The Power of One is the lodestar by which BNI members measure themselves. We’ve written in depth about the Power of One in previous blogs, but to sum it up in a nutshell, it’s a measurement of business networking consistency.
While everyone loves a big payday, you can’t judge your members by only how much money they bring you. Consistent networking habits like attending your one meeting per week, doing one one-to-one meeting with another member, inviting one visitor per month, completing one education unit, and sending one referral each week ensure quality business relationship building between members.
Why Develop Power of One Habits When Networking for Small Business?
So why subscribe to the Power of One, besides the fact that Dr. Ivan Misner said so? Business networking consistency matters.
A big payday is great, but you can count on them. Perhaps your biggest sale will come from a member who just happens upon it, but that isn’t just luck.
Luck Favors the Well Prepared
Your networking partners are far more likely to stumble into a big referral for you if you consistently show up each week and help them come up with all of the right keywords and qualifiers that will help them identify that perfect referral for you.
There are many stories about members getting a big referral by dumb luck, but as Dr. Misner pointed out in a recent podcast, if you’ve spent your time contributing to your BNI chapter and teaching everyone how to refer you, there’s more than luck involved. There’s also a lot of hard work and dedication.
People Love Returning Favors
When your fellow chapter members see you doing the work each week, they know that you care about them. They see you care enough to show up. They see you’re in the green and devoted to Givers Gain. In other words, they know that you’re giving to them (at least collectively as a chapter).
Contrary to popular belief, people actually enjoy helping each other. It’s called the Helper’s High. But do you know what they love even more? Returning the favor.
If you’ve given, people want to give back to you, so doing your part consistently makes you more visible and makes members want to help you more.
Dig One Hole Deeply
If you’re looking for water, you dig one hole as deep as you need, not several shallow holes. That’s what good referral partners do for each other. They keep digging.
The analogy isn’t perfect here. After all, you could argue every person they speak with is digging a new hole, but you could also argue the same person continuing to get to know you and digging deeper to find your best clients is finding that water.
Sure, sometimes people strike water (or gold!) right away, but you can’t count on that. Instead, use business networking consistency to ensure your fellow BNI chapter members become excellent referral partners!
BNI (and General) Success is Built Upon Business Networking Consistency!
Networking and indeed nearly any type of success in business or life is built upon consistency. As Dr. Misner says, don’t do one thousand things six times. Do six things one thousand times.
You can find your own methods for business networking consistency, but why go through the trouble when BNI has spent over 40 years honing the perfect formula for you?
Don’t go out looking for secret or esoteric business networking tips. Start utilizing the Power of One, and as you get into the green, watch your own green pile up.
