Creating a Culture of Shared Success

 In podcast #529 ‘Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast,’ Dr. Misner goes into the details of what that means.  In this article, I’m  going to touch on some of those details.

One of the single greatest benefits of being a BNI member is being part of a group. Not only is it a great source of business and potential revenue, but also a support network full of high-caliber business professionals that you can trust. Sure, all BNI members are looking to grow their individual businesses and ultimately make more money, but the fact remains that being part of a group significantly increases your chances of making the right kind of contacts and pushing your business to the next level.

Consider this one simple sentiment: The better the group does, the better you do as individuals.  Would you agree?

Like any business, we rely on the contributions of our team, which in this case is the other members. With everyone pulling in the same direction, you are far more likely to achieve your group goals, and benefit individually as a result.

 

Working Together

Would you agree that you want to be part of a winning team?   A high-performance team?  A winning team consists of individuals doing their part.

 

Let’s go over a few things to ensure that your chapter is promoting a culture of shared success. 

 

Grow Business

Do you want to grow your business?  Then each and every member needs to contribute for the chapter to be successful as a whole.

Structure

BNI is a system.  It’s actually a marketing system that teaches its members how to market their business and grow their business.

BNI works if members work the system instead of just going to a BNI meeting and expecting referrals to fall out of sky.

Everything that BNI asks members to do is 37 years of trial and error to perfect the system.

Many have tried to mimic BNI by taking out key components, like accountability, but no other group has been successful.  BNI is the oldest and largest networking organization in the world.  It works, if the members work and follow the system.

Organization chart

Part of that Structure is the Leadership of a Chapter.  Members taking on a part of running a Chapter. 

Each one of you is a business owner or part of a business.  Your livelihood depends on how successful that business is..right?  Do you leave it to someone else to do your job and sit back and reap the results?  I don’t think so.  Each one of you are strong leaders.  That’s why you are entrepreneurs and I believe that’s why you became part of BNI.

Successful BNI Chapters are run like a business and every member does their part to help their chapter be successful

GOALS

So if it’s your goal to be successful in BNI, then you need to do your part.  If everyone does their part, then the group as a whole, benefits and is successful.

Commitment

For a BNI chapter to be successful, All members have to be motivated and committed.

Morale is very important in any group. People feel better about being part of a group that is full of committed people. Good practice rubs off on everyone and it’s motivational to see a packed room each week. And when you’re in the room, make sure you’re really in the room, listening, engaging, and creating a great atmosphere for your fellow members as well as visitors.

Time to Take Action

It’s time for all members to step up.  To be onboard, motivated, committed, and taking responsibility for their chapter’s success which will lead to their own success.

Ninety Minute Member

BNI works if you work the system.  It works even better if you learn how to do the key performance indicators more effectively and efficiently.  And when you do, and you get all your members rowing in the same direction.  It’s a beautiful thing.

So what am I asking from each of you?

Be a Champion of your Chapter

Get behind your Chapter and promote it wherever possible. Share the success stories on social media, talk about the group in other circles and support your fellow members if they are sharing exciting news. If there are positive stories coming out of the group, then let the world know about it.

Be positive
Momentum breeds progress. Every group needs energy and positivity to fuel its growth. So, make sure you approach your BNI membership with a proactive and positive outlook. This rubs off on other members and creates a great atmosphere for visitors.

Take responsibility
- It is no one person’s responsibility to get new members,

-           It is no one person’s responsibility to give referrals,

-           It is no one person’s responsibility to organize 121s etc.

It is the responsibility of ALL members. Don’t give in to a diffusion of responsibility and just assume that others will do it for you. Be proactive, not reactive, and definitely not inactive.

Leadership

And it’s time for each of you to take on the responsibility of the leadership of the chapter.  One person can’t do it all.  If everyone does their part then it’s not a burden on one person.  It’s a Team effort.

So, the time for Leadership Transition is now.  Each one of you who is taking on a Leadership position needs to assume it now.  Commit to doing your fair share.

Invest in it
Make BNI part of your routine. After all, you only get out what you put in. You’ve invested in it financially.  Invest your time and make the very best of your membership. A few minutes each day devoting time to leading your chapter to success, could really pay off for you and your business

 

BNI is all about shared success. The effort and contribution you make as individuals directly correlates with the prosperity of the group. So, if you want more business, be a team player, be proud of your group and promote and be a part of a culture of shared success.

