BNI & The Power of One Podcast Summary

Episode: BNI 776: Are All BNIs the Same? Why Don't We Have That?

Release Date: January 13, 2025

Host: Tim Roberts

In episode 776 of the "BNI & The Power of One" podcast, host Tim Roberts delves into the disparities among different BNI (Business Network International) regions, addressing listener concerns about inconsistent access to training resources and varying membership fees. This comprehensive discussion provides valuable insights into the franchise structure of BNI, the factors contributing to regional differences, and actionable strategies for chapter leaders to enhance their members' success.

Listener’s Concern

At [00:31], a listener from Texas, serving as the Vice President of their BNI chapter, voices significant frustrations:

• Access to Training Resources: The listener expresses confusion and dissatisfaction over the lack of access to advanced training materials available to other BNI members, questioning the value proposition given the increased membership fees.

• BNI Business Builder Issues: There is frustration with the BNI Business Builder platform, which the listener finds overwhelming and inefficient for finding relevant information.

• Desire for Enhanced Chapter Performance: As VP, the listener is seeking ways to elevate their chapter's performance beyond the traditional methods currently in use.

Host’s Response

Tim Roberts offers a detailed and empathetic response, addressing each concern while shedding light on the underlying reasons for regional disparities within BNI.

1. Understanding BNI’s Franchise Structure

Tim explains that BNI operates as a global franchise, which inherently allows for significant local autonomy. This structure leads to variations in how regions implement training and utilize resources.

• Local Ownership Impact: “Not every BNI region is exactly the Same,” Tim mentions, highlighting that local ownership and management decisions greatly influence the availability and quality of training programs.

• Historical Adoption of Trainings: Some regions have long-standing advanced Member Success Programs (MSPs) that have evolved over years, while others may have never adopted these programs or have discontinued them due to changes in ownership or strategy.

2. Variability in Membership Fees

Addressing the concern about differing membership fees, Tim clarifies that fees are set locally based on a variety of factors, including geographical location, regional market conditions, and the value propositions offered by each region.

• Regional Customization: “BNI membership is set by region. It is not standard across the entire United States for a variety of reasons,” he explains, indicating that this flexibility allows regions to tailor their offerings to better suit their specific needs and circumstances.

3. Access to Advanced Training Resources

Tim acknowledges the listener’s frustration with limited access to advanced training and offers potential solutions:

• Future Training Opportunities: Tim mentions the possibility of offering live Zoom trainings to make advanced MSPs accessible to more members, stating, “Maybe we'll do that again this year and I probably will, to be honest with you, because our big focus is training.”

• Leveraging Conferences: He recommends attending BNI conferences such as the US One in Texas, where global and regional training programs are shared and can be adopted locally.

4. Maximizing BNI Business Builder

Recognizing the challenges with the BNI Business Builder platform, Tim advises members to adopt a more focused approach:

• Targeted Searching: “You need to be very direct. Same thing with podcast,” he advises, suggesting that members should search specifically for the materials they need rather than trying to navigate the entire platform.

• Utilizing Multiple Resources: Tim encourages exploring various BNI-related podcasts and other training materials beyond what is directly available on BNI Business Builder to gain different perspectives and insights.

5. Enhancing Chapter Leadership and Culture

Tim emphasizes the pivotal role of chapter leaders in fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement:

• Incorporating Training into Meetings: Leaders can integrate short podcast episodes into meetings to educate members efficiently. “Most of them are short enough that they could be played in a meeting,” he suggests.

• Promoting Collective Learning: Assigning listening tasks and discussing them in meetings can enhance collective knowledge. “Another thing you guys could do as a chapter is if there's a great topic is assign everybody to listen to it.”

• Encouraging Engagement with Resources: Leaders should actively share valuable resources and encourage members to engage with them, ensuring that everyone benefits from available trainings.

6. Advocating for Regional Support

Tim advises members to proactively communicate their training needs to regional support teams:

• Requesting Additional Training: “Speak to your director,” he recommends, urging members to express their specific training needs to regional leadership to advocate for enhanced local resources.

• Challenging Regional Teams: Members should challenge their regional teams to find and implement new training opportunities, ensuring that the chapter continually evolves and improves.

Notable Quotes

• On Regional Variations: “Not every BNI region is exactly the Same.” [02:00]

• On Training Adoption: “Our regions do train advanced member success program trainings.” [10:15]

• On Membership Fees: “[...] BNI membership is set by region. It is not standard across the entire United States for a variety of reasons.” [12:30]

• On Focused Learning: “You need to be very direct. Same thing with podcast.” [18:45]

• On Chapter Leadership: “As a leader, you could be sharing the resources that you're finding value in and encouraging your fellow members to engage with it inside your chapter.” [25:20]

Key Insights and Takeaways

1. Franchise Model Impact: Understanding that BNI’s global franchise model allows for significant local autonomy helps members navigate and address regional disparities effectively.

2. Proactive Resource Utilization: Members should actively seek out and tailor available resources to meet their specific needs, rather than feeling limited by what their region currently offers.

3. Leadership’s Role in Training: Chapter leaders play a crucial role in fostering a culture of learning by integrating training into meetings, promoting collective learning, and encouraging the use of diverse resources.

4. Leveraging Global Resources: Tapping into BNI’s global resources, such as various podcasts and upcoming platform updates like Business Builder Sigma, can provide additional training and insights beyond local offerings.

5. Advocacy for Enhanced Offerings: Members are encouraged to communicate their training needs to regional support teams, advocating for the adoption of advanced training programs and additional resources.

Conclusion

In this episode, Tim Roberts effectively addresses the listener's frustrations by dissecting the structural differences within BNI regions and providing strategic advice to overcome training and resource limitations. By understanding the franchise model, leveraging available tools, and fostering a proactive learning environment, BNI members and leaders can elevate their chapters’ success despite regional disparities.

Listeners are encouraged to engage with the podcast, leave feedback, and continue submitting questions to make future episodes even more valuable. As Tim aptly concludes, staying proactive and utilizing the expansive resources available globally are key to harnessing "The Power of One" within BNI.