Your Referral Group Needs an Effective Agenda - Steve Sweeney

The Referral Guy
S4 Episode 11
Episode Title – Your Referral Group Needs an Effective Agenda

​Introduction
Too many referral groups do not understand the connection between their agendas and the outcomes their groups achieve.

The agenda for your referral group’s meeting plays a significant part for both determining its results and member retention. An agenda for growth will be structured in a different format to one which is structured for referral production. Alternatively, agendas for education and/or improving or maintaining group dynamics will also be structured differently.

Too many referral groups regard their agenda as being fixed regardless of their group’s circumstances. This is a mistake. 

Show Objectives
The agenda should suit the outcome the group needs served. This show is all about 

• enlightening you to the various elements you need to consider for inclusion in your referral group’s agenda and
• ensuring your members receive the benefits they signed up for.

The alternative is a dysfunctional group with high member turnover, low morale and little or no referrals being passed.

What You Need to Know 
First determine the outcome or outcomes you want.

• Growth
• Personal Growth
• Retention
• Referrals
• Team Bonding/Fun
• Training
• Addressing Concerns/Problems
• Planning for Events
• Admin

Next, select agenda items that support that objective.
Agenda items include following and may be varied in duration and positioning depending on the outcome desired.

• Networking Time
• Welcome
• Introductions
• Education/Training from
  • Members
  • External experts
• Reports 
• Presentations
  • Weekly
  • Feature
• Team Building Exercises
• Planning Time
• Visitor Questions

What You Need to Do
As always, the power in these steps is in how they are carried out. 
For example, attempting to attract growth in a meeting that is not demonstrating the benefits of membership is futile. Equally, trying to educate members on absenteeism with low attendance is a waste of everyone’s time.

As a leader in the group, your reputation is in the spotlight for all members and visitors to see. So think on your feet, know the options available and remain flexible. Doing the same ol’ same ol’ every week because that’s what every other referral organisation does just makes your group fade into the referral group noise. A stagnant agenda equals a stagnant meeting.

To obtain the details about implementing agenda strategies, contact Steve at info@referralacademy.com.au 

Then get ready to be brave and put your new knowledge into action.

Previous Show
Let’s Talk Personality Types and Referrals
Successful referral marketing is about dealing with people successfully. This show gave you insights into how to quickly identify personality types and how to deal with them.

If you’re wondering why you just don’t attract referrals from certain types of people, download the podcast and you’re sure to lean a few strategies to help you on your way.

Next Show
End of Season Summary Show
Get ready for a blast of knowledge on all things referrals!
This show will be a synopsis of the top tips from each show of the season so far. Sharpen your pencils, silence the dog and put your coffee in an intravenous drip bag because you’re going to need all your brain capacity for this one.
Should be a lot of fun!

Your Host and Resource
Hey, I’m Steve Sweeney… The Referral Guy.

The Australian Referral Training Academy (ARTA) exists to teach business owners and sales professionals the art and science of attracting referrals and helps them build their own Strategic Referral Teams (SRT)

Here’s a recent comment from a business owner who attended a training session I ran…

“Steve’s experience and advice are an integral part not only to the growth of my business but to the growth of my client’s businesses as well.  His engaging and charismatic approach to referral marketing lifts you to take action and improve your business.  I have learnt a great deal from Steve in the short time I have been working with him and I will continue to engage him and refer him to my clients if they require additional strategies to effectively grow their business.”
Darren Xerri, Your Business First.

Shoot me an email if you’d like to learn more info@referralacademy.com.au
 

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