Member involvement
Attendance
BNI works because chapter members trust each other. If you feel confident in your fellow members, you will give each other referrals, which is why it is important that you know the other members really well.
Weekly attendance is an important part of this trust building. It is also a chance to tell the other chapter members more about your business, in your 60 seconds.
If you cannot attend, then you need to get a substitute to attend and present your 60 second speech. The substitute also has an opportunity to present their own business to the group. Help is available at BNI London Subs.
Knowing each other’s business
Most chapter members believe that understanding each other’s business is best done in ‘1-2-1’ sessions, where you tell each other all about your business. You arrange these outside the Wednesday meeting, and you will often find opportunities you didn’t know about!
Soon after you join, you will be given a ‘four minute presentation’ opportunity, to help members learn about your business. Then you will join the weekly rota, where we take turns to spend ten minutes talking to the chapter about our businesses.
Referrals
Bringing referrals is crucial because ‘givers gain’! If you keep promoting fellow chapter members and passing referrals – you will get referrals from other members. The purpose of the group is to get each other business; this needs to be a weekly activity if you are to be a productive member of the team.
BNI has a wealth of ideas for you, on how to network, get referrals and generate trust between you and the chapter. If you are serious about your business – so is the rest of the chapter.
