I attended a BNI Chapter meeting last Wednesday when a member explained the referral she had developed for her colleague in the Chapter. I was so inspired and requested to Melysa to send me a written description of how she achieved a high quality referral for another member in her group.

You will learn that it is actually very simple to develop high quality referrals for your colleagues in your BNI Chapter. Yes, I acknowledge that it is a learned skill, but let me assure you that it is very easy if you have a Givers Gain attitude.

Here is Melysa’s story:

Fishing for opportunities to connect my fellow chapter members to new potential business clients.

On the 18th of August 2010, right after our usual BNI Supreme Chapter meeting, I had lunch with my business partners at a restaurant in Bangsar Village. After a full lunch, the owner of the restaurant came over to express his joy to see happy diners. Of course he was smart enough to slip in about his new project: a French patisserie shop at Taman Desa. He gave us his business card and invited us to visit when they start operation in October. When he mentioned they have started renovations is when my antenna went ‘Ting’ !

With his contacts in the card given, I gave him a call on my way home. I congratulated him on his next venture and casually asked him how are the renovations going. He said it was a bit tough as he’s mostly tied up at the current restaurant and could hardly squeeze in time to check on the new site. So, I wished him best and said if he needs any interior designers, contractors, renovators and so on, to let me know as I have a whole bunch of reliable people I can hook him up with. His answer was that the renovators are his relatives. ‘Cool!’ I said, ‘You are blessed to have relatives you can rely on.’ Then I added in, ‘Do you also have connections for water heaters and such if you need hot water in your kitchen?’ That’s when he went, ‘Do you have connections for an alternative water heating system from the normal ones?’

That was my cue to say ‘Yes, a friend of mine runs a company that supplies different kinds of energy saving water heating systems. Some uses solar, some recycle and reuse the heat generated from air-cons to heat up the water. Thus saving electricity. Would you like to give them a call to inquire more ?’ And his reply was, ‘Saving electricity sounds good. Please give me the number and also pass my number to whoever I need to speak to about it. Do ask them to give me a call in case I forget to call them.’

I must say that Grace Chin from Aumada Energy and Technologies were very prompt in following up with the referral as she called him the next day and an appointment to follow up was set.

Cheers,
Melysa

Well people, I must say, well done Melysa. And for sure your Chapter members must be so proud to have you in their team!

Let’s master the skill of listening closely to other people’s conversation. And then position the businesses of your Chapter members cleverly in the conversations to develop good quality referrals.

Just for everyone’s benefit: Melysa runs a company designing and supplying high-fashion ladies’ handbags. More info on their website. She is also a successful music teacher and enjoys teaching children.