How to Launch Your Own Huddle/Networking Group

Launching Your Own Huddle:  COVID has changed the way professionals network and how networking groups operate in general.  For one, we’ve seen groups as large as 50 to 60 members shrink down to a fraction of their original size or shut down completely.  We’ve also seen people become more focused with their time and energy as they’ve shifted their priorities.

In short, the business world has changed.  Due to the staffing issues, many companies are facing, and the aftereffects of the Great Resignation, companies and professionals alike are having to become more efficient to achieve the same results pre-COVID.

We were no different.  The professional networking world didn’t just change, it evolved with the times.  Our answer to this was the birth of the We&Co Huddle.

What Makes a Huddle Different from a Traditional Networking Group?

Huddles were born as a direct response to professionals wanting to become more efficient with their time and energy.  While still considered networking, here are the predominant differences between Huddles and traditional networking:

Many business networking groups advertise their meeting times for other professionals.  Huddles are slightly different in that members can request to visit other Huddles, but the group must agree unanimously to let them visit.  This minimizes the chances of a sales professional coming in and simply trying to sell to the group instead of adding value to the group.

Whether you are wanting to visit a pre-existing Huddle or start your own, all you have to do is scan this code and fill out the form:

How Do I Start My Own Huddle?

Precursors to Starting A Huddle:

1. There must be a minimum of 3 interested professionals wanting to start a new Huddle. If you are the prime interested person, inviting at least 2 other professionals to the introductory meeting is necessary.
2. They must all become members BEFORE the first Huddle meeting (not the exploratory meeting, the actual Huddle meeting).
3. They must all be targeting the same market.
4. There must not be any overlap in industries (for example, there shouldn’t be two residential realtors in the same Huddle).

Steps to Starting a New Huddle:

Set place and time for the first “exploratory” meeting with the 3 interested professionals at a local coffee shop or lunch venue.

• An “exploratory” meeting is an hour long and is there to gauge interest among potential members while inviting other potential Huddle members to attend.

What Do We Cover During the Exploratory Meeting?

During the “exploratory” meeting, there must be a We&Co Ambassador, Huddle Master or Regional Director present.  They will be sure to cover the following items:

• Learn who everyone is, what they do and what they are looking for.

1. Go over the biggest challenges each professional is experiencing.
2. Go over who the best referral partners are for each attendee.
3. Set a date and time for the first “Huddle” meeting.
4. Go over the “Who Do You Know” worksheet with members.

“Who Do You Know” Worksheet

Click here to download the worksheet.  Here is a sample snapshot:

• At the meeting, have each member invite a minimum of 3 potential members (professionals who want to grow and have at least 3 years in their industry, etc) to the first Huddle.
• Go Over Monthly Upcoming Events

1. The Business Mixer
2. Monthly Monday Meet & Eat
3. Coffee Talks
4. Go over upcoming monthly We&Co events

• Set professional goals (measurable and trackable) and set accountability terms.
  1. An example of accountability measures includes how to celebrate when a member reaches their goal, and how to hold them accountable should they not reach their goal.

About We&Co and The We&Co Huddles

We&Co is a professional co-oping & professional networking business that was founded in Springfield, Missouri in 2020.  While there are many professional networking groups in and around the United States, We&Co focuses on creating small industry-specific groups with five to ten professionals who all have the same target audience but offer different products and services.

In essence, professionals come to us when they want to save time while making more money.  These industry-specific groups are essential pods of professionals surrounded by their ideal referral partners.

These small groups of referral partners (called “Huddles) meet up twice a month for an hour and talk strategy on how to become that one-stop shop for their clients.  If you are a professional who is interested in joining or launching your own We&Co co-op (or “Huddle” as we like to call them), feel free to set up a 1-hour complimentary consultation here and set YOUR meeting on the calendar.