A few weeks ago we wrote about the importance of being resilient in the work place and how you can go about doing this. One of the key aspects of ensuring your resilience is having a good circle of friends around you. Networks are crucial to your business’ survival and your own peace of mind.

The saying, ‘it’s not what you know, it’s who you know,’ has never been more true than it is now. A good circle of friends will help you out when you need it, support your decisions and send new opportunities your way. It’s all give and take though, so you have to put in the effort too!

Cullen Scholefield has been running the Circle of Peers for 7 years now. Since 2014 this network has grown and developed and has become a regular occurrence on our client’s calendars. This network doesn’t only benefit us as a company, but our clients too. It is an opportunity for them to catch up with us, but also to meet other People Professionals and develop their own networks further.

So how do you set up your own network like our Circle of Peers? It’s simple really, once you break it down.

1. Establish your network

This can be the hardest bit.  You have to decide whether you’re going to start your own network or join one.  If you’re starting your own then you have to get all your contacts into the same room and keep them there long enough to make them want to come back again in the future.  A launch event has to be very enticing.  Maureen is a bit of a serial networker so she knows all the magic tricks.  Our first Circle of Peers took place on a boat which was a bit different from the usual events.  Something a bit quirky and special will draw people in.  If you’re going to join an existing network then you have to be careful about which one you join.  There is no point in joining one where you are not going to see any return, so do some thorough research and pick ones with the most benefits for you.

2. Develop your network

Circle of Peers Launch event

The benefit of having a network is the opportunities it creates. We had the chance to bring our Circle of Peers to Sussex by partnering up with Permanent Solutions Direct because we shared an interest in creating a network in Sussex. This has brought many new opportunities our way.  The important thing to do when joining a network or establishing your own is to always keep your ears open for new opportunities and developments.  Keep things fresh and interesting to attract more people.  If the network you have joined isn’t up to your standard then get involved and put your mark on it.  CIPD Branch Meetings are good to network at and their Committee members are always looking for new people to get involved.   

3. Reaping the reward                

Once you have your network established and it is developing nicely, you can start reaping the rewards. New contacts will come your way or even job opportunities. It’s who you know remember! Having wonderful people around will reward you in ways you didn’t think possible. For example, this morning I am writing this blog from home because last night my car decided it just didn’t want to wake up. Luckily for me I could benefit from Maureen’s networks as she quickly identified a car savvy friend who drove to my rescue and jump started my poor little car. So you never know when or where a good network might come in handy, but it’s like carrying an umbrella, it’s better to have it than be caught in the rain.

The Circle of Peers is returning in September and we want to know what you want to hear about. Let us know what you want to know more about in the comments section of this blog.   Most of you know how fond we are of bubbly so there is a bottle of bubbly in it for whoever suggests a topic that we decide to run with!

Have a look at our past events here