Have you ever wished you had a community to support you throughout the long journey of your career? I’m not referring to a mentor who provides you with occasional guidance or a network to lean on when times get rough. I’m talking about a group of people to regularly bounce ideas off of, advise you on tough decisions, and offer guidance when stressful work challenges arise.
Where your work meets your life.
The Power of Peer Groups (and How to Start One)
Accelerate your personal and professional development.
April 05, 2024
HBR Staff; Thomas Barwick/CSA Images/Getty Images
Summary.
A peer group is a group of professionals who meet on a regular basis to confidentially share their current issues and exchange insights that will help each member excel. Their benefits have been proven by successful leaders and workers for centuries. If you want to form a peer group of your own, take the following steps:
- Recruit the right members: Try to form a group of six to 10 people with diverse personal and professional backgrounds. Make sure you each respect one another, and are committed to meeting regularly throughout the year.
- Set guidelines. Agree upon how often you’ll meet, who will organize the agenda for your meetings, as well as who will moderate and keep time.
- Agree on values. Confidentiality, candor, empathy, and balance are required for your group to establish an inclusive and productive culture.
- Check in to keep up the momentum. Every few months, ask members for feedback to learn if the group dynamic is still beneficial for each member.