Reflecting on 2020 and Looking ahead to the Road to 2021

 

Whew!!  I think we can all agree, we are glad to have survived 2020!  For some, it's been great and for others not so much, but we've all had to deal with some new challenges and opportunities.

Some recent stats as we close out 2020 - 

End of November - BNI has passed over 10.6 Million in Referrals and 14.6 Billion is USD TYFCB.  26% of BNI Members now have never experienced an in-person meeting.  First-Year Retention is up and so is Retention overall for all of BNI!

So as we close out 2020 and look to 2021, what are your goals for the new year?  This is the question I've been asking the groups that I'm visiting and working with.  I've heard everything from lose 25 lbs. to hire and train some new people because of increased business.  What are your goals for 2021?

Looking back and reflecting on the year past and giving some serious thought to where you want to be this time next year is a good way to start with a plan to hit the ground running the first of the year.

What is your method of setting goals and making a plan?  Do you have some BHAGs?  Stretch Goals?

I believe you need to have a BHAG to reach for.  Even if you fall short you'll be a lot further along than if you didn't set a goal at all or only set a goal you were somewhat sure you could achieve.

Setting a BHAG goal takes a lot of guts.  Sometimes what we think are BHAGs if broken down into bite sizes pieces and applying some effort, we find are well within reach.  That was my experience very early on in my career in sales.  I was given a challenge and thought, No Way could I do that.  Someone looked at my production and said, if I kept doing what I was currently doing consistently and added just one more element to the equation, I could achieve what I had thought at first was an impossible achievement.  And I did and was awarded a trip to Hawaii.  One of the main elements of achieving that goal was deciding to take action plus I REALLY wanted to go to Hawaii.

See, we can set all the goals we want to and make a plan, but if we don't take action and work the plan then we'll never meet the goal.  It's like getting very clear about what you're looking for, be it more clients, more referrals, more sales, more visitors at your BNI meeting, etc. and asking everyone you know.  If you don't ask 'Are you interested in growing your business and meeting other business professionals.....'  Guess what, the answer will always be no.  You're defeated before you ever start.

I heard a very good presentation the other day by Kip Kent, an Executive Director in Utah who was quoting some stats for successful BNI members as to their referrals, TYFCB, Visitors, new members sponsored, etc.  And what he found in his research was interesting.  Those with the highest CEUs typically had the most referrals, higher TYFCB, more visitors and sponsored more new members.  Why is that you wonder?  They are smart people.  They know they don't know everything, but they are willing to learn, and that is exactly what they do.  They learn how to be more effective and efficient in their networking and leverage BNI to grow their business.

They say that new members typically increase their bottom line their first year with BNI by about 20% and then it goes up from there.  Why?  They learn how to work smarter.  They work to train their fellow members on how to find quality referrals for them.  I would wager if you talked to most any BNI member who has been with BNI for 5 years or more, they would tell you that 70% or more of their business is attributed to BNI.  

So what is your plan for 2021?  Are you willing to learn how to be more efficient and effective?  If you're coachable BNI can certainly help every member meet their BHAGS.

Here's to a very Successful 2021 to you and your business.  And I would love to hear what your BHAGS are.

If you or your chapter needs help and support, reach out to your Support Director Consultant.

Here are some additional resources:

Get from where you are to where you want to be - Dr. Misner

Mindset is Everything - Dr. Misner

Grow any business in any market - Dr. Misner

The Best Investment You can make to Grow your business - BNI Business Builder

5 Basic Ways to Grow Your Business in any Economy - Frank DeRaffelle

For previous articles refer to my Notably Green Blog.

And join the Facebook Group - Notably Green

I encourage you to access the podcasts via BNI University so that you show up on the Leader board for your Chapter and your area.  To make it easier, you can also download the app to your smart device.  It's available from ITunes and Google.  Also, be sure and report your CEUs, 1 hour = 1 CEU.

Let me know if you have any questions and how I can be of help.  

 

To Your Success,

 

Annette Mason

Area Director Consultant

Is Your Glass Half Full or Half Empty?

 

So, how is it going for you?  For your chapter?  We are one month into the new Leadership term.  By now most Chapters have set their goals and devised their plan and strategies as to how they will meet their goals and have introduced them to their members.  Do you know what your chapter goals are?  Have you set your BNI Goals?  What activities will you need to do to meet your goals?  Do you know the basic Power of One activity to be successful in BNI?  Do you do these activities effectively?

In talking to various members, there are some who are still struggling and/or stalled.  I was recently asked why some chapters/members are thriving, still adding members, and passing business.

