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More Than A Meeting: Teamwork & System
By Norm Dominguez, BNI U.S. National Director
In the last issue of "SuccessNet" online, Dr. Misner presented our 2003 theme, "More Than A Meeting." Many people gave great thought to this theme and came up with a list of 12 major benefits that members receive from their active participation in this program. Misner highlighted two components, "Plan" and "Referrals." Now I am pleased to touch on "Teamwork" and "System." With each issue of "SuccessNet" throughout the year, various guest authors will be talking about two of these benefits for you to consider during your participation.
Teamwork
Every day, every week, every month, we strive to build our businesses. Through word-of-mouth marketing, we are able to refer the individuals on our BNI team and thus increase the business that is flowing in the chapter. "Teamwork" isn't something that just happens; it takes a coordinated effort from each member of the team.
In BNI, the team (chapter) meets every week to share and educate. Each member of the team is responsible for teaching and performing the functions that add value to the team. For example, each member is given 60 seconds to educate the other members about the profession he or she represents. This is essential for the team to maximize the productivity potential that lies within each of the members. This is also true regarding the featured presenter(s) at the chapter meeting each week. As a result, the better educated the members, the easier it is to generate quality referrals. The key to this sequence is preparation each week, meaning that it's game time at every chapter meeting. And the 12 months of the year make up the season for a chapter.
Sharing is something that team players recognize as a critical component to the success of any team. In BNI, this is known as "givers gain." We learn to play to each other's strengths and lend assistance when weaknesses exist. The Leadership Team (president, vice president and secretary/treasurer) and support to the Leadership Team (visitor hosts, membership committee and educational coordinator) are the chapter foundation. These individuals set the tone for making the good things happen, keeping the meetings fun and lively. They push the chapter to reach membership goals, schedule dance card sessions, establish a marketing plan and endure the moments of concern.
The BNI season is a long one and I believe that each of us understands the importance of teamwork in making it a championship season.
System
Since BNI was formed over 17 years ago, there have been numerous amendments to the BNI system as a result of recommendations by members and directors. One of the first came with the addition of visitor hosts. It was discovered that prospective members were more inclined to join when a member of the chapter warmly greeted and introduced them to other members of the chapter. In essence the visitor host is saying to the prospective member, "We care!"
A few years later, the substitute program was added, thus allowing a member to be represented at the chapter meeting. This provides the members ongoing presence at the chapter meeting, with the substitute giving the members' 60-second presentation and sharing referrals at the appropriate time.
The creation of handbooks helps to support the system, such as the Membership Committee, Visitor Host and Education Coordinator Handbooks (available on the bni.com website in the Leadership Team Section). The information in each of these documents is designed to assist the members in performing the functions related to each handbook.
Another key to the system is training. Leadership teams attend a four-and-a-half hour session that is conducted by a director. A BNI director goes through a 20-hour training program that covers more than 350 pages of a two-volume manual. For members, there is the Member Success Program. It involves a handbook and two-hour workshop conducted by a director. The result is word-of-mouth information and tools designed to assist all involved with BNI in having a strong chapter, region and relationship.
From the Meeting Agenda, to the members doing one-on-one dance cards and everything that ties to the BNI system, the outcome is like that of a championship team.
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