Beyond LinkedIn: business clubs redefine business connections

According to information recently released by LinkedIn, Brazil is the third country with the highest engagement on the platform, surpassing the milestone of 75 million users. The average released by the network is that 150 thousand Brazilians create accounts weekly, which makes this environment one of the most sought after to make professional contacts. However, a new trend has been gaining strength: business clubs. After all, no other format will be more authentic and assertive than the real world.

For Tiago Machado, founder and CEO of Club M Brazil, one of the largest business clubs in the country, the secret is to combine digital tools with face-to-face experiences.“Today the virtual facilitates access to different types of people and the exchange of information between them, but amidst standardized professional profiles, it is difficult to generate deep links. Another point of attention of connections via social networks is the quality of exchange, since we are accustomed to sharing in these spaces our successes, but it is precisely in vulnerability, in opening ourselves to the main challenges faced in everyday life, that we will be able to expand the repertoire to really make a difference in our company”, he says. 

Thinking about helping entrepreneurs create impactful professional interactions, the executive listed below the top five tips. Check below: 

Real experiences create stronger bondsFace-to-face exchanges open space to generate bonds of trust.“Initiatives such as business clubs, for example, promote lunches and brotherhoods, which go beyond the formal.It is precisely when you share a meal or participate in an activity outside the office, that barriers fall and people approach”, says Machado. 

Segmentation & focusSocial networks offer reach, but sin for the lack of assertiveness.“Clubs bring together people with the same interests and affinities. These segmented groups help direct conversations and create more strategic partnerships, as well as allowing entrepreneurs to exchange experiences relevant to their areas of expertise, facilitating collaborations that really make a difference in the business”, explains the CEO. 

Mutual learning in trusted environmentsUnlike what happens in the virtual, where interaction is often superficial, face-to-face meetings offer a space for mutual learning.“Clubs for entrepreneurs provide actions focused on learning, such as discussion wheels and pitch days, forming a community of mutual aid for generating insights and solutions to common challenges”, reveals the executive. 

Creating environments conducive to innovation

The best ideas do not always come up in meeting rooms. “Alternative environments, such as beach gatherings or visits to companies of other entrepreneurs, provide a more relaxed atmosphere where creativity can flourish. The variety of scenarios helps break thought patterns and makes room for innovation, something difficult to achieve in interactions limited to a” screen, says the expert. 

Connections beyond the immediate goal

Often, connections made online have an immediate and punctual purpose.In the real world, professional interactions can and should be seen as a continuous process. “Working in activities that promote the construction of personal relationships creates a fertile ground for businesses to happen naturally. By encouraging participation in social activities, travel and events, entrepreneurs are able to build a wider, diversified and strategic network of contacts”, concludes Machado.