Have you ever been a part of a group and wondered why you were so disappointed by it? Maybe you were in a paid business group and felt that others discussed their personal lives too much, or not enough. When others don’t live up to expectations this can be a source of disappointment. On this episode of My Biz Bestie, Maelisa and Amber put on their psychologists’ hats to discuss group norms and why they are important to creating the right inner circle. If you have ever been a part of a group you will want to listen to this episode to help you understand how expected norms affect the group experience.

What are the rules of your tribe?

You use group norms every day without even thinking about it. Group norms are an unspoken and unwritten set of social rules that govern the behavior in any given group. They are based on the type of group and differ based on the different social situations that the group is involved in. These unwritten rules guide the tribe, squad, posse, or group and lead to the expectations within. You can feel when someone is out of place when they aren’t meeting the expectations or following the norms. Think of some different groups you are in, how do your expectations of it vary based on the differing group norms?

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What are ways to think about squad rules to get your expectations met?

People often join business groups, paid masterminds, or networking groups based on an understanding of perceived group norms. To have your expectations met you need to have clearly defined rules that you understand. When the rules seem like they aren’t being followed it can lead to conflict and disappointment. Conflict is really an expectation that is not being met. If your expectations aren’t being met this can cause a personal crisis and lead to doubt as to why you are in the group in the first place. Have you ever left a group when you discovered that it didn’t meet your expectations?

How to get the best value out of your group

If you are interested in joining a paid mastermind or networking group then you need to be intentional about what you are doing. When you are not thinking about the social norms of the organization then you are setting yourself up for disappointment. One way to be clear about the norms is to simply ask what the rules are. You will get more value out of the group if you are able to express what your expectations are. Be thoughtful about what you are looking for and what you expect. Clearly defined expectations help to prevent hurt feelings or disappointment later on. Listen to this episode to hear more about how you can get the most value from your tribe.

Evaluate the norms of your squad

If you wonder why you are feeling disconnected from the tribe or if you are disappointed in the group you may want to consider whether the group norms are right for you. Get clear on what exactly they are and evaluate whether they are right for you and your goals. You don’t want to be a part of a tribe where you expect one thing and then it doesn’t happen. You will get more value out of the group if you are able to express what your expectations are. If you are looking to expand your network and open yourself to more opportunities then take a peek at the My Biz Bestie Networking master class. It could be exactly what you need to find your ideal squad.

In this episode…

  • [2:02] What are the rules of your tribe?

  • [4:38] What are ways to think about squad rules to get your expectations met?

  • [6:42] An example of boundaries

  • [9:55] How to get the best value out of your group

  • [19:46] Evaluate the norms of your squad

  • [24:02] Deciding whether to stay or leave the group

Resources & People Mentioned

Connect With Maelisa and Amber

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