Having a community of like-minded peers who understand your path, your desires, and your business is truly unmatched in the impact that it has on your business, and on you as a business owner. If there's one thing I've learned in my 11+ years of being a business owner, it's that relationships and community help bring in new clients, fill your programs and drive profit more than anything else!

The type of community I'm referring to today is different from one that you would create to grow your audience, such as a Facebook Group, email list, Meetup group, or anything along those lines. You find communities, like the one we're talking about today, in places such as masterminds, memberships, and accountability groups. 

How do these sorts of business relationships actually help you grow your business if they’re not directly related to marketing efforts? And, how do you know which community is right for you among a sea of options? 

That's what we'll be exploring below.

5 Reasons Why Community is Essential for Female Entrepreneurs

1. Confidence

Especially as a new entrepreneur, or a seasoned entrepreneur on a new journey, finding your confidence in a new space can be tricky and incredibly intimidating. Not only that, but so often in the beginning stages of entrepreneurship, friends and family members may not support or believe in your business in a way that helps you build the confidence you need to be successful. 

Being surrounded by people who uplift you and believe in you gives you the confidence that you need to take daring action, go out and find new opportunities, and build the business of your dreams so you can make the income and impact you deserve and desire. 

2. Accountability 

Accountability is something that so many new entrepreneurs struggle with. Working for yourself is entirely different than working for someone else, or for a corporation, and when you’re the one who has to be both the boss and the employee, there can be a bit of a struggle at times. 

When you have others holding you accountable, you show up more for yourself. Being in a community of supportive, inspiring, women who are on a similar path as you, understand your struggles, and continue to hold you accountable makes you play bigger in your business. 

Not only that, but when you share your goals and dreams with a community, you’re much more likely to stick with them. It’s fairly easy to let ourselves out of our commitments when we’re the only one who knows about them. But, when there are other people to hold you accountable, you’re more likely to follow through on what you say you want to do. 

3. Different Perspectives

Everyone has a different perspective on the world (even if only slightly different). Part of what makes being part of a community so impactful is that every single member is going to bring a different perspective and point of view to everything that's going on in your business. 

These different perspectives and backgrounds make it possible and accessible for you to see things differently, and can open doors to new ideas that help you grow your business that you may have never even considered before. 

4. Combined Experience

You can only experience so many things in however long you’ve been in business. So, if you’ve been in business for three years, you are limited to those three years of experience. Which means that when you’re presented with a new, sticky situation, you may not know the best way to go about handling it. 

However, most people don't to have the same experiences and struggles at the same time. So, when you have a community of women on a similar path right at your fingertips, you also have the combined experiences of what they all have been through in their businesses (and lives), and you’re more likely to find someone who has already gone through the new challenge in front of you, who can help you through it. 

5. Relationships

There are countless things that I could share in the category of relationships. Perhaps the most important is that relationships are the center of everything we do, as people and as business owners. Relationships are what allow others to hold us accountable, celebrate our wins with us, share in our struggles, make us more confident, and ultimately allow us to grow our businesses. 

Even if you don't have a large following, the relationships you form in a community of peers can help you grow your own following, such as Facebook Groups or email list. By collaborating with other members in your community, promoting each other within your other circles, and serving as allies and advocates for one another, you get introduced to new potential clients. 

The relationships you form in a community can lead to more business: sales, clients, speaking opportunities, podcast interviews, and so much more. When you're in a community, there are so many more opportunities and connections with people who can help your business grow.

It’s safe to say that going it alone is not only lonelier and less fun, but also so much more difficult. Rather than continuing to try to reinvent the wheel and isolate yourself from others, join a community that has your back, holds you accountable, shares their experiences, offers different perspectives, and can ultimately help you grow your business. But, how do you know which community is going to be the best for you and your business?

How to Decide Which Community is Right for You

Every community has its own culture, or "vibe," and some will be a natural fit while others won't. Choosing the best community for YOU is essential to getting all the results listed above. Below are some important factors to take into consideration when looking for a community that's the best fit for you, your needs, and your business. 

Culture

Is the community aligned with your beliefs, your work style, your way of life? For example, does the community leader and members believe in “hustling” and “grinding” 24/7 in order to reach success, or do they practice a work/life balance? Finding a community with members and culture similar to what you practice and what you believe in is going to amplify the relationships, connections, and success that you will find in this group. 

Members

Another important thing to consider is the members of the community. Do they run a similar business as you, whether that be a similar business structure or a similar service/product? For example, if you run a product-based business, it may not be as beneficial for you to join a group full of service-based entrepreneurs. 

Not only that, but it’s important to consider who the members of the group are outside of their business. Do they have similar beliefs and lifestyles as you? Do you share interests and values? For example, if you’re a mom, you may find it beneficial to join a group with other entrepreneurs who are moms, who will understand the struggles that you face on a day to day basis. 

Leadership

A huge factor in choosing a group that’s a good fit for you is the leader of the group. Do you align with their message and values? Do they lead the type of business that you aspire to achieve? Do you enjoy their personality? Choosing someone who is where you want to be, who shares similar values and beliefs to you, and who is building the type of community that you want to be part of is an essential part of choosing a community that’s right for you. 

Other Resources

On top of all of these things, what other resources does the community provide for its members? Does the community give you access to resources or is it solely just a community?

For example, in the Impact Tribe (our community-based membership at The Daring Fempreneur) you get access to live coaching calls twice monthly, an entire library of courses designed to help you build your business, a vault of resources so that you don’t have to reinvent the wheel, visibility opportunities, AND a community of daring female entrepreneurs who are on a similar path as you. 

If you’re ready to join a community that has your back, shares opportunities to help you grow your business, is packed full of resources designed with you in mind, is full of women who are on a similar path as you, and so much more, then The Impact Tribe may be the right place for you! Click to learn more and see if it’s a good fit.