time, signal credibility, and travel deeper into niche feeds. → Five to ten substantive comments per day in your domain will outperform random posting. 2. Depth beats volume. Every time. The algorithm tracks engagement quality: long comments, threaded discussion, saves, and shares with context. Ten real conversations outperform 500 drive-by reactions. Engagement bait (“Comment YES”) is now neutral at best—and often penalized. 3. Consistency matters—but only within a clear niche. Two to five posts per week is sufficient. What matters is topical focus. Stick to your lane. Authority signals compound when your content reinforces a coherent expertise narrative. Text posts and carousels routinely outperform flashy formats if they trigger real discussion. 4. Design for conversation, not applause. Strong opening lines and experience-backed insights win. Ask questions that invite expertise, not agreement. Respond quickly—especially in the first hour. Early interaction materially boosts distribution. 5. Reciprocity is not optional. Engage first. The algorithm favors mutual visibility within professional clusters. When respected peers comment on your posts, distribution expands—organically and predictably. 6. Dwell time is a hard metric. Optimize for it. External links suppress reach. If you must share one, place it in the comments. Native text, documents, and carousels consistently generate longer session time—and better reach. 7. Your profile is part of the algorithm. Headline, About section, and experience shape how LinkedIn classifies you. A fuzzy profile leads to fuzzy distribution. Authority attracts authority. Bottom line: LinkedIn growth in 2026 is not about gaming the system. It’s about being useful, credible, and consistent in your corner of the ecosystem. Quality compounds. Noise disappears. #LinkedInGrowth #PersonalBranding #ContentStrategy #ProfessionalVisibility

"Make yourself findable"...this is advice that I give to candidates, SES's, generals, executives, and even teenagers. Companies are dying to find you, but they just don't know that you exist. They hire Precision Talent Solutions to find you. Like it or not, LinkedIn is the place where professionals go to look for jobs, look for candidates, and to share/consume content. If you are in career transition, it is more important than ever to be thoughtfully active on LInkedIn. Valuable tips: LinkedIn Algorithm Updates (2025) - Relevance Over Virality: The algorithm now favors niche, expert content over viral posts. Generic or off-topic posts hurt visibility. - Connections First: Posts from your own network are prioritized. A targeted, engaged network boosts reach. - Expertise Signals: LinkedIn evaluates who is posting (based on profile) as much as what is posted. - Ranking Factors: Content is ranked by Relevance, Expertise, and Engagement (especially meaningful comments). - Comments Matter Most: Posts with thoughtful, back-and-forth conversation (especially in the first hour) get a major visibility boost. - Spam Filters: Poor grammar, link-stuffing, excessive hashtags, and overposting are penalized. - Engagement Quality > Quantity: Comments from relevant peers beat lots of random likes. - Extended Reach: High-value posts can reach beyond your 1st-degree network if they gain strong engagement. 2. Content Format Trends - Carousels Still Strong: Multi-image or PDF “carousel” posts perform well, but only if value-packed. - Video & Live Streams: Native videos (not links) and especially LinkedIn Live posts drive the highest engagement. - Image Posts: Still effective—posts with a single strong visual get more attention and comments. - Newsletters: Now a top tool for reach—subscribers are notified every time you publish. Best for long-form, high-value content. - Polls & Interactive Posts: Still underused but powerful for engagement and visibility. - Hashtags/Tagging: Use 2–5 relevant hashtags. Over-tagging or irrelevant tags = spammy. - External Links: Posts with links are penalized. Better to add links later via post edit or use native formats. 3. Engagement Best Practices - Provide Niche Value: Focus on helpful, profession-specific insights, not generic content. - Hook Early: Start posts with a bold statement or question to capture attention. Encourage Dialogue: Ask questions, respond to comments, and spark discussion to improve reach. - Use Rich Media: Mix in carousels, videos, and images to keep your content fresh and engaging. - Go Live or Use Newsletters: These formats offer built-in boost via notifications and dwell time. - Avoid Spam Tactics: Don’t tag excessively, overuse hashtags, or post too frequently. - Grow an Engaged Network: Engage with others to strengthen your own visibility in the algorithm. - Be Consistent & Authentic: Regular, high-quality posting builds credibility and audience trust over time.

Most professional associations and member-based businesses I speak with are sitting on untapped LinkedIn potential not in their Page content, but in their member community. It's your members already have networks, influence, and credibility. When they show up online, they’re shaping how your profession is seen. You don’t need every member to post every week, but you do need enough of the right activity to create momentum. It starts with the members who are already active. The ones speaking at events, running webinars, mentoring, or writing. The ones quietly doing the work and occasionally showing it online. They're already shaping the narrative. With the right support, they can also represent your organisation more visibly without losing their own voice. Here are some practical ways to build that momentum: ✨ Spot and support your early adopters. Find the members who are already active and connect with them directly. Ask what would make it easier to talk about their role with your association. ✨ Offer positioning support. Show members how to list their committee, board, or speaker roles in a way that reflects both their credibility and their connection to the organisation. ✨ Create shareable highlights. Instead of just posting event links, turn key takeaways or moments into posts members can easily reshare. ✨ Use LinkedIn to continue the conversation. If a session sparked a great discussion, keep it going online. Encourage speakers and attendees to post a reflection or comment on yours. ✨ Let members co-create the voice. Involve them in content. Ask for their thoughts, feature their insights, and let them be part of the narrative not just the audience. I’ve seen associations grow their reach and member pride not through polished campaigns, but through thoughtful visibility. When members are active and acknowledged, they bring energy back to the brand. LinkedIn becomes more than a noticeboard for your association or member community. It becomes a shared voice. One that reflects the strength of your profession and the people who drive it forward. If you’d like support creating a strategy for your association, member-based community and members, I’d be happy to chat. #linkedin #assoicaitons #marketing

