By Phil Harwood

If you watched the hit TV series, Cheers, you know what happened every time Norm walked into the bar. Everyone in unison would raise their glasses and shout, “Norm!” Cheers was your friendly neighborhood bar “where everybody knows your name.” Clearly, everyone knew Norm’s name.

The question I have for you is: “Where is the place where everyone knows your name?” Where do you have a sense of belonging? Where is your community? Who are your people?

This is not an insignificant question. We all have a desire to be part of a team, a group, a family, a community. We all want a place to go where everyone knows our name, where we can let our guards down, relax, be ourselves, and know that people have our backs.

For the past several years, I have been facilitating peer groups with my consulting firm, Pro-Motion Consulting, and with the Snow & Ice Management Association (SIMA). Some of these peer groups meet in person while others meet online. Regardless, they provide a place “where everyone knows your name” in a very real sense. 

I have seen close personal relationships form in peer groups – not always – but enough to know that it is more than possible. It is likely a probability. I have witnessed deep discussions on sensitive matters that would unlikely be discussed outside of a closed peer group. I have had rich experiences in every peer group that I’ve been affiliated with. Simply put, peer groups work.

If you’re interested in learning more about peer groups, please reach out to me and we’ll arrange a phone call. GrowTheBench includes a platform for online peer groups as well.

Where else can you go where everyone knows your name?

Comments are always appreciated via email at Phil@GrowTheBench.com.

Now go forth.