Getting involved in professional organizations can be a great way to boost your team motivation, network with other professionals, learn new skills, and advance your career. However, finding and joining the right organizations for your goals and interests can be challenging. Here are some tips to help you get started.
Before you start looking for professional organizations, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve by joining them. Do you want to expand your knowledge in a specific field, industry, or topic? Do you want to meet new people who share your passion, challenges, or vision? Do you want to gain recognition, credibility, or exposure in your profession? Do you want to find mentors, collaborators, or opportunities for growth? Write down your objectives and prioritize them according to your needs and preferences.
Once you have your objectives in mind, you can start researching the different professional organizations that match them. You can use online platforms, such as LinkedIn, Meetup, or Eventbrite, to find local, national, or international groups that host events, workshops, webinars, or conferences related to your field or interests. You can also ask your colleagues, peers, mentors, or contacts for recommendations or referrals. Additionally, you can check the websites, blogs, newsletters, or social media accounts of the organizations you are interested in to learn more about their mission, vision, values, activities, benefits, and membership requirements.
You don't have to join every professional organization that catches your eye. In fact, it might be more beneficial to focus on a few that offer the most value and relevance for your objectives. Quality over quantity means that you should look for organizations that have a strong reputation, a diverse and active membership, a clear and aligned purpose, and a variety of resources and opportunities for learning and networking. You should also consider the time, money, and energy you can invest in each organization and how they fit into your schedule and budget.
Joining a professional organization is not enough to get the most out of it. You also need to engage and contribute to the community and the activities. This means that you should attend the events, participate in the discussions, share your insights and feedback, ask questions and offer answers, and connect with other members. You should also look for ways to contribute to the organization's goals and initiatives, such as volunteering, mentoring, leading, or sponsoring. By engaging and contributing, you can build trust, rapport, and value with your peers and leaders, and enhance your team motivation and professional development.
Volunteering is a great way to get involved with an organization. When I was in Connecticut and knew I wanted to move to Colorado, I called the Membership Director of the Project Management Institute in Colorado. I was already volunteering in CT and I thought it would be a great way to get my foot in the door to volunteer for the CO chapter before I even moved there. The wonderful thing about associations is that they all have state chapters. To get to know people in CO, I would attend Toastmasters and National Speakers Association meetings in CO since they were all online. Volunteering and checking out other chapters are two great ways to grow your network and your professional skills.
I started by offering to present on a hot topic in the industry at regional and national conventions. The organizers vetted me by asking why I felt I was qualified, and after speaking to me, they realized I could educate and convince, based on new boundaries my company was breaking to solve our industry problems. So I started offering case studies, then talks about how to mobilize teams to accomplish this, started authoring articles for the industry press, which became an annual assignment I won at each ensuing conference, and launched a mini career as a topic expert. Fear of public speaking holds so many back from educating their peers. Overcome that. Be an active contributor, please.
To get the most out of a professional organization, it's important to actively engage and contribute beyond just joining. This involves attending events, participating in discussions, sharing insights, asking and answering questions, and connecting with other members. Additionally, contributing to the organization's goals through volunteering, mentoring, leading initiatives, or sponsoring can make a significant impact. By engaging in these ways, you build trust, rapport, and value with peers and leaders, which enhances team motivation and supports your professional development.
Finally, you should regularly evaluate and adjust your involvement in professional organizations. You should assess whether they are meeting your expectations and objectives, and whether you are meeting theirs. You should also seek feedback from other members and leaders on your performance and impact. If you find that an organization is no longer serving your needs or interests, or that you are no longer serving theirs, you can consider leaving or reducing your involvement. Conversely, if you find that an organization is exceeding your expectations and objectives, or that you are exceeding theirs, you can consider increasing your involvement or taking on more responsibilities.