Know-How Exchange : Strategy

You are correct that being a leader in such a group might create more visibility for your company. The problem comes when you must spend/waste time in an organization in hopes of reaching that level.

I remember a huge fight over who should be little league president! Are you serious?

Every organization I've ever headed I've gotten there because I was pushed to that positon. I was there long enough because I saw value in the mission of the organization...not sales value.

Michael

The primary reason must be: Because you believe in the goals of the group and want to make it a success. If you're doing it to pad your resume or get leads, it'll be immediately obvious.

From a professional reason, the reason is to build trust. You want people to associate your actions, speech, and follow-through with professionalism. By exhibiting it in a group setting, they get a sample of who you are. If they like you, they're more likely to want to work with you when the time is right.

Some good posts up there.

Leadership is in short supply. There is a great book "managing for sales results" which should be called "leading for sales results". The author, Ron Marks suggests that those companies with management programs should include their involvement in nonprofit. You have no sticks and few carrots-- so you learn to lead.

It is one of my core beliefs to give back-- and I have been involved in a nonprofit most my adult life. Besides that, it has been very good for my business. I can sit and call the same people I meet f2f every month and tell them how good I am. Or I can prove it I make it happen with my involvement in an org they care about.

I have been involved with chambers and orgs biz and not biz related, (cystic fibrosis, march of dimes, public TV) all with same great results. Business leaders share the belief to give back to the community they serve--and they are there at board level, buy tables their black ties, donate their money. I have been in many CEO's offices to talk about a cause, making contact that I'd never get past voice mail. And it resulted in good business.

If you want to go this way, my best advice is to choose one-- and try to get involved at board level. Choose one and do it well, do not choose many and just attend an occasional meeting. Its like buying a gym membership. Just owning one won't get you results-- you have to work it.