Being part of a BNI chapter is a unique opportunity. Where else do you get the chance to form a close bond – to work as a team in multiple areas – with a group of other independent businesses?
But so often we waste it by taking the easiest route, which is human nature after all. We lapse into a routine of attending meetings, making up our 60 second on the fly and only doing our dances when we have a gap.
For most of us, word of mouth referrals are the number one source of new business. The number and quality of referrals you receive, which directly impact your bottom line, are determined by how much effort you put into your networking.
Don’t leave it to accident. Take control of the process and drive your networking activity.
You can do this by:
- Setting objectives (what do you want to achieve from your BNI investment?);
- Recruiting new members for your own hub within your chapter (that’s how you get more referrals from your chapter);
- Increasing your visibility among the membership i.e. doing properly planned and structured dances more frequently;
- Preparing powerful, memorable 60 second presentations;
- Being specific with your referral requests;
- Helping other members with a combination of referrals, your time, your expertise, mentoring and encouragement (there is more to ‘givers gain’ than referrals).
These are the basics of BNI. They are there because they work (it’s the same reason other networks attempt to copy what BNI does).
Do these things consistently, regularly and with commitment and you will reap the reward.
Colin Kennedy is a keynote speaker, copywriter 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.