Here are my thoughts:

I believe it has to do with the overall attitude and culture of the chapter and the members.  While I know having a positive attitude can't fix everything, you have to have a positive in order to move forward.  It's like putting fuel in the gas tank or plugging your electric car into the recharging station.  You're not going anywhere without any fuel.  It's not wondering if the glass is half full or half empty, but finding a way to fill it back up.

Which type of person do you prefer to be around?  Someone who is upbeat, positive, and making things happen?  Or Negative Nancy who's always finding excuses for why things are the same oh same oh and it's not going to change until....(fill in the blank, which doesn't matter, because when the blank gets filled, there will be another excuse).

Or are you Realistic Rita?  Hmmmm..... Yes, Realistic Rita would point out all the statistics and why things are the way they are.  I'm not saying not to be realistic.  What I am saying is, things will not improve for people until they decide they're going to improve and put some action towards the improvements.

The same is with BNI.  Many swear by BNI and have 'drank the Cool-Aid.'  And there are many who say it doesn't work.  News Flash....BNI works if you do.  What BNI is ... is a system.  A marketing system.  A way to generate referrals and grow a member's business.  The system has to be followed if it is to work.  And guess what?  There are no shortcuts.  They've been working on this system for over 35 years.  And anything new....it's tested before it's implemented to the greater BNI membership.

Now, you say you do the activities, but still don't get any results.  Why is that?  Like any successful business person or successful athletic would do, you have to perfect your skills.  Learn to do it better to be effective and efficient.  Then it works and becomes enjoyable.  Do you follow any sports?  Ever wonder why they continuously practice?  Or go through drills over and over again?  To learn how to execute flawlessly.  To develop muscle memory to do the right things when needed.  

Are you in an industry that you have to take courses each year to maintain your license or accreditation?  Things change.  We have to keep up to date.  

So, where are you?  Are you on-hold, waiting to go back to in-person meetings?  Or on fire?  It doesn't matter if we're meeting in person or on Zoom, the basics of BNI are still the same.  And if the basic principles of BNI are implemented and followed, you will be successful.  

The point is, the system works and BNI Works if you work the system.

If you or your chapter needs help and support, reach out to your Support Director Consultant.

Here are some additional resources:

I Hit Hidwal - Dr. Misner

Mindset is Everything - Dr. Misner

Vince Lombardi Got it Right - Dr. Misner

Is Your Chapter on Fire, On Hold, or in a Hole -  Dr. Misner

Can't Do or Won't Do - Dr. Misner

For previous articles refer to my Notably Green Blog.

And join the Facebook Group - Notably Green

I encourage you to access the podcasts via BNI University so that you show up on the Leader board for your Chapter and your area.  To make it easier, you can also download the app to your smart device.  It's available from ITunes and Google.  Also, be sure and report your CEUs, 1 hour = 1 CEU.

Let me know if you have any questions and how I can be of help.  

 

To Your Success,

 

Annette Mason

Area Director Consultant

BHAGs

 So, what is a BHAG?  It stands for Big Hairy Audacious Goal.  Have you ever had one of those?  They say that 'If your goals don't scare you, they aren't big enough.'  And this one - 'When you want something as bad as you want to breathe, then you will succeed.'

Do you personally have any BHAGS?  The reason I ask is people become part of BNI to generate referrals in order to make more money and grow their business.  Why, so they can buy that larger home for their family, travel more and take their family on dream vacations, save money for their children for college, have more free time to spend with their families or play golf or whatever their hobbies and interests might be.

Typically people think about their goals at the beginning of a new year or when they start a new job or new business or most anything they start new.  As of October 1st, we started a new term with BNI.  Many of you started a new Leadership position in your BNI Chapter.  I bring this up because now is the time that the new chapter Leadership Teams sets their goals.  So, what would you like to see for goals for your chapter?  Why do I ask?  Because whatever the goals are for your chapter, has an impact on your success.  Is your chapter setting goals and implementing mechanisms and strategies to help their members meet their BHAGs?  Setting and having goals is like having a roadmap with a designated destination in mind.  Without goals, you're just wandering around with no intentions of getting anywhere.  

Chapter Members depend on their Leadership Team to set the Vision, Mission, and Goals for their Chapter.  Every business has these and your BNI Chapter should be no different.  The Vision, Mission, Goals, and Mechanisms are what keeps a BNI Chapter moving forward.  It's the roadmap to help chapter members get more referrals, get more revenue, and grow their business.  Does your chapter have a vision, mission, and goals?  Are they announced periodically at your meeting and compared to the actuals?  Are they entered in BNIConnect so members can view?  Ask your Leadership Team what your Chapter's Goals are.  

