BNI Pre-Season Training

Never thought of BNI as a sport? Time to start. You’ve got a chapter of teammates, weekly ‘game time’ meetings, 1-to-1 scrimmages, Mentor coaching, and lots of available training, all of it designed around the theme of scoring referral points. When it comes to business networking, BNI is the Major Leagues.

The only thing it’s been missing was a pre-season period to hone your skills. Until now. Your business might re-open in two weeks or two months; until then, here are some BNI training tips to help you get in peak condition while you’re waiting for the opening faceoff/pitch/kickoff:

Become a Student of the Game

Before you make a move, you need to study your teammates, know what they do and how they do it. That means getting to know members in your chapter and learning their strengths. Set up as many 1-to-1 Zoom meetings as possible to discuss where you and your businesses are at present, what changes may occur in the near future, and how you can help each other move towards your goals.

Organize a Power Team of members in related businesses and schedule regular Zoom meetings. Having ongoing brainstorming scrimmages in a small group is a great way to discover fresh ideas and keep each other on track.

Practice Your Shooting

You can’t score if you don’t shoot. In business, you take a shot whenever you approach a client. Do you have something to say that’s new or important? Work on aiming your message through your marketing material, so that when it’s game-time your shot will be hitting nothing but net results. 

Don’t let your shot get blocked. A friendly email to a client asking how they’re doing will help you sneak past the tightest defense. Never underestimate the personal touch.

Mention that you’re part of a team of great shooters. Your fellow BNI members might be the answer for a client who’s stuck at home and needs help. A leaky pipe, an electrical short, connection issues, even online counseling – now as always, let them know you can recommend someone.

Strengthen Those Weak Muscles

Identify your weak spots and work on them. Do you need to become better organized? Is there a project you’ve been putting off? Can you become better at a particular service? Now is the perfect time to take advantage of BNI’s vast educational resources at http://www.bnilearningcanada.com/, or take an online course in your professional field.

Sports and BNI have a lot in common when it comes to playing as a team to rack up winning goals. But BNI is not like sports in one fundamental way: you’re not playing against other chapters. In fact, every chapter is playing on the same side, happy to pass the ball to anyone wearing the BNI team jersey, because they know that helping you score motivates you to help them score as well. Tapping into the expertise and goodwill of your fellow members might be the best workout you can give your business during this ‘off-season’. Now get out there and Play Ball!

This is BNI at its best and I’ve never been prouder. Because during this time of crisis, you’ve elevated the definition of “Givers Gain” beyond business networking. BNI has evolved into an interconnected chain of people all watching each other’s backs.

I won’t predict how all of this changes BNI in the future, but these difficult times are showing us how having a network is crucial to our personal and professional well-being. Obviously, our organization isn’t a magic cure-all. Many of you have had your business shut down, money is tight, morale is strained, and all of us miss the lives we had just one month ago. BNI can’t undo that. However, BNI can do what it’s always done best: create opportunity. Need something? Ask for it. Your current needs may have changed, but the power of BNI hasn’t. Take advantage of the professional expertise of your fellow members. Ask your chapter for technical help transitioning your business online, ask for ideas to reboot your business when it eventually re-opens, ask for strategies you can use to attract new clients, even ask for help finding temporary work if you need to bridge the financial gap. More than ever, your BNI meeting is the best go-to resource you have for connecting an ‘ask’ to an actual result.

Finally, remember that social distancing will end. People will get back to work and back to doing the things they love. When that happens, BNI will be the best engine you have for generating new business and replacing business you may have lost. As it has been for decades.

If you ever needed evidence that joining BNI was the right move, look back at the business it’s created, look at the support it’s providing today, and look ahead to the benefits it can bring you when life returns to normal. No matter which direction you look, we’ve got you covered.

Stay safe and stay connected!

BNI ’s mission is to help members increase their business through a structured, positive and professional referral marketing program that enables them to develop long-term, meaningful relationships with quality business professionals.