Weekly Smart Networking Wisdom of Liz Lynch
Contributing Expert and Career Success! Partner
I was fascinated by an
article in the New York Times recently that described how runners who train in groups tend to do better than those
who train alone, even with a coach.
The article highlights the fact that the great American marathoners of the 70s and 80s trained in groups. Then when the 90s saw a shift to solo training in the U.S., American performance declined and runners from Ethiopia, Kenya and Japan, who continued training in groups, began to dominate.
While the effect of group training on individual performance has never
been scientifically studied, the anecdotal evidence makes sense intuitively. It
would seem that no matter what your profession, pursuing an individual goal in
the presence of others who are actively pursuing their own goals can help
increase your motivation, drive and energy in part because:
- Your competitive spirit kicks in
- You push yourself because it's harder to slack off
when people are watching
- You see the possibilities for yourself when you see
others succeed
- You feel more accountable because others are counting
on you to show up and keep up
As an entrepreneur for the last nine years, I've experimented
with different group structures for support. For example, being part of a
mastermind group of peers who meet regularly, discuss their challenges and
strive for ambitious goals offers a platform for brainstorming, problem
solving, and encouragement.
Yet if being with a
great group of people over time can give you strength and confidence, being
with the wrong group can zap you of both.
Case in point...A few days after the group training article came
out, The New York Times ran a story about another group phenomenon called job clubs, or more precisely
"jobless clubs" where the unemployed can network, get
job search help and commiserate.
When you're looking for
a job, it's definitely a good idea to leave your house once in a while and talk
to people. Being part of a support group can be tremendously beneficial, and
someone may hear of an opportunity that doesn't fit for them but might work for
you.
However, as some of the people interviewed in the article complained,
sometimes the negativity from a few participants can bring the whole group
down, and it may not take much for you to:
- Lose your competitive spirit
- Stop pushing yourself because no one else is pushing
either
- See nothing but impossibilities because others aren't
succeeding
- Not feel accountable because everyone else is playing
the blame game
The motivational speaker
Jim Rohn once said that you are the average of the five people you hang out
with. When you are trying to
make significant improvements in your life, your career or your business, it's
critical to choose your comrades carefully.
Bringing the average up or
down?
Are they:
·
Taking responsibility
for their actions or waiting for circumstances or people around them to change?
·
Talking about the
future or whining on and on about the "injustices" of the past?
·
Looking for the
opportunities ahead or wanting things to go back the way they were?
·
Taking steps to
reinvent themselves knowing the world is more competitive now or hoping for a
rising tide to lift their boat?
·
Learning new skills
that will make them more marketable or convinced that years on the job are all
that should matter?
Ask yourself these
questions about the people you interact with most both in person and online.
While it might be difficult to lose all the folks who bring you down
(especially if you're related to some of them, for instance) make changes where
you can to minimize the roadblocks to reaching your goals.
Read the original post by Liz HERE.
Liz Lynch is author of Smart Networking: Attract a Following In Person and Online
(McGraw-Hill, 2009) and a sought-after speaker who brings a practical
and insightful perspective to networking that has connected with a
global audience. Liz is also founder of the Center for Networking Excellence, a company
that develops products, programs and seminars to help entrepreneurs and
professionals get clients, build their businesses, and accelerate their careers through networking.
Career Success! Partner Liz Lynch is a regular contributing expert on our blog site. Visit us every Friday for Liz's insights, ideas and wisdom on the subject of Smart Networking -- building powerful connections -- offering information that I hope will resonate with you in your journey to achieving incredible career success.
Co-host, Career Success Radio Show
A leading authority on career success; 15-year executive coaching veteran
Contact: [email protected], 239-285-5575
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