While technology affords us new learning opportunities like webinars, webcasts, and video conferencing, the art of personal interaction and the benefits of sharing in common groups are being lost. Nothing can replace the feeling of sharing goals, ideas, and solutions with those who understand our problems, frustration, and needs.While we need the large conferences and webcasts for exposure to large volumes of information and technology, another need being under serviced is small group meetings and sharing environments.

When going to large conferences make sure to research it. Sometimes it’s hard to get a lot out of a larger conference, so it’s important to be sure the conference allows for small group sharing. Sometimes people that produce the conferences get professional speakers. Make sure that the speaker is still practicing in the industry to help ensure that the information they are providing is up-to-date and they can offer practical advise and information for solving problems.

Make sure the conference agenda has round table settings or panel discussions. With any conference, large or small, it is important to find one that allows sharing of good and bad experiences that firms have encountered and how they managed them. Finding a common group of colleagues or other business owners to commit to meetings regularly will help your business greatly. With smaller groups, you can easily create an environment that encourages new ideas and the sharing of common problems. This group can always introduce new material and stay up with technology.

The best kinds of groups are the ones where members are allowed to vote on the course and decisions. The group should vote leadership to guide and decide on group issues.

Always keep the group fresh, look for new members that can contribute. If the group grows too large, create a large model that can be replicated easily for other groups to follow.

Before going through the trouble of making a group, check your local professional societies, chamber of commerce for local groups already established.