For the most part, successful motivated members want to be part of a successful motivated chapter.  They want to be a part of a team that also values their worth. If members don't perceive they are valued or getting the value of their membership, they will leave.  Members need to know what the goals and strategies are for the chapter and why they will help them be successful.  Members need to understand WIIFM (what's in it for me). If members don't understand why inviting visitors will help them get more business, then they are not going to put forth the effort to invite.  So when a chapter LT sets their goals for their chapter, they need to also have a clear plan in place to roll out the goals to the chapter members and explain how the chapter goals are going to help each member increase their bottom line.

Why is all of this important?  For a BNI Chapter to be successful it needs their Leadership Team to set a clear vision, mission, goals, and mechanisms.  Depending on how the chapter is currently doing, depends on where the chapter focus will be.  Sometimes chapters just need to get back to the basics and do a re-boot.  Start from scratch as if all the members were brand new.  For the Leadership Team, I would advise looking at your chapter as if you were the new coach.  Is your team struggling?  Are they on-hold, waiting to go back to in-person meetings?  Or on fire?  It doesn't matter if you're meeting in person or on Zoom, the basics of BNI are still the same.  And if the basic principles of BNI are implemented and followed, you will have successful members as well as a successful chapter.  It is up to the Leaders of the chapter to set the tone, be the role models, and LEAD their members to success. Leaders are expected set the Goals, design the mechanisms, and implement the plan that will help members be successful.

If you or your chapter need help and support, reach out to your Support Director Consultant.

Here are some additional resources:

Get From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be - Jack Canfield

Vince Lombardi Got it Right - Dr. Misner

Is Your Chapter on Fire, On Hold, or in a Hole -  Dr. Misner

Leadership Team Vision & Goals - BNI University

Goals Training - BNI University

And join the Facebook Group - Notably Green

I encourage you to access the podcasts via BNI University so that you show up on the Leader board for your Chapter and your area.  To make it easier, you can also download the app to your smart device.  It's available from ITunes and Google.  Also, be sure and report your CEUs, 1 hour = 1 CEU.

Let me know if you have any questions and how I can be of help.  

 

To Your Success,

 

Annette Mason

Area Director Consultant

Dreaming Big

So what is International Networking Week?  International Networking Week® is an initiative of BNI® and an opportunity for members to show appreciation for their valued customers and contacts with the gift of a larger network.

The goal of International Networking Week® is to celebrate the key role that networking plays in the development and success of businesses across the world.

Even though BNI just celebrated 35 years in existence last month, this is only the 13th celebration of International Networking Week.

The philosophy of BNI is 'Givers Gain.'  And to carry out that Core Value, as part of the celebration for this year's INW, we're Dreaming Bigger than ever by asking each BNI member to help celebrate the power of networking. By offering a simple thank you to five individuals who have helped you grow professionally, you're offering the gift of gratitude and appreciation. Recognition, essential to the strengthening of relationships, cost little to nothing and is likely to result in those individuals demonstrating their gratitude for what you do.

It's simple, just consider sending them a letter or card, or promoting them on social media.  The goodwill you demonstrate will help draw others to you like a magnet.

If promoting on social media, please use one of the following hashtags

• #bnithankyou
• #inw2020

Additionally, we would like you to take this a step further and we encourage you to invite one of these 5 individuals to a networking meeting. For BNI Members, please bring them to your chapter and offer a world of referrals to those who are deserving by introducing them to your fellow BNI members.

Here's Dr. Misner's presentation from the International Conference in Warsaw last fall talking about Dreaming Bigger

Your Support Team is here to help you, i.e. Your Director Consultant, Area Director, Senior Director, and Executive Directors.  If you or your chapter needs help, support, or have questions, reach out.

Also, be sure and add your Director to your speaker rotation for presentations and training for your chapter members.

Here are some additional resources for Goal Setting:

The BNI Story

Garage to Global

7 Things I Learned from Starting a Business

Givers Gain Series 

To Your Success,

Annette

Area Director Consultant

What is your Vision for the new Decade?

As we turn the page and look to the new year, what is your Vision for 2020?  It's not just a New Year, it's the beginning of a New Decade.  Time to not just set goals for the New Year, but to set BHAG Goals for the Decade!

In Podcast #445, Dr. Misner talks with John Assaraf with OneCoach.  He's also one of the teachers from the movie, The Secret, and he's the author of Having It All and The Answer.

