A Chamber of Commerce is way more than simply an affiliation of companies – it’s a neighborhood. To be a member of this neighborhood signifies that you don’t must kind by the challenges of proudly owning, working, or rising a enterprise alone. Enterprise leaders have so much of issues in frequent, however essentially the most obvious is that they all resolve related issues each day. Whether or not it’s staffing, money movement, taxes, or marketing, everybody who’s a Chamber member is working by related and repeatedly recurring points. That’s why we collect to share the experience which may solely come from expertise. Our employees has the pleasure and accountability of curating that neighborhood for our members. That work issues most in occasions like these.
It may be handy to shrug off a Chamber of Commerce when occasions are nice. We’ve heard individuals inform us that “I’m simply not sure I want that proper now” and “my enterprise is doing nice” as causes for why they select to not be part of. These responses miss the purpose. When you come to a Chamber of Commerce and have a look at it as a service, then you definately in all probability can be dissatisfied in what you discover. Nevertheless, in case you see the Chamber as a neighborhood, the worth of becoming a member of is way more inherent.
Proper now, as we stay standing within the financial fog of a pandemic, our neighborhood of members are banding collectively in new and significant methods. There appears to be a common understanding amongst enterprise leaders that what impacts one of us impacts us all. Though the virus we live by doesn’t influence all companies equally, as time marches ahead, the widespread disruption turns into extra evident. That’s why we proceed to assemble, even whereas bodily distant.
This week, our crew hosted one of our lengthy-working Lunch & Study applications through Zoom. Within the age earlier than COVID-19, these lunchtime meetups have been a well-liked manner for members to return, mingle, and uncover some useful recommendations on tips on how to enhance their enterprise outcomes. Now, by a shared display, our members nonetheless prove to search out some solutions from their fellow enterprise leaders.
I didn’t get an opportunity to tune in whereas this system was stay this week, however as a result of the topic of the assembly concerned advertising and communications I went again and watched it later. The speaker was Dave Fiore of Fiore Communications. He gave an amazing presentation on how companies can attain their altering audiences. Dave has been within the communications enterprise for years and has an amazing podcast referred to as How I Obtained Right here that’s value a pay attention. I’m glad I went again to observe his program too as a result of the speak he provided was insightful and stuffed with knowledge for a speedyly altering world.
One of the best half about watching although got here extra from my lens as a Chamber staffer. There have been dozens of members in attendance and to see all of them interacting as a neighborhood reaffirmed some of our current crew discussions. Every week, our Chamber employees spends numerous hours working to conceive new methods to drive worth to our neighborhood of members. The mixture of Dave’s details and seeing the members have interaction with him was proof we’re nonetheless heading in the right direction.
In Dave’s presentation, he walked the group by 5 areas of consideration for creating efficient methods throughout these everchanging occasions. These factors have been as follows:
- Hearken to your viewers
- Maintain the massive image in thoughts
- Use your knowledge
- Repurpose current instruments
- Actions converse louder than phrases
Not solely have been Dave’s factors effectively obtained by the Lunch & Study attendees, however I discovered them to be fairly on the mark. That’s as a result of they remind me of the method our crew goes by.
What we would like our members to know concerning the present state of the Chamber and its future is that this: we would like our enterprise neighborhood to proceed to thrive and can do no matter it takes to make sure that actuality. Like Dave suggested the group this week, we’re listening, trying on the huge image, repurposing instruments, utilizing knowledge, and striving to guide with our actions. It doesn’t matter what playing cards we’re dealt within the months forward, that technique received’t change. Thanks for being an element of our neighborhood. We’re honored to have you ever with us.
