With an increasing amount of people choosing to work solo/freelance/free of corporate ties, it's still important that connections are being made, information is being shared and networks are working for the best outcomes for all concerned.  I know that over the course of my career I have come into contact with organisations and individuals who have sparked the creativity and motivation which has taken me into the next phase of my career. So, in order to help not only myself but also the many friends and work colleagues who are seeking inspiration in the workplace, I have decided to call out for participants in the first establishment of a Creative Circle.

I'm looking for between five and seven motivated, creative people who are seeking same to start a discussion circle that meets every six weeks via a conference video call on Skype. (so you must have Skype and have the capacity to run a webcam.  Share this with your friends via Facebook please.

Drawn from ideas I have gratefully received from people like Paulo Coehlo, Edward de Bono and Kare Anderson, the Creative Circle aims to offer participants an opportunity to:

• request help, a favour or information
• gain extra ideas or inspiration for taking a proposal to the next level
• create connections - geographically (people on the ground), financially (through work engagement or investment), creatively (through ideas, practical skills or information) and personally (meet and find people with talents, personality and drive)
• pool resources, spread the word, stay focused

What does the circle involve? (and yes, you can set one up yourself)

The circle involves six to eight people meeting regularly in some form or another - dinner, lunch, breakfast, over Skype or whatever suits the circle.  They set a date every six weeks to meet. 

The circle needs one person to volunteer to arrange the meetings and inform participants of any other information pertaining to the circle (but it goes without saying, if you join you are to be responsible to taking part and keeping up-to-date).

Bring together your group and arrange how you will meet. For the first meeting, you may need to do some intro's about who, what and why.  Then we move into the format of the circle.

 What the circle covers

It covers the positive things - doing, motivating, inspiring and sharing.  It doesn't cover any type of ongoing moaning, shared sympathy or poor me discussions.

At the commencement of the circle (and these are suggestions only) the circle greets participants and then confirms how the circle will turn (who will go first and the following order).  Then the first person makes their request and there is a short discussion across the group about who will help, who can help etc.  Then onto the next person until you have gone around the whole circle.  The request can be anything from a favour, to information, to a contact who can help etc.  Then go around the circle again and each person gives a quick update on what they are doing.  Each member of the circle can at this stage be informed about the other's work and this provides an opportunity for the members to assist their colleague by either facebooking, linking in, my space-ing or blogging about the work of the others.  Think networking, increase in fan numbers, Search Engine Optimisation. You get the picture.

Making the Circle your own

In short, those in the circle can determine how the circle best works for them.  Make your own guidelines to suit the needs of the members.

Send me your Feedback!!

Let me know how your circle is working for you by emailing me at libby at libby fordham dot com dot au.  I look forward to hearing from you.