BNI & The Power of One
Episode: BNI 785: 20 Members and Only 45 Second Weekly Presentations?
Host: Tim Roberts
Release Date: February 6, 2025

Introduction

In Episode 785 of BNI & The Power of One, host Tim Roberts delves into the challenges faced by a BNI chapter in Cape Town, South Africa. The episode centers around a listener's concern regarding restrictive presentation times within their chapter meetings and offers strategic solutions to enhance the chapter's effectiveness and member engagement.

Listener Submission: Raymond's Challenge

At the heart of this episode is a thoughtful submission from Raymond, a BNI member from Cape Town. Raymond shares his experience of transitioning to a new chapter after nearly a decade with a previous one. His new chapter comprises 20 members but imposes a 45-second limit on weekly presentations and allocates only 8 minutes for the featured presentation. Raymond expresses his apprehension about these restrictions, suspecting that extended verbiage has been introduced to make meetings appear more sales-oriented. He seeks Tim's advice on how to address these concerns with the chapter's leadership without causing friction.

Raymond: "My new chapter has only 20 members, but they limit us to 45 seconds and an 8 minute featured presentation. This seems to be mainly due to a lot of extra verbiage added to the meeting, making it rather salesy."
[02:15]

Tim's Analysis: Unpacking the Root Cause

Tim begins by acknowledging the validity of Raymond's concerns and promptly examines the possible reasons behind the chapter's restrictive presentation times. He hypothesizes that the limitation on presentation durations likely serves to fill the meeting time, especially when the overall number of presentations is reduced due to the smaller membership.

Tim: "My bet is that it wasn't the extra verbiage that cut the meeting short. They're adding extra verbiage because otherwise the extra verbiage didn't cut your weekly presentation short by 15 seconds."
[04:50]

Tim further explores the idea that such changes might have originated from previous leadership decisions, possibly made when the chapter was larger. These adjustments could have been intended to streamline meetings but may no longer be necessary given the current size of the chapter.

Tim: "So just to give you a few examples, it could have started years ago when the chapter maybe was larger... So anybody listening to this? If you're in a chapter of 20 members, you should be doing full minute weekly presentations and potentially and at least a 10 minute feature presentation."
[07:30]

Recommendations: Strategizing for Positive Change

Understanding the sensitivity required to address leadership practices, Tim advises Raymond to approach the topic thoughtfully. He emphasizes the importance of initiating one-on-one conversations with chapter directors or managing directors rather than confronting the leadership publicly.

Tim: "My suggestion is to request a one to one with your chapter's director or managing director or whatever that title is... You should be requesting one to ones with directors and ambassadors in your region."
[16:45]

Tim highlights that these direct conversations allow usurers to express their concerns without appearing confrontational. He suggests framing the discussion around the benefits of extended presentation times, such as fostering better networking opportunities and enhancing the overall value of the meetings.

Tim: "Your concern about stepping on toes is legitimate and you shouldn't. Okay? It's just not a place of strength to come in."
[11:20]

Additionally, Tim underscores the cumulative impact of small time reductions. He quantifies that a 15-second reduction per presentation over an entire year results in a significant increase in available meeting time, advocating for the restoration of standard presentation durations.

Tim: "15 seconds times 50 divided by 60. Yeah, it's 12 and a half minutes. So in your case... that's 12 and a half minutes. So yes, it's 12 and a half minutes."
[13:10]

Conclusion: Empowering Chapter Growth

Tim wraps up the episode by reaffirming the importance of maintaining adequate presentation times to ensure productive and engaging meetings. He encourages members like Raymond to take proactive steps in communicating their concerns and working collaboratively with leadership to optimize their chapter's structure.

Tim: "Hopefully this is helpful in helping get that changed for you and appreciate you listening all the way in South Africa."
[19:00]

He also shares his enthusiasm for upcoming events, mentioning his plans to attend Raymond's national conference in Cape Town in May 2026, further strengthening the community bond.

Key Takeaways

• Understanding Changes: Often, restrictive measures within chapters are remnants of past decisions that may no longer suit the current membership size or dynamics.

• Strategic Communication: Addressing concerns through one-on-one discussions with leadership is more effective and less confrontational than public critiques.

• Time Management: Restoring standard presentation times can significantly enhance the quality and effectiveness of chapter meetings, providing more opportunities for networking and member engagement.

Notable Quotes

• Raymond on Presentation Limits:
  "This seems to be mainly due to a lot of extra verbiage added to the meeting, making it rather salesy."
  [02:15]

• Tim on Addressing Leadership:
  "Your concern about stepping on toes is legitimate and you shouldn't. Okay? It's just not a place of strength to come in."
  [11:20]

• Tim on Cumulative Time Impact:
  "15 seconds times 50 divided by 60... that's 12 and a half minutes."
  [13:10]

Final Thoughts

Episode 785 of BNI & The Power of One offers invaluable insights into navigating internal chapter dynamics and underscores the significance of effective communication and strategic adjustments. Tim Roberts adeptly addresses Raymond's concerns, providing actionable advice that can empower members to foster a more engaging and productive BNI chapter environment.

For more tips, strategies, and inspiring stories, subscribe to BNI & The Power of One and join Tim Roberts on his mission to elevate your BNI membership to new heights.