The title of the podcast is 'How to Grow Any Business in Any Market.'  The original podcast was done in 2009 during the recession, but it covers some very good key points on our beliefs and conditioning when it comes to Goal Setting and Visioning of what we want to achieve regardless of the state of the economy.

John gives these three key points in setting a vision:

1. Number one is to set an absolute, clear new vision of what it is you want to achieve. And so let's say you want to earn $100,000 or $250,000 or $1 million, what you want to do is set an absolute, clear vision for the brain to be able to pick up, number one, on that vision, i.e. what would it look like, what would it feel like?.
2. Number two, you want to impress that part into the subconscious or implicit part of the brain.  A visualization technique would be seeing yourself playing at that level over and over and over again so that we create the new neural networks in the implicit part of the brain, which is the automatic side of the brain. Also, create affirmations or declarations that create emotion.  This will actually accelerate the neuron connections of the brain as well.  This is putting our reticular activator in motion.
3. Number three, put ourselves into meditative states through self-hypnosis and use auditory technologies, or brain-and-train technologies, that will embed these new affirmations, or declarations, into the nervous system, basically, of the brain.

Those are three simple things that anybody could do inexpensively to make sure that our brains are being rewired at the part that actually is responsible for 96 to 98 percent of our perceptions and behaviors. And over the course of 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, we're actually reprogramming our brains at the level that's going to cause all of our perceptions and behaviors to change over time thus leading us to meet our goals.

I want to share a story with you.  Many years ago, when I had my first sales position with a direct sales company and before I knew anything about these techniques and the principles of Laws of Attraction this actually worked for me.

After working for this company for about 9 months, I attended their yearly sales seminar.  First time I had flown, so I was very excited.  I was one of the winners of their Fall Sales promotion which added to my excitement.  But the frosting on the cake was when they announced what the next big sales promotion was to be for the company.  They had never offered a promotion this big.  It was a trip for two to Hawaii.  I made up my mind right then and there...I was going.  I took one of the posters from the promotion, packed it in my suitcase, brought it home and hung it on the wall of my workroom.  That was my vision.

Over the next several months, I was focused on what I needed to do to achieve my vision.  I had determined exactly what each week and months sales had to be to meet my goal.  The company had given us 18 months to meet all the criteria to win.  I achieved by goal in 10 months and was the first sales rep to win!  Was it easy, NO!  There were many obstacles to overcome and work through, but I believe that the emotion I put behind the determination and the explicit declaration of, 'I am going,' was my key to achieving my dream in even less time than given.

Later in my career when I worked in a corporate setting, I had the privileged of being exposed to this concept even more through becoming a Master Facilitator in a program called 'Investment in Excellence' which was from Pacific Institute.  It was through this program I learned about the 'Reticular Activator.'  That part of the brain that doesn't know the difference in what is real and what is imagined.  Do if we can imagine with enough emotion we can set the brain in motion to achieve the end result - our vision.  Remember #2 - 'Play at the level in our mind and seeing ourself playing at that level over and over and over again so that we create the new vision.'  The other piece is writing affirmations in the first person as if you have already achieved your goal and put the feeling and emotion into the affirmation, i.e. 'I AM sitting on the beach in Oahu listening to the beautiful Hawaiian music as I watch a gorgeous sunset.'  Can you feel that?

So what is it you want to achieve in 2020?  If it's a monetary level, what would you do with the money?  Buy a new car, buy a new house, take an exotic vacation?  How would the end result make you feel?  Write your affirmations with how the end result would make you feel.

I would love to hear what your BHAG goals are for 2020.  

FYI - On my GAINS profile under the 'What few people know about me....I have won 2 trips to Hawaii with 2 different direct sales companies.  This stuff does work.  

Your Support Team is here to help you, i.e. Your Director Consultant, Area Director, Senior Director, and Executive Directors.  If you or your chapter needs help, support, or have questions, reach out.

Here are some additional resources for Goal Setting:

Grow Any Business in any Market

Stay in Your Flame

Amplifying Results Using a Lens

How Building it Can Make You Fearless*

Limits Are Illusions* 

(*FYI - I am an affiliate for SOC, but I felt these last two were pertinent to the subject)

For previous articles refer to my Notably Green Blog.

And join the Facebook Group - Notably Green

I encourage you to access the podcasts via BNI University so that you show up on the Leader board for your Chapter and your area.  To make it easier, you can also download the app to your smart device.  It's available from ITunes and Google.  Also, be sure and report your CEUs, 1 hour = 1 CEU.

