BUILD YOUR GROUP CALLS BY INVITING THE RIGHT PEOPLE

Priya Parker spoke to over 1,000 people in a ballroom and said it felt intimate. She asked the organizer how that happened, and they said they invited with a capital “I.”

“They send a printed invitation to each guest as a formality. But months before the event, she personally calls every single potential guest by phone to invite them to the dinner. When I remarked that that was a lot of work, she smiled and said, “My entire job is to build community. The one-on-one time I get on that phone call is as important than the event itself.” Inviting with a capital “I,” means letting people, in whatever way appropriate to you and your context, know that you actually want them there.”

I tell anyone looking to start their own group Zoom calls to invite.

You can’t just put the Zoom link in a newsletter and expect people to show up. Be intentional with how the room is assembled. Invite the people that you’re already having conversations with, who show up with the same enthusiasm and energy.

When your brand new room has people you’ve already had conversations with, your guests will feed off the energy level they’re seeing. This sort of sets an example of how they can present themselves, and feel comfortable doing so because they see other people feeling the same way.