Everyone Needs a Mentor

From January 2018

 

January is National Mentoring Month

 

The definition of a mentor is 'an experienced trusted advisor.'  Everyone should have a mentor regardless of where they are in their career.  Someone they can trust to help give them the honest feedback they need to be successful and help them go to the next level.

For many years BNI has tried to put a Mentor Program in place to help new members and struggling members get the most from their BNI membership.  Some chapters have been more open to the concept and the program and therefore have been more successful.  Those chapters who have embraced the program and followed all the steps and recommendations have shown significant increase in member success, retention, and growth.

The BNI Mentor Passport Program was introduced a few years ago with a step by step process for new members and established members to learn all about the operations of BNI.  Not only does this program provide the steps to learn from the current successful members of the chapter, but it fosters one 2 ones and provides the opportunity to earn CEU credits.

Why is mentoring so important?  We all know how to network, right?  The mentoring program is to help new members and members who want to take their business to the next level.  It is to help members improve their BNI experience and help members make more money.   

So how does the BNI Passport to Success Program work?

• Members are given a BNI Passport which contains a structured set of steps to meet with various 'subject matter experts' within the chapter.  
• The Chapter Mentor Coordinator provides the BNI Passport to Success to the Member with the names already entered as to who they should be scheduling meetings with.
• The Member schedules meetings with the members listed.  The first 15 minutes is spent going over the subject, i.e. President, VP, Gold Club, BNI Connect, etc.  The the other 45 minutes is spent doing a One 2 One.  (In chapters where this has been the most successful, the chapter (subject matter experts) take the initiative and go to the new member and set up their meeting.  They don't wait for the new member to come to them).
• The member has their Passport signed by the 'subject matter expert' they met with.
• The member reports credit for a One 2 One and for CEU credit as a result of the meeting thus helping with increasing their Power of One weekly participation.
• New Members are also assigned a Mentor when they are inducted.  Mentors are typically successful members who are willing to coach and help new members with their questions.  
• The Mentee and Mentor can be entered in BNIConnect which will email each member (mentor and mentee) with weekly suggestions and reminders to help with the education process for the new member.  (Any member may request a mentor and participate in this program.  Just ask your Mentor Coordinator).

The Mentor Passport to Success Program is probably the most overlooked under utilized, but if implemented and supported by the chapter and the members can result in dramatic positive results.

So what does your Chapter need to do to set up a successful Mentor Program:

• First step is to have a Mentor Coordinator.  Someone who genuinely loves to help people.  In the absence of a Mentor Coordinator, the duties of this position should be handled by the Membership Committee.
• Assign 'Subject Matter Experts.'  Some are obvious, i.e. President, VP, S/T, etc.  But then there are other subjects like The Gold Badge Program, BNIConnect, Weekly Presentations, etc.
• 
• Have trained Mentors.  These are different  from the 'Subject Matter Experts.'  (however they could be a SME and a Mentor).  These are typically successful chapter members who want to help the chapter and it's members be successful and are willing to give a little of their time to help new members get off to a good start.
• Have a good supply of BNI Passport to Success booklets.  These can be requested and picked up at your Monthly Leadership Roundtable.
• 
• New Members (and other members upon request) are assigned a Mentor.  They are set up in the system and follow an 8 week program of meetings to review and learn the best practices of BNI.