Let me know if you have any questions and how I can be of help.  

To Your Success,

 

Annette Mason

What did I sign up for?

From July 2019

Why did you sign up to be a part of BNI?  Different people have different reasons.  Some are looking for more business, more referrals.  Some are looking to build relationships and meet referral partners.  Some are looking for training to become a better business person.

Those are all great reasons, but none of this comes overnight.  It takes time and for some it takes more time than others.  It's more of a marathon than a sprint.

Last Thursday I participated in my 6th Peachtree Road Race.  Each year has been a different race.  The first year it was cool.  There were people sitting along Peachtree Street wrapped in blankets.  One year it was raining and they flagged some of the late corrals and stopped the runners for awhile because of lightning.  The other years, it's been a typical Peachtree Road Race - hot and humid - with this being the hottest on record.  By the time we crossed the finish line it was at a red alert.

And why am I telling you this?  As we were heading up Peachtree getting ready to make the turn to head towards the finish line and Piedmont Park I saw a man holding up a sign similar to the one above, it did make me smile.  This year was a hard one.  First because it was so hot and humid and I had not quite trained as hard as I had in past years.  And instead of doing my run/walk intervals, we walked the majority of the course.  You would think that by walking, it would have been easier, but my legs are still screaming with soreness.  I'm still questioning why I'm so sore.  Was it the conditions, my lack of training, or because I walked instead of run/walk?  I think it was that I did something different than what I trained for.  I trained to run/walk, but walked the majority of the time, thus using different muscles.  I finished standing up and for that I am grateful.

Again what does this have to do with BNI?  Over the last couple of days, as I've thought about what topic to write about, that sign keeps coming to mind.  As I've been on Facebook and saw many of my friends and of the many BNI members I know post their photos of the Peachtree, it brought to mind the relationships I have with these individuals and their commitment to most everything they do.  They signed up and paid their money to participate in the Peachtree Road Race.  They trained.  They participated.  They crossed the finish line and they got the T-Shirt.  Because the Peachtree Road Race is the only race where you don't get the T-Shirt until after the race.  They committed and they accomplished their goal.  Isn't that what BNI is all about?  You don't get the results until you do the work required?

I believe BNI is a lot like the Peachtree Road Race, in that you're not going to reach the goal you want to achieve and get the t-shirt, unless you make the time and commitment to put forth the effort to do what it takes.  It takes the commitment of making the time to do the activities, i.e. training, one to ones, meetings, etc.  And it's also about putting forth the effort to not just do the activities, but to learn to do the activities effectively.  It is true, what you put in, you get out.  

So what did you sign up for?  To immediately start getting referrals and business?  Without putting in the time and training?  Like going from the couch to a 10K, it's not likely there will be a good finish.  And even if we did the initial training, we have to keep training and sometimes do different training to keep up with the times and the conditions.  Like, if I'm going to walk the course in 90 degree heat and humidity, then that's the way I have to train.  BNI is the same.  In order to stay competitive and up to date, we have to learn new ways of doing things if we want better results.

I'm the type of person that it takes me a while to make a decision and make the commitment, especially when it comes to putting my hard earned cash down.  But once I do, I'm all in.  I'm going to set a goal and do my best to learn what I need to learn to do what I need to do to recoup my investment.  So if you paid to do this, what are you doing to get the most value from your investment?

Here are some of those people who made the commitment, did the training, and got the T-Shirt for the 50th running of the Peachtree Road Race. If you were one of them, please let us know.

Congratulations!!

Karren Amidon - Record Busters 

Jeff Cavender - BAG 

Rodney Davis - BLAZE 

Susan Geaslen - Success Alliance 

Tracy Jardine - Success Alliance 

Annette Mason - BNI Director

Here are some additional resources:

Interviewing Prospective Members

Full Participation

Are You All In?

 15 minutes a Day

I encourage you to access the podcasts via BNI University so that you show up on the Leaderboard for your Chapter and your area.  To make it easier, you can also download the app to your smart device.  It's available from ITunes and Google.  Also, be sure and report your CEUs, 1 hour = 1 CEU.

Let me know if you have any questions and how I can be of help.  

Happy Networking,

 

Annette Mason

Area Director Consultant

Annette@BNIatl.com

  

Please let me know of other topics you would like to know about that I can add to future newsletters. 

Is Your Chapter On Fire, On Hold, or In a Hole?

