The Entrepreneur Circle is dedicated to the growth and development of the entrepreneur by helping them reach their maximum potential in a safe, confidential environment through roundtable groups, education, collaboration, and access to expert resources.
Every board is started by someone. This person took the initiative to put the group together. Although, possible for the individual to continue to take responsibility for the group, it isn’t beneficial to the leader or the group.
The board benefits all participants, therefore all participants should take responsibility for some part of the work.
When one person is doing all the work, they can start to feel underappreciated. The group may become less committed or interested in it’s success, not to mention the load of the responsibilites are much easier to bear when everyone helps.
Below is a breakdown of the roles we have found work.
Facilitator:
1.Facilitate the meeting
A. Meeting Opener
B. Keep conversation on track
C. Keep all members participating
D. Make sure all members have the opportunity to present
E. Talk to members who resist presenting or causing disturbances
F. Create comfortable environment for all
a. Member attitude
b. Member participation
2. Meeting location
3. Meeting Schedule
4. Check in with Presenter
5. Prepare meeting agenda
6.Bring Charter and signed confidentialty agreements to the meetings
Facilitator Elect: takes on the role of facilitator at the meeting when the current facilitator is presenting.
Presenter: (All members)Prior to the meeting: Prepare their topic to discuss with the group. Meet with their buddy/coach, by phone or in person.
Buddy/Coach: (All Members) Meet with presenter before meeting. The role of the buddy is NOT to offer any advice to the presenter during the preparation meeting. Help them prepare for the discussion and clarify their issue.
Time Keeper: Give warnings as time elapses and notices when time is up. Keep meeting running on schedule.
Discussion Protocol Observer: Give notice and assistance when the discussion protocol is violated.
Secretary: Take notes on any changes to the schedule, charter, agenda, location, etc… Please note, confidential conversation should not be documented, published or distributed due to risk of confidentiality breach.
Treasurer: Collect monies from the group. Money may be collected for expenses, dues, charter breaches, ect…
The presenter and coach are ongoing roles for all members. The other roles should be assigned term limits and rotated evenly.
No one can master all of the issues demanding attention from a business owner today. There are just too many issues and they change too fast for one person to stay current: marketing, employment issues, IT issues, changes in competition, and sales, just to name a few.
Where are you currently getting your ideas and solutions?
Who do you talk to when you have to make an important decision? Who helps you through your difficult challenges?
Peer Advisory Boards are a carefully selected group of people that will provide for you:
- Accountability
- Brainstorm ideas ·
- Introduce new concepts
- Work through business challenges in a secure confidential environment
The Entrepreneur Circle will host an introductory session to answer your questions regarding participation on our Peer Advisory Boards and how they may help you grow your business.
“The Entrepreneur Circle has provided an environment that allows me to continually think outside the box and then pursue those thoughts and goals with mutual support and accountability. We drastically improved our marketing programs and substantially grew our firm in our first year as E-Circle members. I strongly encourage any business person to make this commitment a priority item in their business plan.”Bill McCloskey Founder of Stateline Senior Services
In order for your Peer Advisory Board to be effective, 3 very important things need to occur:
Communication
Listening
Action
This becomes a delicate balancing act. In order for true change to occur all three must take place.
com·mu·ni·ca·tion (k -my n -k sh n)
n. 1. The act of communicating; transmission. 2. a. The exchange of thoughts, messages, or information, as by speech, signals, writing, or behavior .b. Interpersonal rapport.
lis·ten (l s n) intr.v.
1. To make an effort to hear something 2. To pay attention; heed
ac·tion ( k sh n)
1. The state or process of acting or doing 2. Something done or accomplished; a deed. 3. Organized activity to accomplish an objective 4. The causation of change by the exertion of power or a natural process
Communication is relevant for both the individual presenting his/her situation and the board members contributing to him/her.
The Presenter
The Presenter should be clear on his or her objectives and outcome. They should come to the meeting prepared to state his/her challenge or opportunity. We recommend that the presenter write out their situation, then meet with someone from their board (buddy) to help them clarify the issue at hand. Preparation in advance allows the most success for the presenter. Once the presenter has presented their issue, their job is to listen, create an action plan, and take action. Without action, the presenter will not be able to affect change, and attain results.
