Business Power Network
Issue No. 8July 2010
'Power'ful Teams Make All The Difference 
 
We all know that the BNI referral system is built on trusted relationships, and we all know that our regularly scheduled meetings are designed to give visitors the opportunity to get to know us.  So, how do we, the members, get to know one another better in order to build those relationships?  The obvious answer is 1-2-1's -- those tete-a-tetes where you really get to learn what the other person is like, and what they're looking for in a referral (and vice versa).  But in a healthy, growing chapter (like ours), it can be nearly impossible to get to know everyone -- after all, who has time to add that many meetings to their schedule, even if it's just lunch?  The less obvious answer to the original question, then, but the one that actually makes more efficient use of your time, is Power Team meetings. Here is where you truly get to know the people who can make a difference to your business, because the members of your Power Team are where 90% of your referrals come from, and go to.  So make sure that you attend your Power Team meetings regularly; if you don't, you're doing yourself, and your Power Team partners, a tremendous disservice.
 
That said, when your Power Teams do meet, are they accomplishing anything?  Our President, Chris Maples, and our Education Coordinator, Abby O'Sullivan, both share some wonderful ideas below about how to make your Power Team meetings more productive, for the team and for you, personally.  In addition to these, keep in mind that your Power Team should be the logical place for you to look to add more professions to the chapter, again because this is where the majority of your business comes from.  If necessary, use the BNI Contact Sphere list to get ideas for what professional categories your team might be lacking.  Invite these visitors to attend a Power Team meeting instead of a regular meeting -- knowing that they will have an immediate source of potential referrals is a powerful thought, even before they see how much business gets passed, and how much fun we have, at a regular meeting.  So check the Event Calendar for your next Power Team meeting, and don't miss it!  If you're a potential visitor to our group, visit our website to find out who could be referring business to you today!
Putting The 'Power' In Power Teams

Chris Maples-Shuler, Maples Properties
When entire Power Teams meet regularly, the possibilities for connections with each other's clients and contact spheres increase greatly.
 
Each Power Team should identify the target market for everyone on that team to focus on over the next few months.  For example, if everyone in a Power Team states they are looking for introductions to non-profit organizations, or law firms, and so on, then the other chapter members will hear that call repeatedly and be more apt to come up with referrals. 
 
In your meetings, share who you have been meeting with over the past month.  That way, if another team member is interested in a prospect, you can provide that introduction.  Share who you would like to meet, just as you might do in your infomercial -- in a Power Team setting, you will be able to do so in more detail. 
 
Look to your fellow Power Team members as partners.  Try out a new memory hook or discuss ideas for an upcoming presentation.  With the support of your "partners", you can get valuable feedback that may strengthen your effectiveness. 
 
Discuss other chapter members outside your Power Team that might be beneficial to pull in for a special project.  For example, if you are targeting non-profits, perhaps someone else in the group would benefit from targeting them as well.  Discuss how to include them as part of your "value-added" team while you focus on that one market.
 
Some other ideas:  How about doing a team 10-minute presentation, with each member showing how one client can benefit from each of their products or services?  Or, put one member in charge of reading the newspaper for announcements about new business opportunities.  Strategize about how to approach those prospects to introduce the others as part of the team.
 
Make your Power Team work for you!
 
Chris Maples-Shuler
Maples Properties

We are actively seeking dynamic individuals from these professions:

  • Photographer, Printer, Radio Advertising 
  • Wedding and/or Event Planner, Personal Injury Attorney
  • HVAC Services, Plumber, Home Inspector
  • Estate Planning Attorney, Group Insurance Provider

If you are, or know someone, in one of these professions who would like to increase their word-of-mouth referrals, call our Visitor Host, Mike Ferguson, at 417-883-1700.  We'd love to learn more about you!

Power Team Ins & OutsAbby O'Sullivan, Amoré SkinSpa
 
Power Teams consist of members with closely related professions.  By forming your strongest relationships with people in professions closely related to yours, you will become more successful and so will they.  I'm happy to see our Power Teams are filling out nicely but, of course, there is plenty of room for more!  As we gain new members to fill in the blanks, our Power Teams will get stronger, more business will be passed, and our chapter will be stronger as a whole.

Remember, "Power Team" means more than just another meeting.  As Chris stated above, use your meeting time wisely, keep it structured and focused, and really make use of that time to find out your team members' goals, and know what's going on with them.  We have also taken to visiting each other's place of business -- this is a fantastic way to get to know your fellow members!  But don't limit yourself to only developing relationships with your Power Team; think about the alliances you could have with other chapter members as well.

Following is an excerpt from Outside-the-Box Power Teams by Karen Frank that was posted on SuccessNet Online:
 
"...For heaven's sakes - think outside the box!  Just because BNI suggests that an insurance agent and a realtor are great Power Partners, doesn't mean that is your only option!

Let's say you are an insurance agent. What is your niche? You DO have a niche, right? Remember, your niche will make you rich. If your niche is "parents with teenage drivers", then maybe a strategic alliance or Power Partner would be a skin care rep who focuses on teens with acne.

Or maybe you craft your infomercial to look for team managers of soccer or baseball teams (or my favorite, ice hockey). A chiropractor who works with sports teams could also be a good ally.

Do you see how identifying your niche opens doors to new groups of clients through potential strategic alliances?

BUT no matter how clever or targeted your infomercial is, the bottom line is relationships.  You will never be able to work with the skin care professional if you don't take the time to form a relationship with that person so he/she can understand how referring you will benefit their clients.

