Episode 889: Taking a Leadership Role in Your Chapter

Summary

Episode 889: Taking a Leadership Role in Your Chapter

Release Date: December 4, 2024

In Episode 889 of The Official BNI Podcast, hosted by Dr. Ivan Misner, founder and Chief Visionary Officer of BNI, the focus is on the significance of embracing leadership roles within your BNI chapter. Dr. Misner is joined by returning guest Phil Berg, a seasoned BNI member known for his expertise in effective networking, leadership, team development, management, communication, and goal setting.

Introduction to Leadership in BNI

The episode begins with Dr. Misner introducing Phil Berg, highlighting his extensive experience and contributions to BNI. Dr. Misner emphasizes Phil’s role in sharing valuable insights on taking leadership roles within a BNI chapter, setting the stage for an in-depth discussion on the topic.

Benefits of Leadership Roles

Phil Berg delves into the primary benefits of holding a leadership position in BNI. He articulates the distinction between being seen and being known, emphasizing that leadership roles provide members with increased visibility and credibility both within and outside the chapter.

“There’s a difference between being seen and being known. There are limited opportunities to increase your visibility and increase your credibility.”
— Phil Berg [02:07]

Phil explains that visibility enhances the likelihood of being remembered when someone has a need for your services. This heightened presence can lead to more meaningful connections and business opportunities.

Credibility Through Leadership

Dr. Misner concurs, noting how effective leadership naturally enhances credibility in one's business endeavors. He shares an anecdote about a member who gained unexpected business opportunities simply by being visible as a chapter president.

“If you’re really good on the leadership team, that kind of rubs off on your credibility and whatever business you’re in.”
— Dr. Ivan Misner [03:02]

This example underscores the ripple effect that leadership roles can have on a member’s professional reputation and business growth.

Exposure and External Opportunities

Phil underscores the importance of exposure not just within the chapter but also to visitors and the broader community. Leadership roles create lasting impressions on visitors, making members memorable and fostering strong professional relationships.

“When you are leading that, wonderful opportunity to create that.”
— Phil Berg [03:53]

Addressing Time Commitment Concerns

A common concern among members is the time required to fulfill leadership responsibilities effectively. Phil addresses this by reframing the role as an opportunity rather than an inconvenience.

“Are you doing a role or are you using the role? If you think of BNI as an income strategy, then it doesn’t become an inconvenience. It actually becomes a strategy.”
— Phil Berg [04:23]

He highlights that leadership roles are integral to leveraging BNI as a strategic tool for business growth, thereby turning time investment into long-term benefits.

Creating a Legacy and Impact

The conversation shifts to the broader impact of leadership within BNI. Phil discusses how members can influence the growth and success of their chapters, leaving a lasting legacy that benefits not only themselves but also their businesses, families, and communities.

“We make an amazing difference. And how fantastic would you be when you are leading that?”
— Phil Berg [06:23]

Understanding the Ripple Effect

Phil elaborates on the concept of the ripple effect, explaining how business transactions circulate within the community, benefiting multiple stakeholders.

“When a transaction is made, the person receiving the money doesn’t necessarily keep it all. They redistribute a percentage to others, spreading the economic impact.”
— Phil Berg [07:14]

This analogy illustrates the broader economic and social benefits of active participation in BNI leadership.

Personal and Professional Development

Dr. Misner poses a critical question about the skills gained from leadership roles that might not be acquired otherwise. Phil responds by highlighting significant growth in communication and accountability.

“I learned communication skills... I definitely learned a lot more about seeing things through accountability and I took those skills into my own business.”
— Phil Berg [08:45]

These skills are not only beneficial within the BNI framework but also translate seamlessly into members' personal and professional lives.

The Value of Immersive Leadership Experience

Phil reflects on the intrinsic value of leadership roles, suggesting that the skills and experiences gained are invaluable and often unattainable through other means.

“How much would anyone pay to learn the leadership skills that you can naturally get being a leader within your group? People would pay tens and tens of thousands for that skill.”
— Phil Berg [09:59]

Final Thoughts: Personal Development and Reputation

As the episode draws to a close, Phil emphasizes viewing leadership roles as avenues for personal development and reputation building rather than mere time commitments.

“Just think of it as personal development and continuing to build your reputation rather than the time.”
— Phil Berg [11:13]

Dr. Misner echoes this sentiment, reinforcing the idea that leadership roles within BNI are transformative, enhancing both business acumen and personal growth.

Conclusion

Episode 889 offers a compelling discussion on the multifaceted benefits of taking on leadership roles in BNI chapters. Through Phil Berg’s insights and real-world examples, members are encouraged to view leadership as a strategic opportunity for visibility, credibility, personal development, and lasting impact. Dr. Misner and Phil effectively convey that the commitment to leadership not only advances individual businesses but also fosters a thriving, supportive community within BNI.

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For more insights and resources, visit Phil Berg’s website or explore Dr. Ivan Misner’s extensive collection on the Business Builder platform.

