Not for nothing is the BNI mantra “Givers Gain”. Being a giver implies ‘caring’ about the next person and is key to successful BNI outcomes – if you do not care about the success of other members in your chapter, you will not enjoy tremendous success.
By going through the motions, attending meetings, doing your 60 second, having a one-on-one every fortnight or so… you’re doing the right things, but it requires more than doing – it requires thinking and feeling the right things too.
If you genuinely care about the success of others in your BNI, you will be thinking about them and you will be looking out for opportunities for them – and as a result of this ‘top-of-mind’ awareness you will find opportunities for at least some of those people.
When people notice your efforts (and they will), and when they realise that you ‘care’ about their success, they will begin to care about you too.
Of course there are those who will be oblivious, or who are in it for themselves, but inevitably you will stop caring about them, their success will decline and they will leave.
The people who remain will be your real assets. It’s a natural selection process, but to part of it, you must participate in it – physically, mentally and emotionally.
Colin Kennedy is a keynote speaker, writer and content marketing consultant. As BNI New Zealand’s marketing director he is responsible for the organisation’s communications strategy, and also serves as an assistant director for North Central region of BNI.