 

Celebrate your Success

Then you all can celebrate in your chapter’s success as well as your own.

In appreciation,

Annette

Area Director

Why Attendance is a Key Success Factor in BNI

All of these podcasts and articles are very good, and I encourage you to listen/read all of them.  The paragraph in Podcast #274 – Did I Miss the Memo bests sums up why attendance is important.

‘BNI members who treat their BNI meetings like an appointment with prospects and fellow business associates are much more likely to be successful in this program, because these are appointments. These are appointments with your best referral partners, and you don’t want to miss an appointment with your best referral partners. It’s very important. I think that the chapters that have this sense of accountability where the members understand that this is an appointment and you need to treat it like a good appointment should be treated, and you don’t want to just not show up and have poor attendance.  I think that those people tend to be stronger business professionals and more successful, and they certainly are going to build better relationships because of their regular participation in their chapter.’

And I would add, when you’re looking at your calendar and making appointments, schedule around your BNI meeting. Think about it.  If you had another client meeting, you would tell your prospect, I have another meeting at that time and then give them the times you are available.  Nine times out of ten, your prospect will understand, because they want to deal with someone who is successful.  Having appointments on your calendar shows that you are successful.

Thinking that your fellow BNI members will understand that you have a client appointment instead of attending your BNI meeting is OK, will not last. It speaks to your creditability. Every member made a commitment to the attendance policy. It’s about honoring that commitment and the best way to honor that commitment is to treat your BNI meeting as an appointment with your best referral partners, and they will be committed to you. BNI is your prospecting and networking time to create new Business.  If you start thinking this way, you will get much more out of BNI.

Podcast #490 – Show Up – Make Money

Podcast #436 – Low Absences = More Referrals

Podcast #218 – What is a Quality Member

Podcast #236 – Behaviors and Credibility

Podcast #545 – Full Participation

Podcast #261 – The Art of Being There

Podcast #681 – Mindset is Everything

Podcast #533 – There’s No Substitute Like a Good Substitute  

Podcast #274 – Did I Miss the Memo

Podcast #583 – How Late is Late?

Podcast #579 – Sub Abuse

Podcast #387 – Using or Abusing

13 Years of in BNI – My Secrets to Success - https://bniblog.co.nz/be-inspired/13-years-in-bni-my-secrets-to-success/

In appreciation,

Annette

Area Director

VCP - The Basics

The VCP acronym is one you will hear about in BNI quite a bit and there are many articles and podcasts on these principles, i.e. Visibility, Credibility, and Profitability.  Let’s examine the basics from the perspective of becoming a new member in a new chapter or core group. 

Visibility – In order for the other members to get to know you, you have to show up.  Attendance is key.  In Podcast #329, Woody Allen said that 80% of success is showing up.  In BNI, you’re not just a name on a roster.  We have an attendance policy which is to help all the members.  You paid to be part of a group that works together to help each other to grow their respective businesses. Visibility is the first step in getting referrals and training your referral team.

Credibility – Think of someone you trust.  You probably trust that person because you know they will do what they way.  Building your credibility in BNI, is building relationships with your fellow members by doing what you say you will do when you say you’ll do it.  It starts with showing up for your meeting each week on time or being early is even better.  Dressing the part, even on Zoom.  And being prepared with your part of the meeting and your weekly presentation.  After all, this is your time to train your referral team.

Also, consistently inviting and having visitors is another great way to build credibility with your referral partners, because visitors equate to possible business for someone in the group and possibly a potential member. 

The third element of VCP is Profitability – That’s what we’re all here for, right?  To get referrals.

-       You cannot have profits if no one knows you

-       You cannot have profits if no one trusts you

How do we measure VCP?  By the referrals we receive.

So, in order to get the results you desire, you must learn to do the activities efficiently and effectively.  Statistics have shown, the more you learn, the more you earn.  Be open to learning how to network differently and more effectively.

So, ask yourself these questions…

-       Are you willing to do the activities, i.e. the Key Performance Indicators to get the results you say you desire?

-       Are you willing to accept feedback to improve your results?

-       Are you coachable?

-       Are you willing to be held accountable?

This is a process that’s all new to most of us.  For the process to work, we need to be ‘all in.’ 

BNI provides us most everything we need to be successful; we just have to come with a positive attitude, be prepared each week to learn, and work the process.

In appreciation,

Annette

Area Director