Do you add or deduct?
No one can deny the success of BNI as a networking and referral organization. It exists in well over 40 countries and probably has the largest membership in the world of any similar organization.
So it comes as no surprise that many have copied it and tried to set up in opposition. Yet few have really succeeded. And there is one good reason for that – their approach. They don’t add, they deduct.
If you are going to copy something the secret to success is to improve it, to add to what already exists, not take away from it! Give extra value, not less! Improve, not devalue! And therein is the secret to the success of Global Network Builder.
Rather than devalue the programme, they have added to it. They have kept the basic formula and improved it by firstly retaining:-
- an attendance requirement
- exclusivity of category
- weekly breakfasts
- a strong leadership structure
- self managed groups
- measurement of results
- accountability of performance
….. and then adding the following:-
- a specialized weekly training segment
- accountable goal setting sessions
- focused brainstorming sessions
- high quality workshops
- on line coaching by the worlds best
- off line coaching by local experts
All of this has the goal of providing education on all aspects of networking and referral marketing at the weekly breakfast. Members are reporting greater learning and therefore greater results.
Given that many SME’s have entered the business world with little or no formal education in word-of-mouth marketing such comments are not surprising.
So the question to answer is “does your networking organisation add or deduct”?
