FAQ's
Ask BNI
This is the place where you can ask any question about BNI. If you have a question for BNI's CEO and Founder, Dr. Ivan Misner, send it to askbni@bni.com. He will post his response here, as space allows. From time to time, a guest Director will post a response. You may view other questions Dr. Misner is posed by going to www.entrepreneur.com, where Dr. Misner participates in Entrepreneur.com's Ask the Networking Expert.
Q: Our BNI meetings are so enjoyable; however, one part that is quite laborious is the introduction of the speakers when they are using the suggested bio information. Some personal information is okay, but there must be a better way of making the introduction of the speaker more exciting. I've observed that most of the information is read without much excitement and sometimes with embarrassment. Can we revise this section of the meeting to be brief and to the point?
Thanks for the great question! The introductions used to be "brief and to the point" until I went to a chapter where I saw someone do the most outstanding introduction that I have ever seen. It was awesome! As it turned out, she had made up a bio sheet (what we use now) as the foundation of her introduction. We then realized we needed to do more than "Heeeeeere's Johnny!"
Most business problems can be placed into two categories: a "systems" problem or an "application" problem. Before we used the bio sheet we had a systems problem. That is, we had no system for effective introductions. Today we have a system. The application is in the hands of the person doing the introduction. If she follows the directions in the Leadership Team manual, it will turn out great. If, however, she doesn't "breathe life" into the introduction, nothing will make it effective.
I honestly believe that the problem is not the bio sheet. It is the implementation of the introduction. The person doing the intro has to give it life. I love this saying: "Ignorance on fire is better than knowledge on ice." You can have a lot of information and knowledge (the bio sheet) but if you aren't on fire implementing it, you'll be putting it on ice.
Dr. Misner, Founder & CEO, BNI
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