Transcript

[Priscilla Rice]

Episode 889 Taking a Leadership role in your chapter.

[Dr. Ivan Meisner]

You're listening to the official BI podcast with BI founder and chief visionary officer Dr. Ivan Meisner. Stay tuned for networking and referral marketing tips from the man who's been called the father of modern networking, along with suggestions and insights into getting the most from your membership in the world's largest networking organization, bni.

[Priscilla Rice]

Hello everybody and welcome back to the official official BNI podcast. I'm Priscilla Rice and I'm coming to you from live recording studio in Berkeley, California. And I'm joined on the phone today by the founder and the Chief Visionary Officer of B and I, Dr. Ivan Meisner. Hello Ivan, how are you and where are you?

[Dr. Ivan Meisner]

I am home in Austin this week, but I'm doing lots of online programs including the founders educational programs which I do every month and members can find them up on Business Builder. If you don't, if you don't drop in live. So I'm getting out there this these last couple of weeks, but I'm doing it through Zoom.

[Priscilla Rice]

Perfect.

[Dr. Ivan Meisner]

I have a guest again this week who was on our program last week. He's been on BNI podcast before and that's Phil Berg. Phil is consistently invited all over the world to share his knowledge and expertise on topics such as effective networking, leadership, team development, management, effective communication and goal setting, amongst other things. I consider Phil a good friend. He's been to my home, we've worked on a book together, we've got a book coming out next year and I'm excited to have him on my podcast with this topic in particular, which is about taking a leadership role in your chapter. Phil, welcome back to BNI podcast.

[Phil Berg]

Thank you so much and it's lovely to be here again.

[Dr. Ivan Meisner]

So Phil, how specifically can being on the leadership team benefit a person in business, a member of bni?

[Phil Berg]

I think first and foremost there's a difference between being seen and being known. And I think, I think a lot of people get seen, but they don't necessarily get known. And I think there's limited opportunities to increase your visibility and increase your credibility. And I often think that, you know, if you're unknown, then by default you reduce the opportunity to be remembered when someone has a need. So for me, being on the leadership team gives you a beautiful opportunity to kind of show who you are, show how you are, etc.

[Dr. Ivan Meisner]

Yeah, it's funny isn't it, how if you're, if you're really good on the leadership team, that kind of rubs off on your credibility and whatever business you're in. It's like, well, they're good at that. And there's kind of a natural assumption that they must be good at their business as well. Would you agree?

[Phil Berg]

I think so. You know, the old saying, as I said on a previous podcast, is, you know, the way we're seen as doing anything is the way we're perceived as doing everything.

[Dr. Ivan Meisner]

Right. Exactly.

[Phil Berg]

And.

[Dr. Ivan Meisner]

And the exposure is, I think, sometimes not completely understood. I remember once a. A person got in the newspaper for being the new president of a chapter, and an old friend reached out to him because he saw this newspaper photo and it was like, hey, I saw. I saw you in the newspaper. I moved out of town. I'm back in here on business. They had breakfast and they hit it off. So. Well, he ended up hiring him. He was a contractor to do a multimillion dollar building, a commercial building in the city. And it. He was in a photograph as the new president of a chapter. So, you know, taking on the leadership team role gives you exposure within the chapter, but it also gives you exposure outside as well.

[Phil Berg]

Yeah. And to the visitors. You know, I mean, I, you know, I was a member for a long time, happily until I sold my business. And the reality is, you know, you. When you think of a visitor's experience, you know, it's amazing, the visitors experience. And you've got to be one of these people that when they leave, you're remembered, and what a wonderful opportunity to create that.

[Dr. Ivan Meisner]

So some people are concerned about the time it takes to do the role properly. What are your thoughts on that?

[Phil Berg]

Well, I always say, are you. Are you doing a role or are you using the role? If you think of B and I as an income strategy, then it doesn't become an inconvenience. It actually becomes a strategy, as I just mentioned, for you to have that opportunity to increase your visibility and therefore credibility. I also think you have the opportunity to influence the continued growth and success of your chapter and to leave a legacy. And how amazing is that?

[Dr. Ivan Meisner]

Well, I think it's amazing. I just did a book called Infinite Legacy, so I think legacy is pretty important.

[Phil Berg]

Yeah.

[Dr. Ivan Meisner]

And you know what? Your life is, your legacy, the things that you do and how you show up in the world is. Is an important part of your legacy. And being on the leadership team is, I think, also important. Part of that is. Is developing a B and I chapter or. Or is it about developing a business group? This is a thought that you had.

[Phil Berg]

Yeah. Well, when you, when you think that the goal of a B and I chapter is to help all the members increase their business, increase the, the quality of their clients, you know, earn more money using BNI as a strategy, then ultimately you want to be thinking that continually having a direction to make the chapter even more successful. And when you can do that, that's, you know, more participating members looking out for each other. You know, we make a difference. And how amazing to lead the group in making a difference, not just to ourselves personally, but to our businesses, our families and the community. I think it's often more, more than people realize. You know, we sometimes just look at the people around us. But it's the knock on effect and I think we make an amazing difference. And how, how fantastic would you be when you are leading that?

