We have different ways to be in BNI. Is either you join an existing chapter in the region, or be a founding member of a core group.
Joining an existing chapter will let us see the proven results such as the referral partners in the chapter, the business done deals, the number of referrals, and the members' engagement.
It is much certain as we are having available analytics for us to decide whether we want to be part of the group.
However, many did not realise that starting a new core group and getting the chapter that you want to launch is as good as joining an existing chapter.
By starting a new core group and going through the launch process, we are able to choose the team that we want to be in. Standing up as the founding member or leader of the chapter allows us to have the referral partners that we want to work together with.
Other than having available classification slots in the core group, starting a new core group will let us have a better influence in the team if we are taking up the leadership role. Having the initiative of getting the chapter launched at a fast pace will increase our credibility in the chapter. We are able to show how committed we are in getting a thing done.
Going through the launch process, we will learn how to handle objections while getting more referral partners, which indirectly allows us to get quality members as we will get to connect better with the quality business professionals that we would like to work together with.
While getting the chapter launch, we will be trained on how to build a team in a fixed period of time. Building a team of people within the core group is not a common process of building any community. In BNI, we embrace the exclusive marketing rights which each person can only represent one specialisation in the chapter. It is not easy for us to build a team of business elites that represent different specializations. Notwithstanding that, the launch process will give us the skill of getting business professionals to work together as a team and to get connected, and expanding the network in a faster way.
Even the launch process may seem cumbersome, but it is definitely a great experience and a worthy journey to be in. Only the members who have gone through the launch process together will feel how meaningful is the relationship that they have fostered between them.