The Group
It is essential that the group come prepared to help the presenter create an action plan. They should also come with the understanding that the presenter is the focal point of the discussion and may start to feel overwhelmed, defensive, or uncomfortable if they are given too much information or advice. We find the best results occur when the board communicates through sharing experiences, and asking questions. It is also important for the board members to intently listen to the presenter through their verbal and non-verbal clues. It is the job of the Board participants to support and help the presenter feel secure enough to present their situation. The group is not there to judge the presenter or “fix” the problem. They are there to listen and provide useful information so that he/she may form their own plan of action on their terms. We have been given advice and told what to do our whole lives, we have a book shelf full of books, and have had encountered many folks that are more than willing to tell us how we should do something. In my experience the true change comes from the personal decision to take the action, the best action plan is the plan created by the individual. Therefore it is the responsibility of the board to help the presenter create his/her own action plan, and hold them accountable to take the necessary steps.
All parties come to the table with the intention to help one another grow, change and see their business in a different way. This can and does occur when the parties involved come to the table ready to communicate, listen, and take action.
Next time we will discuss the importance of assigning roles.
We have been providing the step by step guide to creating your own peer advisory board. This post is dedicated to the importance of a pre-set agenda. The last post was dedicated to commitment
Important meetings have an agenda. Your Peer Advisory Board meeting is an important meeting. The Agenda is the guide to how the time will be spent at the meeting. Going into the meeting without one may lead to time spent unproductively.
There is a fine line between the Peer Advisory Board and a Coffee Klatch.
Coffee Klatches have their place in the world; they are usually social in nature, a place where there isn’t a pre-set defined result in mind. Peer Advisory Boards are all about results.
Having a pre-set agenda gives the members boundaries: A start time, end time, and in between time.
As a busy business owner it would become frustrating to rush to a meeting that frequently starts late, ends late, or doesn’t accomplish the intended goal. Time is not a commodity and should not be wasted. The time the business owner sets aside to attend a meeting must accomplish something. Therefore, assign and stick to the meeting schedule. Don’t over plan or under plan the meeting.
Time limits in the agenda will force the group to concentrate on the task at hand and not stray in the conversation. Assign the role of timer to someone in the group.
Be respectful of your time and the time of your board mates. Having a pre-set agenda at your meeting will keep the group healthy and together. Groups that are disorganized will eventually fall apart.
Summary: If you would like to build a company that is not dependent every day upon the owner, marketable for sale, and generates personal wealth: then growth is the answer. Business growth is always the lowest risk option when compared to now growth or retracement. The first challenge is generating your first million dollars in revenue.
Ted shared with us his experience of hiring, identified red flags, and told us how to recognize them.
Jim shared experiences of integrating new employees, and explained the value of using assesment tools.
Karen shared many experiences on interviewing, new employee training, and keeping the team together.
Nick shared the dos and don’ts of hiring and firing. Questions to ask, and how to protect yourself if it becomes necessary to terminate an employee.
There has been some discussion around creating some follow up workshops on this topic to help business owners create an employee handbook, training checklist, offer letters, and interviewing techniques. We will keep you posted with the details of the programs.
Where do the top leaders in business & politics get their ideas? Why does it seem so effortless and easy for them to get to the top and stay there? The answer is simple, they surround themselves with other leaders that are just as or smarter than they are. The President has his cabinet, he also meets with other leaders of nations. Leaders of big business have their board of directors, and meet with other leaders of business at regularly scheduled retreats. These meetings are private closed door affairs. These meetings and retreats are what perpetuates the success and survivability of nations and big business. The leaders know they are smart, they know they can lead, but they also know they can’t and shouldn’t do it alone. They know that in order to stay competitive and keep their edge they have to bring their challenges, opportunities and ideas to the table and discuss them with people they trust.
Small business owners can attain the same edge, they don’t have to do it alone. Be in business for yourself, not by yourself! Business owners have transformed the way they do business due to the collaboration with others. Closed door meetings are exactly that, a private meeting to discuss in detail the challenges, opportunities, and ideas of your business. Coming out of the forest and looking at all of the trees allows you to focus on the big picture, not just the one tree. A true leader makes decision and engages in activity that promotes the big picture.
Peer Advisory Boards are for the winners in business that know they can always be a little bit better.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead
Being in business for your self doesn’t mean you have to do it by yourself. This article is a great illustration on how a Peer Advisory Board can give you the edge to grow your business.
When attending a business event which is more important Quantity or Quality?
Occasionally, I will hear people tell me how great an event was, because there were so many people there.
What I want to know, is that the key component to a great event?
Does it matter who attends?
I’m under the opinion that attending an event, talking fast, and gathering business cards does not lead to profitable business relationships. What does work is cultivating strong relationships with a few people that can have a significant impact on your business.