From September 2018

    

On October 1st each chapter will welcome a new Leadership and Support Team.  By then they will have completed their training, set their goals, and mechanisms to achieve their goals for their upcoming term.  Their goals will be the things they want to accomplish for the upcoming year.  The mechanisms will be how they will  accomplish those goals.

I like to ask each new incoming Leadership Team, how do you want to be remembered a year from now?  What do you want to accomplish?  Where is your chapter now and where do you want it to be a year from now?  What do you want your legacy to be?  Set your Chapter's goals accordingly?

 

Support Team Members and Chapter Members need to consider these questions also and determine how they need to contribute to the overall goals of the chapter.

So where is your chapter now?  In Dr. Misner's podcast #480 - 'Is Your Chapter On Fire, On Hold, or In a Hole?,' he describes these stages.  (Below is a summary of the podcast.  I recommend listening or reading it in it's entirety). 

On Fire

These chapters are energized, goal-oriented, and thriving. They're generating a lot of referrals with a high value. They're the biggest groups-or on their way to being it. Members of the leadership team attend all the required trainings, and more. BNI members in these chapters have completed their BNI Connect profiles and pass referrals every week. They conduct effective one-to-ones. And they have fun together.  The majority of the members have a green or yellow for their Power of One Report.

On Hold

These chapters are still generating referrals and revenue, but they're just going through the motions. They do the minimum and get average results. Sometimes these groups have been on fire in the past, but became complacent and started to slide. They've often given up on growth, and don't follow all the suggestions of their regional directors and the BNI policies.

In a Hole

These chapters are struggling with attendance. They're not holding members accountable. They have difficulty retaining members. These chapters focus on problems rather than solutions. They don't follow the agenda and policies of BNI very well, and they often regard their regional director as an outsider rather than a resource.

Where does your group stand right now? If your group is on fire, congratulations. That's how BNI is supposed to be. If your group is on hold, it's not that hard to transition to being on fire. Even if you're in a hole, you can break out of that, as long as the leadership team and the membership are committed to change.

The key to improvement is being very honest with yourself, recognizing where you are, and want to make improvements to be more successful and productive. 

Why settle for mediocrity when excellence is an option?  Excellence is an option in all BNI chapters all around the world. 

It was Jim Collins in Good to Great who said, "What is the enemy of good?" People would say, well, bad. That is not the answer.  The question is "What is the enemy of great?" and most people answer "bad". The answer to what is the enemy of great is good. Not bad. Good is the enemy of great.

You have heard people say it. "That is good enough." "That will work." Oftentimes, and certainly in BNI, good is the enemy of great. On hold is often good, but on fire is great.

One way to determine which stage your chapter is in, is have all of the members complete the 'Rate Your Chapter worksheet which can be downloaded from this link.  This is a great assessment tool.  Ask your members to be very honest with their answers.  Evaluate the ratings and take action accordingly moving forward.  Build your goals to take your chapter from good to GREAT!!

I will close with some quotes for Leadership Teams, Support Team Members, as well as all Chapter Members. 

 

The Leadership team sets the tone for the chapter.  

As quoted by Mark Kay Ash - 'The speed of the Leader is the speed of the Team.'  

Charles Lauer - 'Leaders don't force people to follow, they invite them on a journey.'

Leaders are developers, team builders, imaginers, cultural caretakers, roadblock removers and inspirers.  Their success depends on enabling the success of others.

The Entire Team is important.

T.E.A.M. Definition - 'Together Each Achieves More.'

Henry Ford said 'Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress, working together is success.'

Mother Teresa - 'I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot, but together we can do great things.'

So what contributions are you making to the success of Your team/to the chapter?  There are many tasks that need to be done.  Talk to your Leadership Team as to your skill set and what you can do to contribute.  By becoming more involved, you increase you Visibility which increases your Creditability.

Here are some additional resources:

Understanding Chapter Lifecycles

#475 A Path to Business Leadership

#396 Host Leadership

Tips for being a stronger Leader

I encourage you to access the podcasts via BNI University so that you show up on the Leaderboard for your Chapter and your area.  To make it easier, you can also download the app to your smart device.  It's available from ITunes and Google.

Teamwork

From October 2017

October 1st started the New Year for BNI Chapters and their members. Chapters were asked to set their goals and put in place their plan and mechanisms to meet their goals. Because without a plan, goals are only a 'Wish List.'    

What are your Chapter's goals?  It is the Leadership Team's responsibility to define the goals for the Chapter.  The goals and mechanisms to achieve the goals are the playbook for the chapter.  What's in your chapter's playbook?

