Recruiting for your Circle

Inviting members to join your Circle is easy. Below are simple steps and ready-to-use tools to help identify and recruit new members.

Decide if you want to lead solo or with a Co-Leader
Before you start recruiting, think about whether you want to run your Circle on your own or with a Co-Leader. Having a partner isn’t required—but it can make things easier and more fun. They can help with things like:

• Planning and leading meetings
• Recruiting members
• Keeping everyone connected between meetings
• Holding each other accountable

Start thinking about members to invite
The ideal Circle size is 8 to 12 members. It’s the sweet spot for meaningful conversations where everyone can participate. A good way to begin is to invite 3-4 friends or acquaintances and ask them each to invite someone too.

Focus on shared interests
Circles are most impactful when members have something meaningful in common, allowing them to give and get peer-to-peer mentorship. As a Circle Leader, you get to decide which shared factors will bring your Circle together. For example, it can be people who:

• Work in the same industry or function
• Share an identity group
• Live in the same location
• Have similar goals
• Are at a similar career or life stage

Once you’ve decided who you would like your Circle to be for, here are some suggestions for inviting members to join:

• New connections (someone you want to get to know better or someone you don’t yet know)
• Don’t be afraid to invite someone you admire, someone you’d like to get to know better, or even someone you don’t know yet. New connections can bring surprising growth and learning opportunities.
• Post about your Circle on your social media channels as a way to recruit others in your wider network—you may be surprised who is interested!
• Coworkers
• Many leaders start Circles with colleagues who share their identity group, career path, or life stage. It’s a great way to build a strong support system at work.
• Circles in companies work well both in person (with others in your direct office) and virtually (with other members across offices or locations)—many members have found mentors or unlocked new career opportunities through the network they built through their Circle.
• Friends
• Many leaders already have a circle of friends whom they turn to for support and advice. Make it official by forming a Lean In Circle centered around a specific goal or topic.
• You can also invite two or three friends and ask them to each invite a friend you don’t yet know. This is a great way to expand your network and get to know new people!