There’s no getting away from it, freelance training can be very lonely. It’s vitally important to build up a group of people who you can call on. who you can open up to, talk honestly about how you are feeling, get ideas and support from. And obviously that goes 2 way and you can do the same for them!
You can do it on an informal basis, just identifying who those people might be and making sure you call them or go out for a coffee with them would be good. Little and often is the key here. I always find that just by picking up the phone to someone in my informal group and having a chat about how business is going works wonders for motivation. I’m always much more energised as a result.
Or you might want to go for something more formalised. You could try setting up a Mastermind Group by identifying a 4 people in your network who you think would work well together and asking them if they would like to join a group. You could meet face to face or via Skype once a month or quarter to help each other out with business issues.
I’d be interested to know what kind of support networks you have already created and what benefits you get from them so please comment below.
Great article.
I have found that the network and the way I have used the network has evolved over time.
Initially it was a couple of mentors.
It then went to a formal meeting of peers.
More recently I have an ad-hoc group of peers and we connect as and when needed.
My other key resource is my partner – always positive and providing a great deal of energy!
hi Sharon
I have made some great friendships with fellow trainers and can ask them for feedback work etc. I’m just curious though…wonder if it would be good to have trainers from other sectors and/or countries… in your group…
Hi Sharon,
I’m still in the very early stages of getting set up so my support group primarily consists of past contacts (mostly my ex training suppliers) and most of whom I lost touch with years ago and have only recently re-connected to via LinkedIn. Networking is a skill-set I’ve not paid enough attention to in the past and I’m fortunate that the quality of people I dealt with then was such that they are now willing to accommodate and support my sudden reappearance and requests for assistance and coaching.
I’ve also met a couple of new people via my support group and I’ve noticed how it is quicker and easier to start and build a new contact relationship when it comes via a respected introduction. Now if I can only get to the income generation stage I’m laughing!!
Regards
Hi Anne,
Do you mean other trainers on my subscriber list or on the Associate Alert list? I do have a lot of trainers from all over the world on the subscriber list and people have bought my products and programmes from all over the world! The amazing power of the internet ……
Great stuff, Sharon.
Like Andi, I’ve found I’ve needed different types of networking at different times. I now have a great bunch of colleagues/friends I can ring, meet up for coffee with, who are in the training world. I’ve also joined a business network which gives me a different perspective – and some useful business contacts – both from the point of view of me getting business, but also access to website designers, accountants, etc.
And finally, with Liz Bacon of Pause for, I’ve started a network group for training professionals in East Anglia. We meet formally once every 2 months for a “Workout”, and informally for a coffee in the alternate months, and both meetings are proving great sources of support, encouragement and collaboration. They give us the opportunity to continue our own personal and professional development, as well as developing our own businesses. (For any one interested, and I hope you don’t mind the plug, it’s the Learning Professionals’ Gym – http:www//thelearningprofessionalsgym.co.uk)
What a great idea, i have just returned from Belfast giving a talk on how to use Skype for training and communicating.This piece of software is so under used in this country.
Peter
Hi Sharon, I enjoyed reading the article, I remember when I started as a freelance trainer, I was encouraged to do so and supported by a friend whose husband had a computer training company and gor trquests for personal development courses, I found her guidance valuable. Skype and twitter has made networking with my international clients easy, and I am a member of a couple of physical networking groups that meet approx every six weeks. While Skype and Twitter are useful nothing beats getting in the car and going for a cake and a coffee with a fellow professional!
(Aside from family and friends), one of my support networks is my competition – the other teacher trainers who specialise in Philosophy for Children. Another is the “Cave”, a forum on http://www.psychotactics.com It’s the website of Sean de Souza, a marketing specialist I rate highly enough that I travelled to Washington to go to one of his workshops. I think membership of the Cave may be “one in, one out” but anyone can get the free emails he sends out which are very helpful.
The best support network of the three I enjoy is my Toastmasters club, Chelmsford Speakers. There’s a national network of clubs that are part of Toastmasters International, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to improving the communication and leadership skills of its members. The feedback you get from other members is much more specific, detailed and expert than you can reasonably ask of clients. It’s a very positive environment in which to enhance your skills, and I’d recommend it to anyone. Visit http://www.d71.org for details.
Thanks Jason, this information is really useful. I’ve heard really good things about Toastmasters too.
Hi Joy, thanks for your comments.
Yes, Skype and Twitter has certainly made networking a lot easier!
This is exactly what Fuseloop is being built for: a support network for independent professionals that bridges the gap between the distance of social media and the immediate reality of professional life. Check it out at http://fuseloop.com
This is such an important part of our jobs as freelance trainers and one that is overlooked – a very timely post – thanks.
I felt it one christmas when I found I didn’t have as many parties to go to as I did when I worked in an organisation; with clients and stakeholders and suppliers and different departments. I ended up getting drunk with a fellow trainer
I think Linked-In is a great way to connect and feel a part of the ‘tribe’ and I have just started enjoying getting on other trainers blogs to hear about their experience – it at least makes me feel I am not alone.
cheers,
Pete
Hi Peter,
Thanks for your comments and good to know you are starting to join groups etc.
One of the reasons I set up the Trainer Talk Live events was to help with this problem, I wanted to create a space where other trainers could come together, make frineds, bounce ideas off each other, collaborate on projects etc.
Why don’t you come to one of the Autumn events?