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Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Six Dates to Referral Romance
Dating and doing MOM’s both require people to gradually reveal more about themselves over time. Whereas dating is often the preamble to romance, MOM’s are the mechanism for building profitable referral relationships. The rules that apply to both are more universal than you might think.
The lifestyle section of the local paper recently ran a story called “The Second Date: More May Be On the Line Than the First.”
Which I found incredibly redundant because by definition, a second date requires an additional investment of time, energy, money, hope, curiosity, attraction, and other human dynamics. More is definitely on the line. Return on investment is far from certain.
According to the article, “While the first date is akin to kicking the tires of a sports coupe on a car lot, the second date is like taking your potential dream rig for a test drive.” In other words, the article suggests that we use a different strategy with each progressive encounter when it comes to dating. My question is this: Could we benefit from treating MOM’s the same way?
For instance, the article goes on to say that before the second date…"you should have some idea of what you have in common as well as where you differ in terms of family values, career and personal goals, and personality." BNI members can use the GAINS profile as a first date strategy, then move on to more in-depth information if a connection is made. “As more information is revealed, a better decision can be made about whether another date is the way to go.”
THE MEMBER CHALLENGE: What if you committed to going on six “dates”—doing six MOM’s with the same person. What if you agreed up front to a different strategy for each date, at the end of which you had to make a decision whether to see that person again or walk away. And…this is the best part…what if each dating strategy was planned in advance, so all you had to do was show up and execute the strategy. Think “The Dating Game” in a referral context, minus the anxiety of actually planning the date.
Choose one potential referral partner and agree to try these six MOM strategies in sequence. It might take a month or two or even three, but the chances of building a long-term relationship leading to referral romance would increase astronomically. At the very least, you will know so much more about that person and be in a much better position to both give and receive referrals. In other words...you have nothing to lose.
MOM #1: GAINS Profile. Complete the profile about yourself in advance, and ask your partner to do the same. When you meet, exchange profiles and base your discussion on the most interesting parts of each other’s background. Try to establish commonalities and build rapport.
MOM #2: Bio Sheet. Complete the Bio Sheet about yourself in advance, and ask your partner to do the same. When you meet, exchange Bio Sheets and base your discussion on the most interesting parts of each other’s background. Continue to establish commonalities and build rapport.
MOM#3: Contact Sphere Planning Sheet. Complete the Planning Sheet in advance and ask your partner to do the same. When you meet, exchange lists and talk about ways to facilitate introductions to your top three.
MOM#4: 16 Questions. Take turns asking and answering these questions about each other. Start with #1 at the bottom of the page and work your way up to Question #16. This might actually take several “dates” for both partners to get answers to al 16 questions about each other, but the effort is well worth it.
MOM#5: Your Favorite or Last 10 Customers. Have a discussion with your partner about the last 10 or favorite kind of customers. Why were they favorites? What specifically made them so enjoyable to work with? If I asked your favorite customer why they valued your product or service, what would they say? What product or service did you provide them with? Where could I find more people like that for you to do business with? What would I say to them when I found them?
MOM #6: Personal Prospect List (PPL). This takes time, but complete the PPL in advance and ask your partner to do the same. Review each person’s list and talk specifically about how to facilitate introductions to people on the list. Unless your previous dates have gone well, this strategy is not likely to be effective. People will not be open about who they know unless they are comfortable with who you are as a person and as a business man or woman.
Completing these six dates might take a month or two or even three, but the chances of building a long-term relationship that leads to referral romance would increase exponentially. Success in BNI is on the line, and well worth the effort.
The lifestyle section of the local paper recently ran a story called “The Second Date: More May Be On the Line Than the First.”
Which I found incredibly redundant because by definition, a second date requires an additional investment of time, energy, money, hope, curiosity, attraction, and other human dynamics. More is definitely on the line. Return on investment is far from certain.
According to the article, “While the first date is akin to kicking the tires of a sports coupe on a car lot, the second date is like taking your potential dream rig for a test drive.” In other words, the article suggests that we use a different strategy with each progressive encounter when it comes to dating. My question is this: Could we benefit from treating MOM’s the same way?
For instance, the article goes on to say that before the second date…"you should have some idea of what you have in common as well as where you differ in terms of family values, career and personal goals, and personality." BNI members can use the GAINS profile as a first date strategy, then move on to more in-depth information if a connection is made. “As more information is revealed, a better decision can be made about whether another date is the way to go.”
THE MEMBER CHALLENGE: What if you committed to going on six “dates”—doing six MOM’s with the same person. What if you agreed up front to a different strategy for each date, at the end of which you had to make a decision whether to see that person again or walk away. And…this is the best part…what if each dating strategy was planned in advance, so all you had to do was show up and execute the strategy. Think “The Dating Game” in a referral context, minus the anxiety of actually planning the date.
Choose one potential referral partner and agree to try these six MOM strategies in sequence. It might take a month or two or even three, but the chances of building a long-term relationship leading to referral romance would increase astronomically. At the very least, you will know so much more about that person and be in a much better position to both give and receive referrals. In other words...you have nothing to lose.
MOM #1: GAINS Profile. Complete the profile about yourself in advance, and ask your partner to do the same. When you meet, exchange profiles and base your discussion on the most interesting parts of each other’s background. Try to establish commonalities and build rapport.
MOM #2: Bio Sheet. Complete the Bio Sheet about yourself in advance, and ask your partner to do the same. When you meet, exchange Bio Sheets and base your discussion on the most interesting parts of each other’s background. Continue to establish commonalities and build rapport.
