According to Dr. Ivan Misner, Founder and Chairman of BNI, Business Network International, “The more effective you are at communicating with and building relationships with members of the opposite sex the more successful you will be in your professional career.”
And, teaching us to be able to do this effectively is the theme of his newest book, Business Networking and Sex: (Not What You Think), coauthored with Hazel M. Walker and Frank De Raffele, Jr.
The book is based on a world-wide survey of more than 12,000 business professionals. And, in this interview, Dr. Misner provides us with some information and wisdom we can immediately embrace and utilize.
Did anything in this interview come as a surprise to you? And, if so, what difference will this make in the way you network with men and women from this point on?
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Great interview with Dr. Misner. Thanks so much, Bob. I look forward to reading the book. …
And I was not surprised about his wonderful comments regarding you and your work!!….You (certainly do) walk the talk! Happy New Year…..and warmest regards.
Have looked at this from the perspective of watching growth of the Heartlink Network designed specifically for women frustrated by the “male” – aggressive, rapid, non collaborative nature of most networking groups. Glad he is addressing with his audience – change is needed.
I have read his first book Networking Like A Pro. It is an awesome book and looking forward to secure this new book.
Hi Sam. Yes, that was his previous book. I have a complete library of books written by Dr. Misner and they are all filled with immediately-applicable wisdom. Thank you so much for commenting!
I think it does confirm what I have been observing.
I appreciated the points in this clip and it’s good to think through how we network and how we communicate/interact with others. I will be more aware of how the sexes view things differently!
EXPECT Success!
Jackie Ulmer
Thank you for this post…now i got to buy 2 new books…iam excited about learn from them. Thank you Bob
P.S. @jmedinaubarte :)))
Bob,
The Heart Link Network is the fastest growing women’s networking group and has a very interesting model – the meetings are three hours long… there is social time, a delicious dinner and then each member gets 3 minutes to present what they do and what they need next. Groups max out at 30 to 35 attendees and most have a waiting list. Women and men definitely network in different ways, there just haven’t been a lot of options for women to get what they enjoy and value – credible business people and relationship building.
They are extending the fun to men via the Trova network, but looking at the HeartLink model changed my networking behavior before Social Media engagement started teaching us all about creating connections and communicating more clearly what we do.
Looking forward to Dr Misner’s book… sounds like it was well researched and data shows what people actually do – not what they say they will do or did. A much better foundation for future changes and plans.
Hi Martin. Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it!
Jackie, thank you for your kind feedback. Yes, something good for all of us to always stay conscious of!
Julio, so glad you enjoyed the interview. Enjoy the book(s)! 🙂
Visibility…Credibility…Profitability…simple and effective!
Juat added “must read more interesting books” to my new year’s resolution list 🙂 This will be read first! Tnx for sharing Bob
Very timely as I am passionate about networking, and reading too.
Thanks Bob!! Love the interview!!
Un abrazo!!
Bob, Terrific interview with our mutual friend, Ivan. As a BNI Director, I teach Ivan’s VCP, which stands on equal footing with your Know, Like & Trust. I remember when Ivan and his co-authors were just beginning to do the surveys … am very excited the book is completed and ready for purchase. Thanks as always for the great value you provide!
Rich: Exactly. I could hear that a million times and learn something new about it each time!
Chrissie: Awesome. I have a feeling you’ll love it!
Maria: Gracias, y un abrazo a ti, tambien!
Mary, thank you. Very kind of you to say!
Kathryn, thank you for sharing your perspective. What an interesting point of view. I would not have thought of that; a grew forming because of that!
Bob, great interview. I could listen to the two of you talk all day!
Loved your conversation with regard to Character and Competence (both are important to both even though women refer competence first and men refer character first, the bottom line is that if you exude one but not the other, you aren’t refer-able). Especially enjoyed when you mentioned that Communication (& Follow-up) was the #1 pet peeve for both males and females!
Truly enjoyable conversation between the two of you. Love how both of you affirmed each other at the end – and both spoke truth.
Powerful!
Michael
Bob it was great to do the interview with you. You were the FIRST one I did for this book.
I love working with you. You are a true professional.
All the best.
Ivan
Thank you Bob
Great Stuff
I look forward to reading the book
All the best
Bryan Daly
Great stuff Bob, always love your articles!
Kathryn, thank you. You are always so kind!
Michael, thank you. Absolutely – regardless of which one is preferred, a person must have both in order to be referrable! I appreciate your very kind words, as well!
Ivan, much thanks. Enjoyed our interview immensely, and I’m doubly honored to know ours was the first interview for the new book. And, I greatly appreciate your very kind words. They mean a LOT to me! Thanks so much again for being such a terrific guest, and best of great success with the new book!
Thank you, Bryan. I have a feeling you’ll enjoy it a lot!!
Tufail, and I appreciate your always kind words, my friend!
Thank YOU, Peg. Yes, I love Ivan’s VCP. It’s really THE key aspect of successful and effective networking, and business in general!
Great interview Frank and Bob. This has been one if the best projects I have ever worked on and I am so glad that our genius, Ivan, joined us in the project. For me this book is about Bridging the Gap between men and women. While men and women were very close in most things, it is the very small differences that create the gap. Imagine what we could achieve if we learned to build that bridge.
That’s awesome, Hazel. And, CONGRATS on being a coauthor of the book along with Ivan and Frank. Terrific, Terrific book!!
Bob,
Great job with Ivan. Thank you for your support and for all you do working with business professionals around the world on how to network their way to success. Your books, speaking and coaching of others is a true asset to the business community.
Working with Ivan and Hazel was great. Hard work, but lots of fun. The end result is something that we will be able to use in business, networking and life. As we speak to people around the world, the appreciation for this topic matter is overwhelming.
I wish you continued success in 2012.
Frank, thank you for your extremely kind words. Very appreciated! And, same to you; I appreciate all you do! And, of course, congratulations on this superb effort with Ivan and Hazel!!
Great interview,good to know some one is out there working on tools and info to help people
bridge the gap between men and women ,and get there point across ,with some idea of what the other sex is thinking while you are talking to them,can’t wait to read this book!
Terry, thank you for your kind comment on the interview. Yes, I think Ivan, Hazel and Frank did an awesome job. I know you’ll love their book. Thank you again!