Comments on: Episode 143: “Addition by Subtraction”

By: Ajit Karve

Ajit Karve — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 04:17:50 +0000

Wonderful podcast. Could not have been better timed. It is the need of the hour for our chapter. We will surely discuss in our LT meeting. Ajit Karve BNI Prosperity Chapter Pune (India).

By: Suhas Marathe

Suhas Marathe — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 06:09:14 +0000

“Subtraction by addition” can this be tried at office level? I am trying to tell my staff about importance of attendance and punctuality. Still they show up late atleast 50% of the times. Should I give a incentive for reaching office in time? Good Morning this is Suhas feom Prosperity Pune (India)

By: Don Davison

Don Davison — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:48:44 +0000

Hey Ivan, It is tough to prune a chapter when you have become good friends. I think if our chapter members are as close as we like to think we are, that as your friend, I should be able to approach you with a situation you may be having (and you may be completely unaware). Even though taking this step, and face to face bringing up what ever it may be, may catch someone of guard and get defensive, if you are truly friends and the smoke clears, you are both better from it. Better friends and stronger BNI members. If this isn’t the case, then maybe you weren’t that close as friends after all. Either way, if there is no improvement or change, then the act of pruning will be less stressful.
I like taking this one step further…it shouldn’t have to always be the VP to talk to that member. As a member, I’m not blind, I realize what’s going on and I should be willing to bring it up with the member in question. If done correctly, like how can I help, the everyday member could help his/her friend before it reaches the point to where the VP has to be the bad guy!
Nothing in BNI works without accountability… and pruning is definitely accountability!!!

By: David Demangos

David Demangos — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:51:33 +0000

These thoughts have absolutely transformed our Chapter! Little struggle making it all happen, but absolutley worth pay the price.

By: Ang Ah Sin

Ang Ah Sin — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:55:52 +0000

Thanks, Ivan for the reminder.

I believed that the root of problem creeping up in chapters is directly related to attitude and conviction – attitude towards accountability to the chapter and conviction of the respect due to fellow members.

The attitude can be easily fixed if the expectations and discipline of member are emphasized during the interview process and re-emphasized at length during the first training (MSP101) to be attended by every new member as well as during the training for the VP before assuming office.

I found many a time, these are skimmed through because they are the no-so-nice-to-say or do topics. Thus, as time goes by, without a clear expectation and policy enforcement, people see people do and absenteeism starts to creep in.

In the earlier days, we have members who got more and more referrals that he started to give reasons why he had to work and meet project deadlines instead of attending the BNI meeting. He didn’t even have the courtesy to find a substitute. Yet, when he was short of business, he started to reappear. There were also those who did not get enough referrals that they had wished for and started to doubt the BNI system which led to excuses for not turning up. Naturally, they were guided out of the chapter during the pruning period.

Periodically, we need to prune even though it is not a nice thing to do. This as said will be a no issue if the expectations are understood and committed at the onset of the membership and the LT team.

@angahsin
@BNIraffles