Episode 552: Not Reporting “Thank You For Closed Business”

Synopsis This week, Dr. Misner addresses an Ask Ivan question from Charles in the US. My chapter is fairly robust (45 members) and we’ve been there for quite some time. Because of this, our membership committee doesn’t renew everyone who comes up for renewals. One of the metrics they use is Thank You For Closed Business. I know for a fact that I have given several thousand dollars worth of business to other members, but they have never logged it. What is the polite way to ask members to log the closed business I have given them? Before you ask someone to do something, talk about the why. When people understand the why, they’re much more likely to comply. Here are some of the reasons why it’s important to log TYCB. * It benefits the chapter. If the chapter doesn’t know how much business is being generated, they don’t know how well they’re doing and can’t achieve goals. * One of our core values in BNI is recognition. Knowing how much business has been generated can be a time of celebration. * It demonstrates that you’re a contributing member to the group. Explain that you want your membership renewed and that TYCBs are one way the membership committee makes that decision. Beth Misner suggests bribery in the case of resistance. Offer a $5 Starbucks gift card…after they hand in the TYCBs. Brought to you by the Networking for Success Channel on YouTube. Complete Transcript of Episode 552 – Priscilla: Hello everybody and welcome back to The Official BNI podcast brought to you by the Networking For Success Channel on YouTube, which features Dr. Ivan Misner and many other networking experts. I’m Priscilla Rice and I’m coming to you from Live Oak Recording Studio in Berkeley, CA. I’m joined on the phone today by the Founder and Chief Visionary officer of BNI, Dr Ivan Misner. Hello Ivan, how are you today and where are you? Ivan: I am at home in Austin, Texas, and I am meeting with a long time friend, Norm Dominguez, who is the Vice Chair Emeritus of BNI and the retired CEO of the organization. He is the first CEO of BNI after I stepped down as CEO. It is great to spend some time here with Norm and reminisce. He has been involved in the organization. He is still active in what we call the “Senators” which are people who have been involved in the organization for a long time. He has been in. BNI for 30 years. Priscilla: Wow. That is fantastic. Ivan: It really is. Today, I am addressing a question from Charles in the US. Charles says, “My chapter is fairly robust, about 45 members.” Charles, awesome. 45 members, that’s great. He said, “We have been there for quite some time. Because of this, our membership committee doesn’t renew everyone who comes up for renewal.” That’s good. Doing it for the right reasons is really good. You want to make sure that you have good people who are committed. He says, “One of the metrics they use to make their decision is thank you for closed business that we have given to other members. I know for a fact that I have given several thousand dollars in closed business to other members but they have never logged it. What is the polite way to ask members to log the closed business I have given them?” Great question, Charles. I don’t think anybody has ever asked me that. I have a longer answer, but here is my short answer. Ask politely. So I cant do a ten minute podcast with two words, so I will expand on that a little bit. I do have some other suggestions, but that is where it begins. Ask politely. Clear, open, honest and direct communication is always the best way to address any kind of challenges with people. So the longer answer includes when you are talking to people,