 Often times for teams to be successful it is necessary to go back to the basics.  Remember Ivan Miser's story about 'wind sprints?'   

When a chapter is a team, you work together to grow strategically and make your chapter a well-oiled machine!  Is your chapter a team?  

  Do you and your chapter have a playbook that details HOW to win at BNI?  Have you all agreed upon the same rules and the same plays?  Do you practice together regularly (weekly meetings) and get better at the fundamentals ('wind sprints') of BNI or do you just 'wing it'?

The fundamentals begin with attending MSP,  completing the PassPort program, meeting with your mentor, and continuing to learn. 

The other key element of a Winning Successful Team is Communication.  You know how it is when you're on a team -- your coaches communicate with you constantly, encourage you and help you improve. It's motivating, and it helps you feel like the leadership "has your back"! They'll tell you what you need to know when you need to know it, so you can show up and do your best for the team.  This feedback should be coming from your Leadership Team, Educational Coordinator, your mentor and/or membership committee.

The first step in communication is to get all chapter members on board and engaged.  Understanding the 'Why' behind the way BNI operates and how it will benefit them by doing the activities outlined by BNI, i.e. attending weekly meetings, the power of one - one referral per week, 1 visitor per month, 1 one to one per week, and 1 CEU per week.    

One way to ensure members are engaged is to make sure they are being heard.  Now would be a good time to survey your members to find out what's working well for them within the chapter and what's not working well and ask for suggestions.  This information can then be used to make improvements to bring the team closer together in order to move forward and be even more successful.

Playbook (Goals & Mechanisms) +  

Team Practice (Weekly Meetings) + Communication =  

Winning Chapter Culture!  

Visualize Success

From September 2017

 

October 1st starts the New Year for BNI Chapters and their members. Leadership and Support Team training is scheduled for 9/18 and 9/27. Chapters are asked to set their goals and put in place their plan and mechanisms to meet their goals. Because without a plan, goals are only a 'Wish List.'

 

As I have visited chapters over the past couple of weeks, a thought struck me in regards to setting goals. We are taught to set goals and make a plan, but rarely do you hear anything about planning for success. What do I mean about planning for success?

 

What are your Chapter's goals?   What would the end result of meeting those goals look like? To plan for success, you have to start building the infrastructure in order to accommodate the success when you achieve it.

 

For example, is one of your chapter's goals to grow the chapter membership?

-        Will your current space accommodate the number of new members you want to add?

-        Does the chapter need to raise their dues to pay for a larger venue?

 

Another example, does your chapter want to increase referrals/revenue/TYFCB?

-        What type of members are you looking for?

-        Does your venue attract quality members?

-        What would your Power Teams look like for a 40+ member chapter? Who needs more people on their power team? Perhaps take a survey and ask your members who they could pass business to? That's who you need to be recruiting.

 

I have been involved with a couple of new forming chapters, who from the very beginning said they were going to be a 40+ member chapter. They set up their chapter from the very beginning as if they were already a 40+ member chapter. This is what I mean by planning for success.

 

From the beginning, they set their standards -

-        Selected a venue that would accommodate 40+ members

-        The Venue was selected to attract the right business types

-        30 second infomercials from the beginning

-        2 speakers each week - 8 minutes each

-        Members held accountable regarding attendance, participation, etc.

-        A strong Membership Committee that does their due diligence in screening new members and turning down those that do not meet their high standards.

 

One of these chapters is now on target to hit 50 members because they planned and expected success. They put in place, from the beginning, what they needed to be successful.

 

So, my advice as chapters set their goals for the new year, is to visualize what you want the end result to look like. What would you need or to do differently when you reach your goals?  Start to build the infrastructure and start implementing the plans for when you reach your goals. It's like asking yourself, what would you do if you won the lottery? What would you do differently than you're doing now?  Start doing those things you would do then - Do it NOW!

Charting Your Course

From June 2017 

I had the privilege of attending the BNI National Conference in May.  The Theme for the

conference was 'Charting Your Course.'  Wow!  It was Awesome!  I thoroughly enjoyed meeting lots people from BNI, i.e. members, BNI Global personnel, BNI Directors, Trainers, Executive Directors, etc.  It was like trying to drink from a fire hose!  I took lots of notes and will be sharing and implementing a lot of what I learned over the course of the next several weeks and months.  

The keynote speaker for the conference was Lt. Col Rob 'Waldo' Waldman. One of the best keynotes I've ever heard.  And he is from Atlanta.