This week I coached a woman who is leading her team brilliantly and has been sponsored for a leadership development program, yet struggles with achingly low self-confidence. We spent some time during our session identifying people in her network who could support her professional growth and practicing approaches to enlist their help. If you wish you had a mentor but can't identify any obvious candidates, the following advice from Dorie Clark and Alexis Redding is for you: think "micro-mentorship." While traditional mentorship can be hard to secure, valuable guidance is often closer than you think. Here are four strategies to help.   1️⃣ Identify “hidden mentors.” You likely have more potential mentors than you realize—for example, former professors, colleagues, or acquaintances with relevant experience you can learn from. A single conversation with them can offer valuable insights and unlock a new relationship.   2️⃣ Crowdsource advice. Leverage your extended network through LinkedIn, social media, or alumni groups to ask specific, targeted questions. Even strangers may be open to sharing their perspectives in a brief interaction.   3️⃣ Balance external guidance with self-reflection. Not all advice you receive will align with your personal circumstances. Remember to filter people’s suggestions through your own lens—and trust your gut when making career decisions.   4️⃣ Seize digital opportunities. Follow thought leaders, attend online Q&As, and explore AI tools to simulate how an expert might approach a problem. Even indirect exposure to experienced professionals can spark useful questions or insights. #careeradvice #careerstrategies #mentoring

50% of any business is done through networking and I have been able to do it by building actual relationships. If there is someone I met 3 years ago, I still remember their name and what they do. As founders, we often focus on strategy, product, and market fit. But there's one factor that's been crucial to TMG's growth: my reference group. When I started TMG, I was a solo entrepreneur with big dreams. Today, we're 150+ strong. The difference? The people I surrounded myself with. A Harvard study by Dr. David McClelland found that our success depends heavily on our "reference group" - those we choose to spend time with. This insight transformed my approach to networking and ultimately, our business growth. Here's how I leveraged my network to scale: 📍 Board of Advisors 2.0: I created an informal board of seasoned entrepreneurs. Our monthly dinners became strategy sessions that shaped TMG's trajectory. 📍 Peer Mastermind: I joined a group of founders at similar stages. We became each other's sounding boards, celebrating wins and troubleshooting challenges. 📍 Team as Teachers: I learned to see every team member as a potential mentor. Our junior analyst's fresh perspective once saved a client millions in taxes. 📍 Strategic Networking: Every conference became an opportunity to meet potential partners, not just clients. These connections opened doors I didn't even know existed. 📍 Mentorship Mindset: I sought mentors relentlessly, but also became one. Teaching forced me to crystallise my thoughts, improving my own decision-making. Remember: Your company will only grow as much as you do. And you'll only grow as much as your network allows. It's not just about who you know, but who challenges you, supports you, and pushes you to be better. Fellow founders, how has your inner circle influenced your company's growth? What unexpected lessons have you learned from your network? Let's discuss and learn from each other.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗨𝗽: 𝗠𝘆 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 As a woman professional, I’ve often faced the dilemma of whether to attend after-work gatherings or alumni meets. My evenings typically involved juggling family responsibilities, unfinished work, & the sheer exhaustion of the day. The thought of adding one more event to my schedule felt overwhelming. But over time, I realized: 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗽 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀—𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗳𝘁𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘐 𝘈𝘭𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘋𝘪𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘎𝘰... I recall one evening when I was invited to an #alumni dinner. The day had been long, my energy was depleted, & my mind was racing with tasks yet to be done. Everything in me wanted to decline. But after a moment of reflection, 𝘐 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘰—𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘳. That hour turned into one of the most insightful evenings I’d had in a long time. I reconnected with old peers, gained fresh perspectives, and met someone who later became a mentor and advocate for my professional #growth. 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘦'𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘜𝘱 𝘏𝘢𝘴 𝘛𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘔𝘦... I’ve learned a few important lessons: 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: You don’t need to always add value, sometimes you need to have an open mind and assimilate value. Just being there, authentically, is enough. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀: Some of my strongest professional relationships were built during casual chats at dinners, as these events allow people to see the person behind the professional. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲: Sharing stories, challenges & wins with peers creates a sense of belonging. Knowing others face similar struggles can be reassuring & empowering. I understand the challenges, especially as a #woman professional—family commitments, safety concerns, time constraints. Here’s how I’ve learned to manage them: 𝗣𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀: Not every event requires your presence. Prioritize those that align with your goals & values. 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱: Communicate with your family or support system to make space for these engagements. It helps to set expectations & reduces #guilt. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗼𝗸𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: Show up for as long as you’re comfortable. Even a brief presence can leave a lasting impact. Every time I’ve chosen to show up, I’ve gained something: a new perspective, a valuable connection, or simply a reminder that I’m part of a larger community. I know it’s not always easy. But 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗽 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁. You deserve to be part of these conversations, networks, and opportunities. #batchmates #iimbalumni #IDCPalumni... always wonderful to reconnect!