Hundreds of SME owners have taken to meeting in hotels in the early hours for sessions of intense flesh-pressing. Nothing salacious, though — they just like in-person networking and business referral.
And attendees at the weekly meets don’t even switch on their phones. In fact, it’s a no-no at the gatherings, arranged by Business Network International, which now has over 1,200 members nationwide, spread over 56 chapters. BNI is stateside in origin, set up in LA in the 1980s by networking guru Ivan Misner.
BNI Ireland members gather weekly to network and give 60-second pitches about their companies. One member per profession or trade is allowed in the various BNI chapters and each works to refer fellow members if someone they know needs a butcher, baker or, more likely, social media expert.
It’s speed dating, but about money, not sex — BNI chapters tot up the business referrals that their meetings generate. According to the Irish chapters, members generated over €45m in business last year.
Sandra Hart (pictured), BNI’s director of European affairs, says smartphones are out at its gatherings. “People use the phone as a crutch. They walk into a room full of strangers and automatically pull out their phones. When people use phones when they’re face-to-face, that’s not good. You might even be tweeting about how great it is to talk to me, but for me it might seem really rude. You never get past the stage of small talk.”
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She prefers face time, advising those on the lookout for business or for leads to get in people’s faces when networking — but in a nice way. “Be face to face, skin on skin, shaking hands. Introduce yourself, talk to people and get to know them. When you’re networking, be there. Think about what you’re doing at the event. Be present with the person you’re speaking with!”
BNI’s management clearly likes what they are seeing in Castlebar, as the town is the location of BNI’s first administrative office outside the US, creating ten new jobs. The Mayo base oversees operations in 67 countries.
