Thinking back to networking in the South West before Covid-19, it was pretty much an in-person activity. Nowadays however, you have the choice to attend in person, or be part of an online group. That is the legacy of Lockdown!
Networking can be effective either way, at Countdown Creative we have found it game-changing for our business to get out there and meet new people, particularly at BNI Exeter. However we still participate on Zoom in groups which attract people beyond Exeter.
For this reason it seems Zoom is with us to stay for the foreseeable future anyway. Purely because there are so many business people who love the freedom video conferencing offers.
Zoom of course offers wider opportunities for networking in the South West. As travelling is not an issue, people from Plymouth, Barnstaple, Exeter etc can all attend with nobody having to get in their car.
The convenience of Zoom is not to be underestimated. We all know how great it is to stumble out of bed and attend an 8 am Zoom call while still in your pajamas! Depending on whether you use the video option. Or maybe you are only dressed properly from the waist up!
However, Zoom doesn’t allow for much spontaneity. Everything is planned and intentional and you don’t have those informal chats around cups of coffee where so much business can take place. At the end of the day it will depend on your personal preference on whether you want to use Zoom or not.
Zoom networking in the South West
It’s great that some networks continue to offer Zoom networking opportunities in the Devon and Cornwall region. This is good news for those who find In-person meetings a challenge. It can be awkward not knowing anybody, even in a place you are supposed to meet people. The last thing you want is to be left standing around like a spare part. However, most network hosts are sensitive to see everyone gets to connect with someone.
I find Zoom a bit like a chess game…. You click on the Zoom link or enter the meeting details and you are faced with a checked block of people. Ok it’s not black and white like a chessboard or crossword puzzle but it has a similar feel and there is definitely a strategy involved.
You get your two minutes to tell everyone where you’re from and hopefully get to connect with some new contacts, especially in a break-out room. It’s not long before you realise that the pattern of small squares of people resembles a chessboard and discover that many pieces on the board have the same function. Some networks avoid this from happening by allowing only one person into their group from a particular business sector. However such exclusivity does come with a cost.
Networking is much more than a game of chess although it does require a strategy. It’s not about winning a game but about rubbing shoulders with like-minded people, fellow entrepreneurs who want to make things happen. That could be virtual but for most it’s so much better in person. Whatever your preference, we hope you will find this sample of business networks in Devon helpful.
email me at al@countdowncreative.co.uk if you would like to visit the BNI Exeter chapter in person, or if you would prefer to participate in BNI online.
Al Gibson
The founder of Countdown Creative, Alistair Gibson is an expert communicator who has learned how to harness principles of traditional journalism with the power of today’s digital media platforms. He has lived in Devon for 15 years and worked in Plymouth and Exeter.
