Leadership in Network Marketing
We live in a time of declining leadership; leadership being defined as “the ability to lead others.” This decline is evinced by “leaders” who set dis-empowering examples: Okay we know that doctors get richer by performing surgery, and prescribing medication, rather than through prevention, and wellness. We have those in government that cater to special interest groups, rather than doing what’s good for the country as a whole. As soon as you see this, or read about it you will no doubt agree.
The corporate leaders in Network Marketing have an opportunity to turn this idea around simply by developing emerging leaders in the field through example.
Consider this:
We function best, and feel good as human beings when we are commended rather than put down, when we feel good about ourselves as a result; and we feel really good about ourselves when we are recognized, and praised for whom we are.
In a Network Marketing company, we look to our leaders of the company for guidance, support, and positive examples.
These corporate leaders have a responsibility to nurture the distributors through their fledgling first months in the business. They need to set an example of fairness, and consistency. They need to treat each of their associates equally; showing no favorites or getting special treatment. They need to be generous with information, training, and compensation. A corporate leader needs to guide his distributors through the maze of obstacles, and roadblocks that seem always to get in the way when first starting out in Network Marketing. Leaders need to provide the continuing long-term vision, which is why most people come on board in the first place.
However, there are networking companies whose leaders are only interested in making money; and guess what? They develop a distributorship consisting of clones of themselves.
To think about:
Leaders bring out the best in people, not the worst.
Consider this:
- ALWAYS LISTEN TO BOTH SIDES OF THE STORY.
There are always two sides to a story. If you have a tendency to judge a matter by listening to just one side, there will always be trouble, and no proper resolution. Use the question method to help them see where both can contribute more to the success of the company. - NEVER MAKE DEALS; IT WILL BITE YOU.
You rub my back, and I will rub yours. Not a good idea. This will catch up to you. If you do this for this person, you will have to do it for a hundred other distributors.
Let your “Yes” mean yes, and your “No,” no.
It’s important to let team distributors know by your actions that you are always going to preserve their best interests. Sure, it might be profitable in the short-term to make deals with certain team members but where would that have left your integrity in the eyes of the rest of your team?
What kind of message are you sending to them? That it is okay for them to make deals at the expense of the others on your team, and that it’s okay to compromise principles? - BE A GOOD TEACHER
Many teachers take a permissive approach, and promote a “liberal” way of thinking. To them, everything is relative; nothing is absolute. However, you have to teach distributors the ins, and outs of how to do this business. Teaching them the basics is the exercise, and nutrition equivalent for Network Marketing success.
If you are a corporate leader, you need to concentrate on making your team members more effective, and successful, rather than on just getting more distributors. Everyone seems to think in terms of the numbers of distributors rather than the number of successful team members. How different would it be for the company to be thinking, if we train 1,000 leaders who earn, we get better results in the long run. - NEVER NEGATIVE TALK ANOTHER COMPANY.
Negative talk often satisfies certain selfish emotional needs. We often see this in politics, and we see it in Network Marketing. If we get so disgusted with political mud-slinging during election years, why do we do it ourselves? It makes no sense, and it doesn’t build character or self-esteem or anything else. In fact, it’s not part of the building process at all. We show loyalty to our fellow team by shunning hurtful gossip or slander, refusing to spread negative talk or even to listen to it. Listening to, and spreading negative talk can have a bad effect on you and your team. - INSPIRE YOUR TEAM.
In Network Marketing, leadership comes first from the company leaders; that is where everything starts. The company leads the leaders the same way the leaders lead in the field. Look at the best Network Marketing companies in the world, and you’ll find superior corporate leaders, men, and women who inspire the field to duplicate their leadership.