MOM#3: Contact Sphere Planning Sheet. Complete the Planning Sheet in advance and ask your partner to do the same. When you meet, exchange lists and talk about ways to facilitate introductions to your top three.
MOM#4: 16 Questions. Take turns asking and answering these questions about each other. Start with #1 at the bottom of the page and work your way up to Question #16. This might actually take several “dates” for both partners to get answers to al 16 questions about each other, but the effort is well worth it.
MOM#5: Your Favorite or Last 10 Customers. Have a discussion with your partner about the last 10 or favorite kind of customers. Why were they favorites? What specifically made them so enjoyable to work with? If I asked your favorite customer why they valued your product or service, what would they say? What product or service did you provide them with? Where could I find more people like that for you to do business with? What would I say to them when I found them?
MOM #6: Personal Prospect List (PPL). This takes time, but complete the PPL in advance and ask your partner to do the same. Review each person’s list and talk specifically about how to facilitate introductions to people on the list. Unless your previous dates have gone well, this strategy is not likely to be effective. People will not be open about who they know unless they are comfortable with who you are as a person and as a business man or woman.
Completing these six dates might take a month or two or even three, but the chances of building a long-term relationship that leads to referral romance would increase exponentially. Success in BNI is on the line, and well worth the effort.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
The Substitute Thermometer
While visiting chapters, I get the sense that most chapters just kind of “accept” the quality of their substitutes. BNI offers some guidance on how to prepare a sub to represent you at a meeting, and some people do that very successfully. But I hear very little discussion about how to improve the quality of substitutes, and maybe we should begin that dialog.
Some chapters have a very active “Substitute List” made up of former members and current contacts who enjoy the occasional business networking meeting. Members are expected to call someone on the list before planning an absence. This idea cuts down on absences, but does little to address the quality issue.
Try this method to improve both the quality and accessibility of substitutes for your chapter.
Just as we number our referrals on a 1-5 scale based on how “hot” they are, create a prioritized list of substitutes based on the same scale. Your list might look like this:
5) Clients
4) Family or Friends
3) Employees
2) BNI members from other chapters with no professional category conflicts
1) Anyone else
For one month, use this scale to secretly track your members’ current substitute behaviors. Then have a discussion about why clients and family/friends are better substitutes than current or former BNI members. Talking about it will raise member awareness and generate buy-in if everyone understands why it is to their advantage to treat the issue this way.
When everyone understands that message and begins playing by the same rules, you successfully raise the bar for new members. And when faced with planning an absence, members might just change their strategy from a “cover your a—“ mentality to a “givers gain” mentality.
We strive to fill our chapters with quality members and provide our members with quality (Level 5) referrals. Why not create a culture where members strive to provide Level 5 substitutes for one another as well? The scale might be different from chapter to chapter, but at least you’ll all be on the same page. Your comments would be appreciated.
Some chapters have a very active “Substitute List” made up of former members and current contacts who enjoy the occasional business networking meeting. Members are expected to call someone on the list before planning an absence. This idea cuts down on absences, but does little to address the quality issue.
Try this method to improve both the quality and accessibility of substitutes for your chapter.
Just as we number our referrals on a 1-5 scale based on how “hot” they are, create a prioritized list of substitutes based on the same scale. Your list might look like this:
5) Clients
4) Family or Friends
3) Employees
2) BNI members from other chapters with no professional category conflicts
1) Anyone else
For one month, use this scale to secretly track your members’ current substitute behaviors. Then have a discussion about why clients and family/friends are better substitutes than current or former BNI members. Talking about it will raise member awareness and generate buy-in if everyone understands why it is to their advantage to treat the issue this way.
When everyone understands that message and begins playing by the same rules, you successfully raise the bar for new members. And when faced with planning an absence, members might just change their strategy from a “cover your a—“ mentality to a “givers gain” mentality.
We strive to fill our chapters with quality members and provide our members with quality (Level 5) referrals. Why not create a culture where members strive to provide Level 5 substitutes for one another as well? The scale might be different from chapter to chapter, but at least you’ll all be on the same page. Your comments would be appreciated.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
By Our Attitude
By our attitude, we decide to read, or not to read. By our attitude, we decide to try or give up. By our attitude, we blame ourselves for our failure, or we blame others. Our attitude determines whether we tell the truth or lie, act or procrastinate, advance or recede, and by our own attitude we and we alone actually decide whether to succeed or fail.
Jim Rohn
Jim Rohn
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Halloween Meeting Stimulant
A common BNI meeting stimulant involves having members do the infomercial of another member.The Belleville chapter took that concept to another level.
Since their meeting day fell on Halloween, members were asked to actually BE another member. We’re talking dress like them, talk like them, act like them, and do their infomercial. President Andy Toennies actually ran the meeting, but seated next to him was a team of officers dressed up to impersonate the actual officers.
What followed was a gut-busting version of a BNI meeting, delivered by men in wigs, women with beards, and just enough inside jokes to keep everyone in stitches. Who said BNI can't be fun?
Oh yeah...the chapter passed more than 300 referrals and closed more than $275,000 in business in October. I'd say they were dressed for success.
For more pictures, click here.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Show Me the Money 06-07
Which chapters has the highest Show Me the Money totals from Oct. 2006 to Sept. 2007?
Check out this link to see the Top 10 list.
Does your chapter have a goal for 2007-2008?
Check out this link to see the Top 10 list.
Does your chapter have a goal for 2007-2008?
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