30/8/08
Can't think whom to invite to your next meeting?
It's a problem that all of us have from time to time, believe me, even those lucky enough to wear a gold badge as I do.
But a great idea I heard recently when my Area Director, Dinah Liversidge, was asked this question at a recent training workshop may well help you.
What she advised was at the member's next chapter meeting, when the Secretary/Treasurer announces the next six Ten Minute speakers, instead of listening for their name, she suggested that they write the six names down. Then the member would have a perfect list for people to invite to each meeting.
Who better to invite than someone in the speaker's power circle (not already in the chapter) or a potential customer for the speaker. If you have already been talking to someone about the speaker, what a great time to invite that person along, to not only meet the member but also see their presentation.
I have to say that this is the best idea that I have heard in a long time. It benefits so many people - the visitor, the member who is speaking, obviously your chapter, and you the member. And, won't that member thank you if your visitor turns into business for them?!
So, if you are not to sure whom to invite to your next meeting - find out who is doing the Ten Minute.
Saturday, 30 August 2008
Monday, 25 August 2008
It's Raining!
25/8/08
I'm sitting in my office gazing out of the window, looking at the rain bounce of the pavement. It was also raining last week when I visited the Iolanthe chapter in Hounslow (Middlesex), the members arriving as if they had taken a shower with their clothes on.
As I watched a lady run to her car it reminded me of an idea that I had heard of at a training event that I had attended that week.
It's a simple idea that the Visitor Hosts employ whenever the weather has the possibility of rain and what a great impression it must make on the visitors and members alike.
Two Visitor Hosts stand at the entrance of the venue with umbrellas and when someone arrives they go out to meet them and bring them back to the entrance of the venue and so into the meeting nice and dry!
How good is that?
In fact this chapter now has ten Visitor Hosts and each has a job - maybe something to think about for your group?
I'm sitting in my office gazing out of the window, looking at the rain bounce of the pavement. It was also raining last week when I visited the Iolanthe chapter in Hounslow (Middlesex), the members arriving as if they had taken a shower with their clothes on.
As I watched a lady run to her car it reminded me of an idea that I had heard of at a training event that I had attended that week.
It's a simple idea that the Visitor Hosts employ whenever the weather has the possibility of rain and what a great impression it must make on the visitors and members alike.
Two Visitor Hosts stand at the entrance of the venue with umbrellas and when someone arrives they go out to meet them and bring them back to the entrance of the venue and so into the meeting nice and dry!
How good is that?
In fact this chapter now has ten Visitor Hosts and each has a job - maybe something to think about for your group?
Monday, 18 August 2008
Birthday meeting
18/8/08
6th August was my birthday and the first meeting of the Faida chapter in Nairobi (Kenya's second chapter).
A last minute business trip to Uganda gave me the chance to visit Kenya as well, and a quick check on the BNI web site, followed by an email to the National Director of Kenya (Muraguri E), resulted in the discovery that a BNI meeting was being held in the Sarova Panafric, the very hotel that I happened to be staying in. This was a coincidence too good to ignore.
And what a meeting it turned out to be!
Nineteen members, some excellent sixty seconds, a very good Education Co-ordinator's slot by BNI Middle East National Director Bijay Shah on 'Luck' and a very clear ten minute presentation, using PowerPoint, by Becky Nyamu on her company's signage products. The contribution part of the meeting provided nineteen referrals and some very worthwhile 'Show me the Money' slips. One of these was for 1.1 million Kenyan shillings (about £8000). Some of the visitors did think that this part of the meeting was time for another sales pitch, but Muraguri E (standing in as Chapter Director for this first meeting) soon sorted this out.
But all of this was nothing compared to the number of visitors in the room - forty! (They had had two hundred visitors at their launch the prevoius week). I've never seen so many application forms being filled in at a meeting before.
I left the meeting at 10.00am, having answered a great many questions on my five years in BNI. The room was still full and a committee meeting was in full swing - a pile of application forms in front of them.
From what I saw at this first meeting Douglas Wekhomba (CD), Vincent Lugalia (MC), Mike Kimundu (S/T) - the Leadership Team - and Muraguri E and the enthusiam of the members - BNI is set for big things in Kenya.
6th August was my birthday and the first meeting of the Faida chapter in Nairobi (Kenya's second chapter).
A last minute business trip to Uganda gave me the chance to visit Kenya as well, and a quick check on the BNI web site, followed by an email to the National Director of Kenya (Muraguri E), resulted in the discovery that a BNI meeting was being held in the Sarova Panafric, the very hotel that I happened to be staying in. This was a coincidence too good to ignore.
And what a meeting it turned out to be!
Nineteen members, some excellent sixty seconds, a very good Education Co-ordinator's slot by BNI Middle East National Director Bijay Shah on 'Luck' and a very clear ten minute presentation, using PowerPoint, by Becky Nyamu on her company's signage products. The contribution part of the meeting provided nineteen referrals and some very worthwhile 'Show me the Money' slips. One of these was for 1.1 million Kenyan shillings (about £8000). Some of the visitors did think that this part of the meeting was time for another sales pitch, but Muraguri E (standing in as Chapter Director for this first meeting) soon sorted this out.
But all of this was nothing compared to the number of visitors in the room - forty! (They had had two hundred visitors at their launch the prevoius week). I've never seen so many application forms being filled in at a meeting before.
I left the meeting at 10.00am, having answered a great many questions on my five years in BNI. The room was still full and a committee meeting was in full swing - a pile of application forms in front of them.
From what I saw at this first meeting Douglas Wekhomba (CD), Vincent Lugalia (MC), Mike Kimundu (S/T) - the Leadership Team - and Muraguri E and the enthusiam of the members - BNI is set for big things in Kenya.
Saturday, 16 August 2008
Truth or Delusion?
16/08/08
One of the books I took on holiday with me recently was Dr. Ivan Misner's 'Truth or Delusion?' and I have to say that it is the best book I've read to date on networking and referral marketing.
If only I had read it the minute it was published, as without doubt I would be not only giving but gaining a great deal more from my BNI membership!
The book explains in clear and simple terms the not so obvious prerequisites for a good and effective networking system to work.
So, I really recommend that you get hold of this book without delay. You can't fail to benefit from reading it.
One of the books I took on holiday with me recently was Dr. Ivan Misner's 'Truth or Delusion?' and I have to say that it is the best book I've read to date on networking and referral marketing.
If only I had read it the minute it was published, as without doubt I would be not only giving but gaining a great deal more from my BNI membership!
The book explains in clear and simple terms the not so obvious prerequisites for a good and effective networking system to work.
So, I really recommend that you get hold of this book without delay. You can't fail to benefit from reading it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)