Achieve Networking Excellence Through Accountability

"Why accept mediocrity when excellence is an option?" asks Dr. Ivan Misner, Founder and Chairman of BNI, an international referral networking organization that helps businesses and professionals cultivate success through word-of-mouth marketing.

Upland, CA (PRWEB) August 23, 2006 -- "Why accept mediocrity when excellence is an option?" asks Dr. Ivan Misner, Founder and Chairman of BNI, an international referral networking organization that helps businesses and professionals cultivate success through word-of-mouth marketing.

Misner says excellence in networking requires accountability. Yet, master networkers in BNI chapters around the globe have learned a vital lesson about the necessary tension between accountability and friendships.

It is a business referral organization. I believe that people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. BNI chapters strive to create an atmosphere of both accountability and support. It is the paradox of friendship and membership.

"One of the strengths of BNI is that the members of a chapter become friends," Misner explains. "And one of the weaknesses of BNI is that the members of a chapter become friends! Friends don't like to hold friends accountable. However, accountability is the key to any successful referral network."

Misner emphasizes that accountability really is a way of demonstrating true caring. Systems and accountability are necessary to provide a structure that consistently provides members with excellent support and referrals while maintaining high expectations of each individual.

"BNI is not a friendship organization," he notes. "It is a business referral organization. I believe that people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. BNI chapters strive to create an atmosphere of both accountability and support. It is the paradox of friendship and membership."

BNI's balancing act between friendship and accountability resulted in 4.4 million referrals that generated more than $1.7 billion dollars worth of business for members in 2005.

Misner says BNI members' path to excellence in networking is based on the company's philosophy: Givers Gain. "We must both develop friendships AND expect accountability, which is applied in a way that shows we care about people and their success," he concludes.

For more information, visit www.bni.com.

BNI (www.bni.com) is a referral networking organization, with over 4,000 groups in more than 30 countries worldwide. BNI's Founder & Chairman, Dr. Ivan Misner is the author of several book's including the NY Times best-seller, Masters of Networking, (www.MastersofNetworking.com) and the recently released #1 best-seller, Masters of Success (www.MastersofSuccess.biz). He is also the Senior Partner for the Referral Institute (www.referralinstitute.com), a referral training company with operations around the world.

Contact:
Michael R. Drew
Phone: 512-858-0040
Fax: 512-857-9428
16208 Crystal Hills Drive
Austin, TX 78737-9009

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