The Benefits of Leading in Industry Organizations

Posted on November 11, 2007

Volunteering in an industry organization pays big dividends for only a small amount of time energy. There are many benefits you may not have considered.

There is a strange truth that only a few seem to really know and embrace:  By giving, you can gain in so many ways. I do believe this is generally true in the universe. But I want to focus on an industry trade show a few years back, where I was in no less than four gatherings with our industry leaders. These people were leaders because they took time away from their own businesses, large and small, to contribute to their community – in this case, the art and framing industry.

It was a few years ago when John, my competitor (and now my friend as well), invited me and many others to a meeting to talk about our industry and the formation of an association. From that start, he led me into the world of giving back to our industry, and I cannot thank him enough.

As I go to meetings, I see others get involved and watch them reap the benefits. All of the industry organizations are hungry for active participation. The underlying benefit is networking with powerful people and companies in your industry who will begin to know who you are, will respect your contribution and capabilities, and will want to work with you on some level when an opportunity presents itself.

But it takes some faith. At first, it’s not clear how it could increase sales or profits. And the urgency of day-to-day business will seem more important. But if you contribute consistently, and with the same discipline and acumen you apply to your own business or job (albeit with fewer hours per week), the benefits will come back to you.

All it takes is:

• Showing up at meetings. Sometimes they are boring, but you’re being seen and heard by other leaders of the industry.
• Speaking at the meetings, even if just once or twice. People really notice you when you speak, and they appreciate any contribution.
• Spending as little as an hour every two weeks—helping in some way. Writing, calling someone, getting on a committee.

Ask yourself: What person, what group, or what committee has some potential of helping you? Who would it be wise to get to know? After all, who you know can mean everything in life, and what better way to get to know the people who can open doors for you than by working shoulder-to-shoulder with them to help others? This is starting to sound selfish, but the reality is that we live in a busy world, and almost no one is so successful that they have the luxury of time. Yet if we can help our industry at the very same time as we help our own company – or our own career – we can afford to donate more time to the cause.

Some of the personal benefits I’ve observed for myself and others are:

• The self-gratification of helping others—it just feels good.
• The accolades and respect of peers and leaders in the industry.
• Confidence building for staff and new managers.
• Leadership skill building.
• The inside scoop on opportunities for participants’ businesses.
• Public relations for the participants.
• Job opportunities.
• New customers.
• New business partners.
• Opportunities to buy and sell businesses.
• Making new friends.

Of course, getting involved with just your hand out never works. It always takes time—as in months or years, and the genuine desire to contribute is a prerequisite. And while helping charities in your own hometown or any other non-industry-related cause also returns great benefits, your industry is the closest community to your livelihood—so the translation to dollars is generally faster. I do hope that the more material success you have encourages you to contribute still more in a never-ending cycle of giving and receiving.

This is especially true of leaders who have already “done their time.” We all deserve a rest from service, new people are always coming into the industry, and new opportunities will arise—and those new people with new opportunities may not even know who the old leaders are. If they do, they may be afraid to make the approach. Why give the benefits of personal involvement away to the next generation of entrants into our industry?

Now I should make the point that you should help your industry because it’s the right thing to do. If that alone makes you get involved, my hat’s off to you. But if not, think about this strange truth in this strange world—the more you give away, the more you’ll receive. Then pick up the phone and get involved.

Takeaways:

• Get involved in your industry organizations.
• Put in a little time on a regular basis, working your way toward some level of leadership.
• Nurture the relationships you start to build, and make sure your character and competencies shine through.

The above article first appeared in Décor Magazine.