What are Power Group rules?

Each group makes up their own rules. For example, some groups limit membership to those who have been in transition more than once. Others limit membership to those who have been in a power group before. The assumption is that there will be less learning curve and higher expectations.

However, there are general rules that are common.

First, confidentiality is absolute. Any release of information outside the group without permission is cause for dismissal.

Second, active participation (showing up) is critical. Missing meetings changes dynamics, suggests a lack of commitment, and distracts from momentum.

Third, comments are to be open and honest but with an attempt to be constructive.

Fourth, a commitment to help each other emotionally. Each member will have highs and lows, whether they will admit it or not. Problems at home, failing to get the job they “knew they would get”, no one returning phone calls, etc, need understanding, encouragement, and motivation to persist in keeping efforts high.

Fifth, bringing in leads that everyone can chase is critical. If I share a lead that can help you and you never share a lead that can help me, I will soon quit sharing leads and the usefulness of the group diminishes.

Sixth, constantly thinking about how to introduce and refer other members into your network – so they can expand their network. If you are learning to trust other group members, shouldn’t they be introduced as a trusted relationship to other trusted relationships? Here is the most powerful concept. People who hire, prefer to hire those referred by people whom they trust.

Seventh, each member should be accountable to each other. The commitment to participate, attend networking events, make phone calls, share leads, and make introductions usually means that you will be asked about your results at the next meeting. Often this pressure will drive you to keep your performance level high when you might have slacked off if no one would know better.

Finally, each member knows that a Power Group is a strategic asset but merely one of many areas that need to be developed. When looking for work, the 2 hours a week in a Power Group will not replace the 58 hours needed to follow the Roadmap to Success. Nor will a Power Group replace the need for personal coaching and training. However, Power Groups are recommended to supplement your efforts to win your next job.

How do you structure a Power Group?

A typical approach taken by members of an association is that association members who live close to each other agree to meet, usually weekly, at a local coffee shop or sandwich shop where they can buy some coffee and meet with the approval of the shop owners.

The groups are often made up of either those with common careers (sales, finance, hr, …), common levels (college students, managers, executives, senior executives…), and genders. However more diverse backgrounds are not uncommon.

For common backgrounds, if each person develops 10 leads and there are five group members, then the group now has 50 leads that can be shared. Who actually will get the job will depend upon experience, personality, culture, relationships and a host of other factors. The general belief is that “if someone is going to get the job, why not let it be one of us!”

For diverse backgrounds, there is less group competition and often a broader net of contacts. Further, diverse backgrounds can create a unique learning atmosphere where everyone can learn different perspectives and become more rounded and balanced. For example, a sales and a finance person in a group will not be competing for the same job but will know people for networking and can help each other understand how to perceive and meet the needs of other sales and finance people. For higher level jobs, cross-functional teaming is critical to company success – and being a qualified hire.

The size of the group is usually limited to around seven and most experts would recommend not exceeding fifteen members. The actual number who will show up will depend upon travel, meeting, and family commitment schedules.

The purpose of the group generally is focused upon a common urgent need, such as looking for work. Then, as members obtain work they will generally go in one of three directions. Those who appreciated the group but have still not learned the importance of networking will usually leave and not be heard from again. Those who appreciated the group and have developed trusted relationships and friendships with other members will often leave but regularly stay in touch with each other over the phone or email. Some will even continue networking through one-off times for coffee or over a meal. The third group usually decides to stay because they have benefited so much personally that they want to “pay it forward” to others and help other members, particularly newer members.

The timing of most meetings is either before or after work. This allows those getting a job to continue to participate and allows other members to focus on looking for work during prime time. However, some groups meet at various times throughout the day. The group determines what is best for them.

The bottom line is that the value of any group will depend upon the members and the level of participation by each member. If you join a group and find that it does not work for you, the problem may be who is in the group not that Power Groups are not useful.

How does a Power Group Differ From Coaching?

A Power Group is a peer led group that does not use a coach. As a result, mutual leads and mutual confidential matters are easily shared but knowledge on how to search for jobs or develop one’s career is limited by the strongest member of the group. Since, in almost every case, no one in the group is a full-time coach or professional in Jobprenuership™, then groups can easily encourage one another to be taking actions that may not be best practice or developing themselves with wrong paradigm thinking.

Does that eliminate the use of a Power Group? Absolutely not! The advantages of joint networking, sharing leads, brain-storming, encouragement, and accountability for a potential lifetime of trusted friendships makes, in my opinion, a Power Group one of the world’s best kept secrets.

However, as you grow, if other’s in the group refuse to grow then you might later need to start another Power Group with more committed or mature members. Also, as you learn more about Jobpreneurship™, your opportunity to help other members will grow significantly. You might even suggest that the group include Jobpreneurship™ as the model to build upon. Another way of putting it is that Power Groups are useful – period. Jobpreneurship™ has been recognized as the best class model for job search, career development, and client development. By combining both concepts, you will only increase your effectiveness and long term results.