Recently I have noticed that chapter leaders are promoting that their chapter members go out and visit other BNI chapter in the area. What a great idea! Especially if you are in a profession that is not represented in another BNI chapter, you can meet other fellow members and tell them about your business. Taken one step further you could schedule a one on one and beginning the relationship process with other people. By doing this you will build a powerful Rolodex that will bring value to your members.
On the other hand I often hear members say, “But I’m a Real Estate Agent and all of the chapters have a Real Estate Agent, why would I want to visit.” Actually that is a very good question, and here are some very good answers.
You will meet people who have professions not represented in your chapter and maybe you can use their services or know someone who could use their service.
You will meet people who have professions not represented in your chapter and you could ask them if they have associates they could place in your chapter.
Just because all BNI chapters run the very same agenda does not mean they do not do something different. You could take a great idea you liked back to your chapter. Take the Indiana Business Network that meets on the Northeast side of town, they have taken the Green Thank You idea and printed up their very own version that they use to track one on ones. Every time a member does a one on one with another they turn in a Yellow One on One Score Sheet. Great Idea, one you could take back to your chapter.
Maybe you will walk into a chapter and realize that no one greeted you and you felt awkward, and you realize what great Visitor Host your chapter has and why it is so important.
Regardless of the reason you visit other chapters, there are some common courtesies that you need to remember.
1. You are a guest in the chapter, act like a guest.
2. You are only allowed to visit a chapter 2 times in a six month period. Do not
destroy your credibility by becoming circumventing the BNI Policies.
3. If there is someone in the group that does what you do, you may not do your
regular commercial. Instead, ask for a referral for your chapter.
4. Never Ever try to recruit a visitor from a chapter you are visiting. It’s their
visitor, you will have to get your own.
5. Remember to wear your name badge.
6. If you pass a referral, put the pink slip in their basket.
7. Be On Time and Do Not Leave Early
Visiting other chapters can be a great way of growing your contacts, developing your chapter and your business. Have fun, and remember what your mother use to say, “Mind your manners.”
Happy Networking
Hazel M Walker
2 Comments
July 11, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Good stuff on visiting other chapters. Intersting that you used realtors as an example. I hear the same comments about all chapters having a raeltor, so why visit? My first thought is, what do raeltors do when they get a new listing? Hmmm, that would be to get the word out to other realtors through MLS and home tour caravans. Maybe going where you know you will meet another active realtor (BNI meeting) might be a good one to add to the list.
July 21, 2008 at 7:47 pm
As a web designer I met a web developer through BNI that, at first glance, could have been viewed as my competition. Luckily I saw it as an opportunity to collaborate, and OrgTrack.com became a reality.
And you really can’t say enough good things about visiting other chapters not from a “what business can I get out of it” but from the perspective “what can I take back to my chapter that will help us be a better chapter”.