Open Forum

When the pandemic started, my networking group moved online. I really enjoyed connecting with people on Zoom and we kept meeting that way even when people started returning to the office because it was convenient. Group members got busier and busier and it was eventually decided to stop meeting. I'm super disappointed. I made some great connections through my group, and it's going to be hard to start fresh. 

What should I do next?

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Taylor
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@Taylor Evans Ghosal, oof - I feel this. When everything went virtual, I felt like there was a collective sigh of relief -- we could all stay connected even though we couldn't be physically present with each other. But now I feel a different kind of collective sigh when someone (ahem, me) suggests a virtual hangout: "dear god, no more screens."

I wish I had some advice to throw down here, but I don't. But I did want to 1) validate your feels and 2) follow this for whenever anyone else has insights to add! :) ​

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Stay awesome,
Quinn
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Original Message:
Sent: 01-27-2023 10:30
From: Taylor Evans Ghosal
Subject: My Zoom networking group stopped meeting. What now?

When the pandemic started, my networking group moved online. I really enjoyed connecting with people on Zoom and we kept meeting that way even when people started returning to the office because it was convenient. Group members got busier and busier and it was eventually decided to stop meeting. I'm super disappointed. I made some great connections through my group, and it's going to be hard to start fresh. 

What should I do next?

------------------------------
Taylor
------------------------------

Hi @Taylor Evans Ghosal,
You say "it was decided," but not by whom. Would any others in the group like to keep meeting? If yes, consider messaging them separately and saying, "I'm still into this, would you also be into it if we kept meeting online - even if we did it less frequently than we did before?" ​
You don't mention what kind of networking group it was, but if it was based on your industry or had another specific focus, perhaps think about anyone else you know who might be interested in that kind of group and invite them as well.
You might even just set up a meeting and say, I'm going to be here for anyone who wants to talk. Set up a recurring time with automatic reminders to everyone a day or two ahead, and at the appointed time just sign in and hang out for an hour. Have a book or a project available to keep you occupied if no one shows up. If they do, great. If not, you've had an hour of time to yourself for a project you wanted to do anyway.
But being the organizer of a group is work, I know! My last suggestion, if you don't want to be the organizer, is to make your wishes known. You've already done that here, but maybe post on other social media that your networking group disbanded and you're looking for a new one focused on X, and is anyone part of one that you could join? I figure it never hurts to ask.
Good luck!
Amy

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Amy Finkelstein
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Original Message:
Sent: 01-30-2023 09:39
From: Quinn Drew
Subject: My Zoom networking group stopped meeting. What now?

@Taylor Evans Ghosal, oof - I feel this. When everything went virtual, I felt like there was a collective sigh of relief -- we could all stay connected even though we couldn't be physically present with each other. But now I feel a different kind of collective sigh when someone (ahem, me) suggests a virtual hangout: "dear god, no more screens."

I wish I had some advice to throw down here, but I don't. But I did want to 1) validate your feels and 2) follow this for whenever anyone else has insights to add! :) ​

------------------------------
Stay awesome,
Quinn

Original Message:
Sent: 01-27-2023 10:30
From: Taylor Evans Ghosal
Subject: My Zoom networking group stopped meeting. What now?

When the pandemic started, my networking group moved online. I really enjoyed connecting with people on Zoom and we kept meeting that way even when people started returning to the office because it was convenient. Group members got busier and busier and it was eventually decided to stop meeting. I'm super disappointed. I made some great connections through my group, and it's going to be hard to start fresh. 

What should I do next?

------------------------------
Taylor
------------------------------

Thank you for validating my feelings, @Quinn Drew. You bring up a good point that people are just darn tired of screens. I didn't think about it in the context of my networking group. I work from home most days of the week and when I have a full slate of meetings, the last thing I want to do after work is hop on Zoom again!

Your advice is great, @Amy Finkelstein! I think you're right that I need to take some initiative and reconnect with my networking group members who may be interested in continuing to meet. I really like the idea of setting up an open meeting time. It's low risk and possibly high reward if I can start up my own Zoom networking group! ​​​​

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Taylor
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 01-31-2023 10:09
From: Amy Finkelstein
Subject: My Zoom networking group stopped meeting. What now?

Hi @Taylor Evans Ghosal,
You say "it was decided," but not by whom. Would any others in the group like to keep meeting? If yes, consider messaging them separately and saying, "I'm still into this, would you also be into it if we kept meeting online - even if we did it less frequently than we did before?" ​
You don't mention what kind of networking group it was, but if it was based on your industry or had another specific focus, perhaps think about anyone else you know who might be interested in that kind of group and invite them as well.
You might even just set up a meeting and say, I'm going to be here for anyone who wants to talk. Set up a recurring time with automatic reminders to everyone a day or two ahead, and at the appointed time just sign in and hang out for an hour. Have a book or a project available to keep you occupied if no one shows up. If they do, great. If not, you've had an hour of time to yourself for a project you wanted to do anyway.
But being the organizer of a group is work, I know! My last suggestion, if you don't want to be the organizer, is to make your wishes known. You've already done that here, but maybe post on other social media that your networking group disbanded and you're looking for a new one focused on X, and is anyone part of one that you could join? I figure it never hurts to ask.
Good luck!
Amy

------------------------------
Amy Finkelstein

Original Message:
Sent: 01-30-2023 09:39
From: Quinn Drew
Subject: My Zoom networking group stopped meeting. What now?

@Taylor Evans Ghosal, oof - I feel this. When everything went virtual, I felt like there was a collective sigh of relief -- we could all stay connected even though we couldn't be physically present with each other. But now I feel a different kind of collective sigh when someone (ahem, me) suggests a virtual hangout: "dear god, no more screens."

I wish I had some advice to throw down here, but I don't. But I did want to 1) validate your feels and 2) follow this for whenever anyone else has insights to add! :) ​

------------------------------
Stay awesome,
Quinn

Original Message:
Sent: 01-27-2023 10:30
From: Taylor Evans Ghosal
Subject: My Zoom networking group stopped meeting. What now?

When the pandemic started, my networking group moved online. I really enjoyed connecting with people on Zoom and we kept meeting that way even when people started returning to the office because it was convenient. Group members got busier and busier and it was eventually decided to stop meeting. I'm super disappointed. I made some great connections through my group, and it's going to be hard to start fresh. 

What should I do next?

------------------------------
Taylor
------------------------------