Peer Group Networking

Jeffrey Scott on the Positive Effects of Peer Pressure

You are familiar with the phrase “peer pressure.” It can have a negative connotation in many circles, but I have found it can also be very positive.

With the right kind of peer pressure and support, you can grow your business quickly and efficiently.

This is the reason I have become such a big proponent of peer groups over the past 25 years.

It is the most productive way to grow your contacts, knowledge and results.

A Short History on Peer Groups
A forerunner to peer groups is the “Mastermind” concept. It was made famous in the book Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. He spoke of individuals and professionals getting together to foster each other’s thinking and planning.

After WWII, the idea of a structured peer group became part of our mainstream—for example, among automobile dealers. Their groups were called “Dealer 20” and helped the auto industry for years. 

Structured peer groups have become an accepted method for accelerated learning, problem solving and sharing.

Not All Groups Are the Same
The quality of a group’s members is the key to success.

"You need ambitious members who are
willing to be accountable & deal with
their issues openly in a private setting"

This requires members to  put their egos aside and be committed to the group and to the process. 

Your Best Board of Advisors
A strong group will help you work through both strategic and urgent issues (growth strategies, key hiring, acquisitions, recruiting, people issues, etc.). The best members will share their proven resources and give honest feedback. 

More importantly, members will hold you accountable for the execution of your plans over time. And this accountability increases with the more time you spend together. 

In all cases, you will establish strong bonds that will outlast your participation in the group itself. 

“Working with (Jeffrey’s) peer group has provided me with financial benchmarking and operational feedback from other leaders he has cultivated,” says Blair Walton, owner of Element Outdoor Living in North Carolina. “This has given me the visibility and awareness that we are heading in the right direction.”

Better and Best Practices
The side benefit of participating in a peer group is that it raises each member’s leadership abilities—following the advice of Tom Peters, who states that “leaders don’t create followers, they create more leaders.”

ABOUT JEFFREY SCOTT 

Jeffrey Scott, MBA, is the leading authority on growth and profit maximization in the landscape industry. For more information on how you can grow your landscape business, please visit www.jeffreyscott.biz.