What Is the Benefit That Is In This For Me?

What Is the Benefit That Is In This For Me?

There is this networking group to which I belong. It is one I have been a part of for 7 years. Its purpose is ultimately to provide me business leads and referrals. Over the course of those 7 years, I have gotten some clients for my business. In addition, I have developed a network of fellow business professionals, to whom I can go or refer those I meet, if they need a particular service. I have great trust in the other professionals, as I meet with them weekly, and get to know them through further one to one interactions beyond our weekly meetings.

I have served this group well, being the chapter’s President on 2 occasions, its Education Coordinator on 2 occasions and its Vice President, which I am doing currently. The organization has our local chapter, which in turn is part of a regional set of chapters, which ultimately has an International office which provides overall guidance and structure. In any role I have served, I have done what I felt is best for our Chapter and its members.

This past year has been a trying one for me with this organization. My chapter members and I get along very well. I was even asked recently to help the overall regional organization implement enhancements to its mentoring program, which is something that appeals to me as a Job Search Strategy and Career Coach. Yet I have considered moving on from this group? Why? The Director Consultant of our region does not share the same views as I in terms of how the chapter should conduct its business. He is a stickler for following International guidelines by the book, (something that our local chapter has not always done). I feel caught in the middle, as I have always had my allegiances first and foremost in terms of what is best for our chapter members.

Recently the Director Consultant and I had a blow up after one of our meetings. While happy with our chapter’s results to date, he felt they could be even better. He indicated that to me that I was the “problem” that was holding the chapter back from being “great” as opposed to only “good.” Given the efforts I have given to the chapter, not only this year, but in all the previous years it made me very upset. Later that day, I spoke with a trusted confidant. She helped me to sort out my feelings. At the end of the conversation, she left me with a question that I have carried forward with me, to determine what I may do next. That question was “What is the Benefit That Is in this For Me?”

I’ve heard the WIIFM (What’s in it for me?), mindset before. As a coach, certainly that is a mindset one needs to be conscious of in working with clients, because a client will find it easier to make changes in their life if they see a benefit to themselves. I had also heard it when working with the coaching chapter here in New Jersey, when we were planning activities and events for members and determining what would encourage our membership to participate in them. However, I had never consciously applied the concept to myself. Maybe there was a part of me that I took of it as being “selfish.” There was another part of me that focused so much of myself on serving others, I did not always look to the concept of what best “served myself.”

However, I also know I have been torn about continuing my membership in the organization where I had the argument with the Director Consultant for some time now. What will I decide to do? Frankly, I do not know. I know my fellow members do not want me to leave and have suggested an approach that would continue to be best for our chapter. However, the statement that my confidant said to me still registers, and is one of which I do not want to let go. If I find myself in situations where I feel I am giving the best I can, and in particular doing best for all concerned, and suddenly feel that there is not an appreciation for my efforts, I’ll need to ask myself, “What is the Benefit That Is in this for Me?” and more so, “Why am I continuing to do this activity?”