J25 BNI Derby Business Networking

The first and only BNI I ever visited was absolutely amazing, meaning the members of the chapter, so amazing were they that I didn’t visit any other chapters in the area and I immediately joined. It wasn’t until about 6 months later that I visited and substituted at other chapters, and what I saw was the exact opposite of what my chapter was doing.

What I realized is that the chapter I had joined was in fact a showcase chapter, a model for all others, extremely successful and highly functional. The members of that chapter took “their” membership seriously, they were outgoing, and conducted themselves as if our chapter WAS their business - something I never once saw or felt in any of the other chapters.

As a matter of fact, while subbing and/or visiting other chapters I was actually quite concerned by the “lack” of attention I got from members, for instance there was one where not a single member greeted me - and none of them had ever met me. I was signed in and very briefly told what to do - that was the only verbal contact. No one at all was interested in introducing themselves to me or learning more about me. Furthermore, members appeared to ‘huddle’ into their own little clickish groups. Noticing that the chapter was odd, I pretty much just observed and made myself available/receptive for members to come to me, it didn’t happen.

It was on that day that I realized my group was unique. Then, upon visiting/subbing at other groups I realized my chapter was rare. In the meantime, I had been raving about BNI to everyone, some of those people actually joined a chapter. After months of them being in their chosen chapters we would talk and I’d hear that ‘they’ had not gotten a single referral. Upon my visiting their chapters I discovered that they were rather dysfunctional (compared to mine).

What I concluded, besides the fact that I REALLY lucked out, is that a lot of the reason why a chapter functions amazing has a lot to do with the leadership within the chapter and the “attitude” of its members. So, with that in mind I would like to add to your GAINS…

Take your chapter and make sure it has these professional qualities for its success: attitude (open and outgoing always), care about each member as if they were part of your own beloved family, think of each others business as if it is an “extension” of your own that you want to foster, keep meetings interesting and lively, and always well visitors with open arms and an open-mind.

I hope this helps to bring about more caring and togetherness so more chapters can be referred to as a “Showcase Chapter.”