Article contributed by Mason Parker.
Recently I substituted for my colleague Robyn Bills at BNI Palmerston North and was very impressed by the BNI meeting process. What I particularly liked was that the team was extremely focused on referrals, and providing feedback. The meeting was well managed, flowed well, the 45 second elevator pitches were great and the members represented themselves well. Collaborative Consumption
I manage the website www.pnpersonnel.co.nz for our regional recruitment business with a strong focus on our SEO and a collaborative consumption approach.
Collaborative Consumption for us describes a shift in consumer values where transparent feedback (often internet based) is the norm. TradeMe is a good example of how it has subtly became a social norm.
People around the world are increasingly finding and using services and products through networks (like BNI) and via websites on a scale never before possible. Once the transaction is complete, users leave feedback about the process and this leads to more people using the business. This approach struck me as being very similar to the use of referrals in BNI.
Feedback and testimonials
Feedback is hugely important to our business because it allows us to advertise and promote our services as well as seeing where we need to improve. Recently we received a testimonial from BNI member Peter Day that appeared on our Google+ page.
In contacting him he was also happy for us to copy it to Robyn’s profile on our website, it reads in part:
A big thank you to Robyn Bills for the temp that she has arranged for our company. He is a brilliant worker and a great fit for PDM (Peter Day Motors). This is the first time in 30 years in business that we have used an employment agency and Robyn has made it very easy. Highly recommended.
This was one of the things that impressed me about the BNI Palmerston North chapter. They are proactive in giving highly visible testimonials on Google+ and this is part of the collaborative consumption nature of modern business that we consider very important.
Peer reviews and customer reviews build rich transparent profiles of good/bad operators (in the same way that TradeMe feedback does).
Business gained from BNI
Since Robyn has joined the chapter we’ve had a good number of the chapter members come through our office for a firsthand understanding of our business and that in itself tells me that this is a great networking group. As mentioned earlier, Robyn also placed an employee with Peter Day as a direct result of BNI, so there has been actual business gained for us with an employer we wouldn’t have traditionally got to work with. It’s easy to see why this group succeeds.
BNI members
I was impressed with the buzz I experienced during the meeting. There was a great mix of people which you don’t always get in networking groups. Individuals came from not just banking and property industries, but also were represented from the trades and motoring businesses.
The feedback I had was that the BNI members were genuinely interested to both meet our team (Bobbi Eades, our Service Coordinator, subbed the week previous) and hear about our offering from a different perspective.
Transparency
BNI has a high level of transparency, especially in terms of ROI. The amount of business done in the group is tracked and discussed openly; this includes all responses and referrals.
With BNI Palmerston North you know how much business you are getting and the value of the group is easy to see.
Personal growth and development
Since joining BNI, I have noticed a big improvement in terms of Robyn’s ability to fluidly communicate what we do, in compelling ways.
This has come from spending time in BNI presenting and communicating with other members – and observing the smart presentations from other members. This sort of professional and personal development is another significant plus for having Robyn’s membership at BNI. Her partner Kevin Bills is a photographer and also a BNI member for 11 years; this longevity in the group indicates how valuable it is.
Recommendation
I happily recommend checking out BNI for free as a visitor and offering to substitute if the opportunity presents itself. Recruitment thrives on excellent marketing and a team approach and BNI provides a great catalyst for both of these.
Mason Parker, Client Manager for Palmerston North Personnel Limited
