Power Teams are one of the most talked-about concepts in BNI. They promise stronger collaboration, easier referrals and more business opportunities. But as many chapters have discovered, Power Teams don’t always work as intended. Too often, they start strong but quickly lose momentum, or meetings feel unfocused and unproductive.

In a recent BNI Education Slot, accountant Zoe Devenport shared her first-hand experience of how to make Power Teams not just a theory, but a proven way to grow business.

https://youtu.be/MC3tIXsplGM

What is a Power Team?

Zoe begins by going back to basics. A Power Team is a group of BNI members who naturally complement each other’s professions. Because their services are connected, it’s easier for them to pass referrals. For example, an accountant may find natural referral opportunities for financial advisors, mortgage brokers, or insurance providers, while a builder might work closely with electricians, plumbers, and decorators.

The idea is simple: by working together in smaller, focused groups, members can strengthen relationships and increase the flow of referrals.

Why Some Power Teams Fail

Zoe is honest about the challenges. Her chapter originally set up a Finance Power Team, but the format didn’t work. The group met after work hours, and members often couldn’t attend because of busy schedules. Without structure or accountability, the Power Team fizzled out.

This is a common experience in many chapters. Without clear expectations, leadership, and consistency, Power Teams can feel like “just another meeting.”

A Fresh, Structured Approach

Instead of giving up, Zoe and her colleagues tried again, this time with a fresh approach. They now meet on the last Thursday of every month, and the group has six committed members: Zoe, Paul, Nathan, Colin, Richard, and Daniel.

The key difference? Structure.

They created a rota system to share responsibility, so the success of the Power Team doesn’t fall on just one person. Each meeting has:

• A chairperson to lead the discussion.
• A note-taker to keep track of actions.
• Two presenters who share insights about their recent work and the types of clients they are serving.
• Two listeners, who engage, ask questions, and look for referral opportunities.

This rotation keeps meetings fair, engaging, and productive.

From Structure to Success

The results came quickly. In one case, Paul shared a referral he had received from another member. It began as a simple need for landlord insurance. However, during the conversation, it became clear that the client also required accountancy services, and more than that, she had two limited companies with separate properties.

What started as a single referral turned into a much larger business opportunity. For Zoe, this was proof that the new Power Team model was already delivering results.

Why This Matters for Every Chapter

Zoe believes this success can be replicated across the whole chapter. Power Teams, when run with structure and purpose, don’t just generate referrals, they create a culture of accountability and collaboration. They also help members understand each other’s businesses at a deeper level, which in turn makes it easier to spot opportunities in day-to-day conversations.

She also makes an important point: you don’t have to limit yourself to just one Power Team. If your profession overlaps with different industries, you may benefit from joining more than one group, expanding your reach even further.

The Takeaway

Zoe’s message is clear: Power Teams work when they are intentional, structured, and focused on real opportunities. They should never feel like an obligation, but rather an energising part of your BNI experience.

By sharing roles, encouraging presentations, and keeping the meetings consistent, Power Teams can become referral-generating engines that strengthen the chapter as a whole.

For any member wondering how to get more from BNI, Zoe’s advice is worth following: take a fresh look at your Power Team, give it structure, and watch the results follow.

Full Transcript

(00:00) For me, it’s already working—and that’s what we want to develop across the whole chapter.

If you’re new to BNI, or new to networking in general, you may be wondering: what actually is a Power Team? Darren mentioned wanting to give referrals. When you join a networking group, you’ll naturally find that there are people you have synergy with. You automatically find it easier to give them referrals.

For example, as an accountant, I can naturally give more work to Richard than I could to Dave.

(00:32) Last year, we tried to set up what we called a Finance Power Team, meeting once a month after work at 5:00. It didn’t really take off—mainly because it was after work and everyone has busy lives.

So this time, we’ve done things differently. We now meet on the last Thursday of every month. Last week was our third meeting, and we’ve worked hard to make it as beneficial as possible.

(01:12) There are six of us in the group: myself, Paul, Nathan, Colin, Richard, and Daniel. We’ve made it structured and worthwhile, so it’s not just “another meeting.”

The first meeting was about deciding how we were going to run it. Instead of putting the responsibility on one person, we created a rota system.

(01:45) Each month, we rotate roles: one person chairs, another takes notes, two people sit back and relax, and two people present. The presenters talk about the clients they’ve been working with and the types of referrals they’re looking for.

(02:07) In our Power Team, confidentiality can make it hard to name clients directly, but we can still discuss the types of people we’re working with. That opens the door for questions and referrals.

That system is already working for me. For example, Paul did a presentation two months ago about a referral he had from Darren—someone needing landlord insurance. It turned out she also needed an accountant. In fact, she had two limited companies with multiple properties. I’ve since spoken to her, I’m quoting for the work, and hopefully it will come through.

(03:07) That’s why I say: it’s already working. And we want to roll this out across the whole chapter, creating more close-knit groups that pass work to one another.

I think the trades have tried this before, and I’ll be speaking to the leadership team and committee about creating additional Power Teams. You don’t have to just be in one.

(03:23) So, have a think about which Power Team you could be part of. Over the next month, let’s talk about forming more groups and making them work.

Thank you.