Here are a few of the one liners from his presentation:

- 'Whose Values are you Shaping?' 

- Passion has to be bigger than our fear 

- Attitude plus action determine our Altitude 

- Are you trained and prepared or are you winging it? 

- Fly Like a Champion 

- Leaders Lift 

- Busy People find a way and find the time 

- Service before Self 

- Be a Commander Not a Demander 

- Are you coachable?  Are you approachable? 

- Lose Sight, Lose the Fight 

- Fuel of Performance - Recognition 

- We Survive Solo, But we Win Together 

- Fear Drags - Love Lifts 

- Be a Wing Giver

Here is a link to his website to learn more -  

https://yourwingman.com/meet-the-wingman/

Video Gallery -

https://yourwingman.com/video-gallery/

His Book -

Never Fly Solo: Lead with Courage, Build Trusting Partnerships, and Reach New Heights in Business (Business Books)

by Robert "Waldo" Waldman by McGraw-Hill Education

Kindle Edition ~ Release Date: 2009-12-04

Buy Now 

 

I highly recommend his book.  Be sure and give yourself CEU credits after you read it.

Typically in the summer months we tend to want to pull back the throttle and slow down a bit.  Was that part of charting your course the first of the year when you set your goals?  Are you on course with your goals?

Be sure and check out the training section for some new webinars, in particular Monday Morning Mugs.  Cathy Barbieri, BNI Atlanta Executive Director, leads these webinar every Monday Morning with insightful ways to get the most from your BNI membership.  This is specifically for BNI members & guests held each Monday at 8:30 a.m. to get better results from networking -- regardless of if you join or not! 

Leadership Are You Ready for This?

From September 2015

 

 

We've all heard that the speed and tone of the Leadership Team sets the speed and tone of the chapter. Leadership Team alignment is crucial to chapter success. At the Fall Leadership Training the Leadership Team will be asked to set their goals for the Chapter for the upcoming year. The Leadership Team decides what they want the chapter to achieve during their term and exactly HOW they plan to achieve it. The critical functions of chapter leadership is creating a consistent culture, setting the emotional tone, having goals, and a strategy to achieve them, making accountability an everyday conversation, and recognizing and celebrating success. The Leadership team has a whole year to get great results for your BNI Chapter.

So how does the LT help their chapter achieve positive results? It's been discovered that when chapters learn and train together, rather than simply getting the information on their own, the chapter thrives in new ways.  It's critical to gather the same information at the same time. Consider the great sports teams; they practice together before they win. Perhaps now is the time to ask your Chapter members what they what to achieve over the next year. With their input and buy in, develop the Chapter goals and steps to achieve those goals for the upcoming year.

There are five essential elements to any leadership team to take their chapter to the next level.  They are easy once you know them and consistently apply them. Think of them as your chapter's yellow brick road to chapter success.

Here they are:

 

1. Alignment. Are all the Chapter members on the same page?

2.  Goals. Do you have them? Does everyone in the chapter know what they are and agree with them?  (Hint: being in agreement is part of being in alignment.)

 

3.  A Plan/Process. Every team needs a plan, a playbook, a system to help everyone win together. What is your chapter's plan?  Does it support your alignment?

 

4.  Accountability. This is the hidden ingredient that makes all the rest work.  (Refer back to last month's newsletter) 

 

5.  Recognition and Celebration. This is one of the most important activities for any team. All great teams recognize and celebrate. Do you? What do you do to recognize your team successes and individual success?

It is important that one element builds on the next. In other words, it's not easy to have goals and a plan everyone follows if the leadership team and the chapter aren't aligned. Nor is it productive to try and build accountability without alignment, goals, and a plan.

 

Think of it this way. If every member understands all the different processes of BNI in exactly the same way and also understands why those processes are in place, the whole group more quickly comes together. And once they've come together, they can move in the same direction to achieve their goals! Use the educational segment of your meetings to educate and reinforce the processes of BNI and why they work. Education + Practice + Accountability = Results!

Speaking the same language creates a healthy chapter culture. Everyone feels included, and it's exciting for members when they know everyone is using the same BNI playbook. They can see the path to unlocking the true potential of BNI. Speaking the same language becomes a shortcut to building excellent referral relationships, as members understand the sequence, the timing, and the activities required to make it happen. The last element that makes all of this work, which can be scary, is (brace yourself) accountability.  Accountability is the secret ingredient that pulls all of the BNI fundamentals together.

 

So now is the time to create a team culture of accountability and productivity which will propel you to Success in the upcoming year!

GO BNI TEAM!