See, it's back to the basics, just at a different level; it's raising the bar!

There's no reason your fellow BNI chapter members can't help you achieve your goals.  You just have to know what to ask for and create the relationships necessary to make it happen."
 
Abby O'Sullivan
Amoré SkinSpa 
Upcoming Events:
 
Sertoma BBQ at G.L. Moore Tire - Saturday, July 17, 10:00am-3:00pm
Holmes & Griffeth Economic Update - Thursday, July 22, 6:00-7:00pm
FBNCC Patient Appreciation Day - Thursday, August 5, 7:30am-6:00pm
Holmes & Griffeth 2nd Annual Golf Outing - Monday, August 9, 7:00am
BNI Member Success Program - Thursday, August 12, 5:00pm-7:00pm
BNI Regional Success Summit - Friday, August 13, 7:30am-9:00am
BPN Social Hour at Springfield BrewCo - Thursday, August 19, 4:30pm-?
 
For more information on any of these events, see the BPN Calendar.
 
BPN Members On The Air:
 
David Martin & Mike Green Show - Wednesdays, KADI 1340 AM, 4:00pm
Holmes & Griffeth Radio Show - Fridays, KWTO 560 AM, 3:00-4:00pm 
Mentoring: Kickin' It Up A Notch!

Martin Sansom, Diamond Mind Web Design
New BNI members are fortunate, because BNI has a 'tried and trusted' system in place to train them and get them up to speed in "the BNI way":  MSP (the Member Success Program) and the Mentor system.  That's WAY more training than I got from my last employer!  But what happens after a new member has completed that process?  Are they just "released into the wild"?
 
Not if your chapter (like ours) has a strong Power Team base!  When a new member is able to join a flourishing Power Team, they will find themselves among other professionals who work in similar fields and who understand what it takes to help a new member succeed.  Trusted relationships are quickly built when Power Teams meet regularly and pass quality referrals, because the existing members can get a better idea, sooner, of what the new member can do.
 
In our chapter, as in several others, we are taking that one step further -- we will be adding Assistant Mentors from each Power Team.  These new PT Mentors will continue to help new members acclimate, which in turn will allow the chapter Mentor to focus on the next group of incoming applicants.  The Mentor will also be free to assist long-term members with any issues they might have.  The whole chapter should see beneficial results with increased productivity, and more referrals and closed business.  Bam!
 
We'll talk more about this new process in the coming months as we get it up and running. Until next month...
 
Martin Sansom
Diamond Mind Web Design
Visitors, It's All About You!

Thank you for reading, and if you are a past guest of our chapter, thank you for attending.  We would love to see you again!  If you are new to BNI, you should put a Business Power Network meeting on your schedule ASAP!  And  please feel free to forward this newsletter on to any of your friends or associates who might be interested in learning more about how BNI, and our chapter in particular, can help YOUR business grow in ways that no other professional networking organization can match.  Until next month...
 
Business Power Network
A Chapter of BNI
Springfield, Missouri
 
In This Issue
Putting The 'Power' In Power Teams
Power Team Ins & Outs
Mentoring: Kickin' It Up A Notch!
Featured Members
Contact Information
Featured Members
 
This month we're high-
lighting all those members who have joined in the past few months!
 
Adam Brown, Ozark Irrigation & Outdoor Services

Adam Brown

Ozark Irrigation & Outdoor Systems
 
Adam joined us in March, and specializes in designing and installing landscaping, water features and irrigation systems.

Hope Faller, GHN Architects/Engineers

Hope Faller

GHN Architects/
Engineers
 
Hope joined us in April from GHN, where she is the Marketing Administrator.
 
Justin McMillan, Express Roofing LLC

Justin McMillan

Express Roofing
 
 
Justin also joined us in April. Express Roofing not only can fix or replace all types of roofing, but they can clean existing roofs as well.
 

Rick Hale II, Merchant Data SystemsRick Hale II

Merchant Data Systems
 
Rick joined the chapter in May as our credit card processing expert. Rick stresses educating his clients and doing things the right way.
 
Nikki Diederich, Image One Salon

Nikki Diederich

Image One Salon
 
 
Nikki is a licensed cosme-
tologist and is terrific at helping each of her clients find just the right look.
 
Welcome to all of you!
Next Month's
Featured Member:
 
Abby O'Sullivan, Amoré SkinSpa Abby O'Sullivan
 Amoré SkinSpa
 
 
 
And The Month After:
 
Gary Gauger, Lasertek Inc. Gary Gauger
 Lasertek Inc.
 
Contact Us
 
Visitor Host:  Mike Ferguson
Phone:  417-883-1700
 
Next Meeting:  July 20, 2010
Time:  11:30am - 1:00pm
Place:  The Clubhouse at
Coyote's Adobe Café
1742 S. Glenstone Ave.
Springfield, MO 65804
 
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Editor's Note
 
"Heard you missed us --We're back!!"
 
It's unfortunate yet unavoidable -- sometimes personal issues get in the way of doing business, and at one time or another over the past few months, all of us who help produce this newsletter have had to deal with changes, both good and bad.  But we're happy to say that the BPN Newsletter is back in business!
The Business Power Network Newsletter is produced and distributed by the BPN Marketing Power Team, and is intended to educate and inform both visitors and members about the power of BNI.  And it's just one more example of why we're the best BNI chapter in Springfield, so come see us today!