Liz Lynch, President, Consult Ad Hoc

Last month, at my last speaking gig of the year, I had the privilege of presenting to the Association of Real Estate Women (AREW), a dynamic and diverse group involved in all aspects of real estate, including architecture, law, building security and banking. During the session, several of the members shared powerful stories about networking within the group that led to incredible business opportunities.

The event made me think about why some people get more out of professional associations and networking groups than others. I've seen time and again that it's simply not enough to pay your membership fee and hope for the best.

Even going to one or two events a year won't get you very far in most cases. Sure, you may meet some terrific people, but unless your profession is uniquely non-competitive, or you make an overwhelmingly positive first impression, it's unlikely that much will come of it. You make an investment of both time and money when you join a group. So here are five things you can do to make the most of your investment: (1) Limit your memberships to two or three groups. Don't spread yourself too thin. Maximize your experience by going for depth of involvement. (2) Attend meetings and events regularly. Build a base of support with regular members and position yourself with new members as someone in the know. (3) Join a committee. Take a leadership role in the group and interact with members at a more meaningful level. Show them what you can contribute. (4) Raise your visibility. Offer to organize an event, round up a speaker or greet people at meetings. We always notice the host at a party more than the guests. (5) Invite friends and associates. Share the learning and experience. It can be a win-win for you, your friend and the group.

If you're involved in an organization, share these tips with your members and help them increase their satisfaction with your group.

Liz Lynch is president of Consult Ad Hoc, a consulting and training firm dedicated to helping business leaders with strategy and finance issues that maximize revenue and profit. She is also the author of 102 Secrets to Smarter Networking, the first in a series of guides for growing businesses. Upcoming topics including pricing, profitability and strategic planning. Liz holds an M.B.A. from Stanford University and a B.S. in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research from the University of California at Berkeley."