New BNI Traffic Lights

The Traditional BNI Member Traffic Lights

System is Getting an Overhaul

• The BNI Traffic Lights system is a visual performance tracking tool used in BNI chapters worldwide since 2010
• It uses colours — green, amber, red and Grey, to indicate how well members and chapters are engaging with BNI’s core values and activities: attendance, referrals, bringing visitors, and ongoing education.
• Green: Excellent engagement and contribution — keep it up!
• Amber: Needs improvement — review your participation and set goals.
• Red / Grey: Low engagement — take action to get back on track.

Why Are BNI Traffic Lights being updated?

• The current version of the BNI Member Traffic Lights system is based on only 5 Key Performance Indicators
1. Attendance
2. Referrals Passed
3. One-to-Ones
4. Visitors
5. Chapter Education Units (CEUs).
• Currently, members could be high in the standings without producing great results from that activity
• For example, a member might be passing many referrals but not a great deal in Closed Business

Why Are BNI Traffic Lights being updated?

• The New BNI Member Traffic Lights are based on –
• 40% Participation & Engagement (attendance, One-to-Ones, CEUs)
• 60% Contribution Value Add (Referrals, Visitors and new additions Thank You For Closed Business and Sponsorship)
• This transparency is designed to celebrate success, highlight areas for improvement, and encourage accountability with Quality Referrals, Visitors & Chapter Growth

How Does Scoring Work

What Are the Changes?

1. Thank You for Closed Business Given maximum 5 Points for $30k or over in 6 months
2. Sponsoring a new member (any chapter): 5 points per 6 months
3. Attendance – Max 10 points down from 20.
4. Referrals – Max 25 Points up from 20
5. CEUs Maximum 10 Points down from 20
6. Visitors – Max 25 Points up from 20 – credit for inviting Visitors to other chapters also.
7. One-to-Ones remain max 20 points

New Member Traffic Lights

New Member Traffic Lights

From BNI Insights

New Compared to Current

Current

New

10 points max for attendance down from 20

Notes

25 points max for Referrals Given up from 20 – more referrals need to be passed for max score

Same loading as current, important to building a referable relationship

New Compared to Current

Current

New

10 points max down from 20, not as much emphasis as cannot be audited

Notes

25 points max for Visitors up from 20 – 5 instead of 6 needed in 6 months for max score, credit for Cross-Chapter Visitors

New

New

How Will It Affect You?

• If you are currently a member in the green, not much will change
• There will be slightly less people making a maximum of 100 points in the month making it more of an honour.
• Your fellow members will be more accountable to find you better referrals and help introduce more referral partners to you chapter to help everyone make a greater return on investment from their BNI Membership.

New Member Traffic Lights

Not much Difference in Top Members

How Will It Affect Your Chapter?

The New BNI Traffic Lights system will influence your chapter in several ways:

• A focus on Sponsoring: Can help your chapter grow in member numbers, it is proven that bigger chapters make more money for members.
• More emphasis on Referrals and Thank You for Closed Business: Will encourage members to find better referrals for their fellow members, resulting in more business.
• Continuous Improvement: Chapters can identify areas to support members better and boost overall performance.
• Simplicity for Leaders: Helps Leaders to review member contributions easier.

When Does the Change Happen?

• Plan is to use the New BNI Member Traffic Lights from April 1, 2026.
• BNI Directors will implement an Education Program Advising of changes from January 2026.
• (TBC) Reporting 2 You will also implement the change from April 1.

New Member Traffic Lights

• The New BNI Traffic Lights system is a positive step towards greater accountability, transparency, and growth for every member and chapter. By understanding and embracing these changes, you’ll set yourself—and your chapter—up for ongoing success. Welcome to the next stage of your BNI journey!
• Worse case is member not providing Closed Business or Sponsoring new member will not rank as high as they do now
• As Dr Ivan Misner Says “why accept mediocrity when excellence is an option”

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: Won’t having Thank You for Closed Business counted benefit Construction and Real Estate and other “Big Ticket” Industries?
• A: Maximum Points for TYFCB is limited to only $30k per 6 months, these sectors will not benefit any more, than lesser value areas. Remember, this criterion is also only 5 out of 100 points.
• Q: There is a concern that High Performing Members currently on 100 Points will get discouraged by losing that status.
• A: Many of our current 100-point members already actively sponsor new members. As sponsoring is only 5 out of 100 points, worst case scenario is they drop to 95, best case scenario, they introduce a new referral partner to help them and the other members of the chapter to get back to 100 points.
• Q: BNI has just added sponsored members, so the region owners make more money.
• A: BNI Closed Business Statistics show that sponsored members benefit the chapter more, the larger the chapter the more business that is passed and the average seat value is higher, making more money for members.

Questions