Biznik Meetings

Dan McComb from Biznik was nice enough to contact me immediately after signing up.  This was very impressive because in his email he personally thanked me for signing up.  This is the virtual equivalent of .... I don't know, there's nothing that even comes close to this!  Thanks Dan.In our ensuing conversation, Dan invited me to opine on how meetings should be run on the Biznik service.  Given my current interest in relationships, I was more than happy to oblige.  The following is for Dan and everyone else who may read this.First of all, meetings suck.  A professional meetup is a sub-class of a meeting and by definition they suck as well.  That being said, I think Dan shouldn't focus on having a meetup.  I think Biznik events should focus around this:Professional Biznik events are about professionals sharing their knowledge, network and compassion with one another.  I admittedly stole that from the book, Love is the Killer App, but more about that later.  I'm reading that book right now for more information on the series on relationships I'm doing and it strikes me as the only way to conduct relationships in the future.  I'm going to leave a discussion about the theory of sharing knowledge, network and compassion for a later time.So, to base an event off this fact, the first thing that is needed is a place for the event.  Obvious I know, but a few important things to mention here.  It must be a place where it is socially ok to speak loudly.  A library is a bad place for this.  I would suggest a bar or restaurant with a lively atmosphere and music in the background.The second thing that is needed is a event leader.  Someone must step up to the plate and put the event together.  They get to decide on the place.  For the privelege of being a leader, they should share something they had learned in the past month about their professional lives with the group.  This is where the knowledge comes in.  Freely giving away a small tidbit (or hack) is an excellent way to solidify a relationship.  Giving away a hack on a whim in normal conversation is difficult, hence the structure of the leader being first.Second, there should be a open and dedicated time to network.  Everyone gets to take a minute or two and ask the group if they know anyone who does X, because I need a person who does X.  The leader should encourage the group to share their network freely.  This also solidifies the relationships within the group.  It's much easier to give a referral to someone you already have a relationships with.  Remember, being a Biznik is about being in community. Lastly, after everyone has gotten to know each other a little bit, the leader should sit down and just let the time pass.  Open conversation will ensue and people will have the opportunity to get to know each other a little bit more.  This is where meeting in a bar or restaurant is a great idea, food and drinks always liven up conversation.  If this sounds a bit like the plan for a local Business Brunch, it isn't meant to.  Networking "Power Groups" I've been too have too much structure in my opinion.  They don't let life flow between group members and are stuffy.  Yet, I know that most people (like me!) need a little grease between the wheels to start talking with a group of strangers.  The knowledge sharing and network needs should take less than 20 minutes tops, if they go over that time, you've got yourself a Business Power Group.Good luck Bizniks.Technorati Tags: biznik, relationships, knowledge, network, compassion, love is the killer app,