[Dr. Ivan Meisner]

All right, so knock on effect is a British term. You want to explain that for those of us not from the uk?

[Phil Berg]

Sorry. So I would say the ripple effect, in other words, when there's something called velocity of money. So when a transaction is made, the person receiving the money doesn't, you know, they may receive 100% of the money, but they have to redistribute a percentage of that money to other people. So for example, when I was in the carpet and flooring business, you know, you may give me say $2,000 to put some carpet down for you, but of that $2,000, I've got to give some of that to my installation team. I've got to give that to some of the manufacturers who pay their staff to make the carpets that the money gets respread around the community. So we make an amazing difference.

[Dr. Ivan Meisner]

Yeah, absolutely. The ripple effect is important. And, and, and by the way, don't worry about using, you know, British term. I've used American terms in the UK and gotten myself in trouble. So yours won't get you in trouble. So did you ever take a leadership team role in B and I, I did.

[Phil Berg]

And you know, if I'm honest, I, I never joined BNI to be the chapter president. In fact, I'll never be the chapter president. And then you have to realize that, you know, part of being a giver is to be part of the team. You can't just turn up to the meeting, receive the referrals, give a few out and just think that you're a good member. There's a difference between a good member and a good person. And I realized that to have the opportunity to work with some great people and continue the development of the chapter to even more success, you know, how wonderful to have that opportunity. And as I understood more and more that we are a business group. It's nice to be able to not control it myself, but it's nice. It's very difficult to moan about somebody else if you've never done it yourself.

[Dr. Ivan Meisner]

Yeah.

[Phil Berg]

So you have to experience it.

[Dr. Ivan Meisner]

So this is a question that I'm just going to throw at you. Do you feel like you learned some life skills or business skills by being on the leadership team that you maybe wouldn't have learned otherwise?

[Phil Berg]

What a brilliant question. Without doubt and put on the spot. I learned communication skills. My communication skills and the way I delivered the messages were far in advance of, if you like, the way I would have delivered the messages to my own. I don't like the word staff, but it is the word staff. So, you know, in my own company, I realized that I might have unintentionally delivered a request, if you like, more as a, hey, guys, we need to do this. Whereas when you are delivering this message to your peers who don't work for you, I definitely learned to deliver messages in a far more effective way. I definitely learned a lot more about seeing things through accountability and I took those skills into my own business. So superb question. Without doubt.

[Dr. Ivan Meisner]

And so it benefited you to be on the leadership team. This is one of the things that I tell people and they don't quite understand it, but it really does benefit. Benefit you if you take it seriously and do the work seriously.

[Phil Berg]

Well, think about it like this. This has just entered my head. And it has just entered my head. How much would anyone, me included, and any of our listeners, how much would anyone pay to learn the leadership skills that you can naturally get being a leader within your group? People would pay tens and tens of thousands of that skill. So, you know. Yeah, I mean, yeah, I've just thought of that. I mean, definitely, without doubt a benefit.

[Dr. Ivan Meisner]

And certainly if you immerse yourself in the content. There's so much content available for BNI members and particularly for leadership teams, online business Builder, and of course, this podcast and our books and our manuals. There's so much that if they immerse themselves in it, they're going to be better business people as well as better members and leaders.

[Phil Berg]

Yeah. And also you have opportunities being on the leadership team that you may not actually have respectfully being a member. For example, there would be leadership team events. So, you know, you have an opportunity to do what you can't just do without that, without being in that position.

[Dr. Ivan Meisner]

Well, we're out of time, my friend. Is there any last comment before we wrap?

[Phil Berg]

Yeah. Just think of it as personal development and continuing to build your reputation rather than the time.

[Dr. Ivan Meisner]

Yeah, yeah. Being on the leadership team will make you a better business person and. And possibly a better person in general. So. Yeah, I agree. Great stuff, Phil. Thanks for being on the podcast. Bill's website is Phil Berg, coach. That's Phil. P, I, P, H, I, L, B, E, R, G Coach. C, O, A, C, H. Phil Berg, coach. Phil, thank you so much.

[Phil Berg]

Thank you very, very much. Be well.

[Dr. Ivan Meisner]

Over to you, Priscilla.

[Priscilla Rice]

Okay, well, that was great. Thank you both so very much. This podcast is sponsored by MeisnerAudioProGrams.com and these audio programs will provide you with the tools and the inspiration to powerfully enhance your BNI experience. So check out the great material that's available [e-mail] and then use the promo code IVAN5O for 50% off of everything. All of the proceeds go to the B and I Foundation. Thank you so much for listening. This is Priscilla Rice, and we look forward to having you join us again next week for another exciting episode of the official BNI podcast.