Getting the most out of your peer group 

Joining a peer group is easy. Getting the most value out of it is sometimes the difficult part. Being a member of a peer group doesn’t guarantee results unless you actively participate. This means attending meetings, supporting other group members, and sharing your struggles and successes.  

To help you get the most of your peer group, we asked MSP owners what advice they’d give to someone just getting started. Here’s what they’ve learned from their experiences. 

1. Lead with your ears, not your mouth 

Resist the urge to prove you belong in the room. Every successful business owner there once felt as though they didn’t belong. They do and so do you. The owners who get the most out of peer groups are the ones who spend their first sessions absorbing before they start contributing. 

“Listen first and be a sponge. Different people in the peer group have different strengths and weaknesses and you can learn a little bit from everyone.” 

— John Kistler, Owner of J&B Technologies 

“A lot of us think we’re the smartest person in the room, and we’re happy to help others with any issues they have. But if you only go in with that mindset, you never learn from those around you.” 

— Heath Couchman, CEO at Advent Technologies 

2. Be honest about your struggles 

A peer group gives back what you put into it. If you show up with only polished wins, you’re leaving the most valuable part of the experience on the table. Don’t hide your struggles, problems or questions.  

“My advice to anyone joining a peer group is to go in willing to be completely open and honest. If you share only what’s going well and hold back the problems you’re struggling with, you probably won’t get nearly as much value from the group.” 

— Lyle Thomas, CEO at Professional IT Solutions 

“So often, as business owners, we get trapped inside our own silos and feel like there’s nobody we can let peek behind the curtain at what we’re building and how it’s running — at least nobody who will actually understand it. The group gives you an opportunity to share that, ask the questions that have been bouncing around in your head and get specific feedback on what’s really working where the rubber meets the road.” 

— Ryan Richardson, Marketing Manager at Systems Support 

3. Ask the embarrassing questions 

There is no dumb question inside a peer group. The room is full of people who have been where you are. The questions you’re afraid to ask out loud are often the most valuable ones. 

“For anyone starting out, it’s all about asking the questions you might be embarrassed to ask because everyone else on that call has been in roughly that same spot.” 

— Ryan Richardson 

“Ask questions. ‘How, why, what made you…’ are three good starters. Then listen and take notes.” 

— Nathan Meese, Marketing Manager at Affiliated Resource Group 

4. Do the work 

Don’t wait until the timing is right, until you fully understand the assignment, until you can execute it perfectly. That instinct costs you more than you realize. The owners getting the most out of peer groups aren’t the ones with the best ideas; they’re the ones willing to act, evaluate the results and improve from there. 

“There will be times when some, or even most, of the group doesn’t put their heads down and complete an assignment. Don’t let that become your excuse for not doing it either. You’re surrounded by business owners who are helping you build for where your company is going, not just where it is right now.” 

— Lyle Thomas 

5. Contribute as much as you take 

The most valuable thing you can bring to a peer group isn’t a success story but an honest account of what didn’t work. A 10-minute conversation about a mistake you made can save someone else months of frustration. The most generous members are those willing to put the real stuff on the table. 

“Don’t just take from the group. Share what’s working in your business, help others when you can and build relationships outside the meetings. The more you contribute, the more valuable the group becomes, not only to you, but to everyone in it.” 

— Lyle Thomas 

“Once asked, make sure you share your experiences. The good and the bad. The best experience is one that is a shared experience.” 

— Nathan Meese 

Owners who get the most out of their peer groups aren’t necessarily the most experienced or most successful. They are the ones who come in, listen, share, contribute and do the work. They put their real problems on the table, which, in the end, helps everyone in the group grow. 

If you’re looking for that kind of community, check out MSP Success Peer, a community built around support and success.