Introduction: “Good morning, fellow BNI Members! Have you ever noticed that in both life and BNI, when we learn something new and make positive changes, old habits tend to sneak back in over time? This is where the power of our weekly Education Moments comes into play. We continually build our members’ knowledge to help them maximize their BNI membership and maintain good networking habits. This means revisiting previous education topics and introducing them to our new members or visitors. Today, we’re revisiting a critical aspect of our weekly presentations, starting with the end: The Ask.”

Body:

“The Ask, also known as the Specific Referral Request, is arguably the most crucial part of your pitch. But what exactly is ‘The Ask’? It’s the moment when you request referrals from your fellow Members. If we don’t guide our fellow Members in the right direction (or any direction at all), we risk receiving the wrong type of referrals or no referrals at all.”

“The key to a successful Ask is to center it around your core product or service – what you’re passionate about providing or selling daily, and what’s most profitable for your business. This should align with your designated BNI classification. Asking for anything else can diminish your credibility. When crafting your weekly presentation, it’s often wise to start with your Ask and work backward from there.”

“Once you’ve determined your Ask, the next step is to support it with a compelling story or examples that illustrate your qualifications and experience, making you the go-to person for such referrals. And here’s a powerful mantra to remember: ‘Specific is Terrific.’ The clearer you can describe the referral or referral source you’re seeking, the more likely it is that your fellow Members will actively look for precisely what you’ve asked for.”

“Focusing your Ask all the way down to the exact Name of the referral you are seeking will get your fellow Members to go into “search mode” in their minds and you will get more, not less, as you get people thinking. So get that granular every week, WHO can we connect you to, make it EASY and we will help you. Make us do all the work to figure out who you are looking for, and most often we will listen to the next presentation that gives us something easier…”

Conclusion: “In BNI, the Ask is the linchpin of our Weekly Presentations. It’s where your networking journey culminates, and the success of your requests relies on its clarity and specificity. So, as we move forward with our weekly presentations, let’s embrace the power of ‘Specific is Terrific.’ Craft your Ask thoughtfully, provide supporting stories, and guide your fellow Members in the right direction. Together, we’ll create an environment where referrals flow seamlessly, benefiting us all. Thank you for your attention, and let’s keep striving for excellence in our BNI journey.”