Coaching Your Team to Win

As a direct selling leader, you want to do everything you can to help your team members book, sell, recruit, and build their own strong teams. Like many leaders I have met, I am sure you want to implement the strategies you know will support your team members and help them succeed.

Maybe you have tried coaching your top team members, maybe you have thought about it and maybe you have even spoken to other leaders about it.

Here is what many leaders have told me- it does not work- others have said it is a waste of time and has often left them frustrated.

Here is why – people rarely value a service that is delivered for free. Yes we can appreciate a product that someone gives us for free- we call that a gift- but a service? We do not embrace that concept as readily.

In order to have your team members value your coaching you have to charge them a fee. Not a monetary fee a free fee- a fee of action.

Here is your free-fee to regularly coach someone on your team:

1. They make a commitment to their business and to working with you;

2. They keep their appointment with you;

3. They call you at the pre-designated time;

4. They send you a results report in advance;

5. They set goals.

There has to be some fee—even if it is a free-fee and these five things are what is needed to have someone really make coaching with their upline work.

Keep a Success Storehouse

“Your Success Storehouse can be a beautiful box, journal, or notebook. It can be a list of all your achievements to date; a scrapbook of loving cards from friends, and letters from satisfied employers or clients; a place to keep certificates and other awards; or all of the above! What’s most important is to have a container you can access easily and refer to often that will remind you of your unique gifts and contributions,” says Maggie Oman Shannon, author of four books, including “Prayers for Healing” and “The Way We Pray.”
 
Action to take: Put together your special box or file or place in your office where you will store all of your accomplishments to pull out and remind you how special and fabulous you are.

Are They Up For A Challenge?

Have you challenged the people on your team lately? Have you scheduled a booking or recruiting blitz? Have you offered a little something extra for anyone that hits a certain goals this month? Have you asked team members to commit to something in the next 7, 14, or 21 days? If not it is time to deliver a challenge.

People often rise to the level of expectation we set for them. If you challenge your team to promote themselves, earn a bonus or qualify for a trip in a certain period or time may of them will rise to meet your expectations and challenge themselves.

Challenges work because they are fun, they create focus, and when other people are watching, we all tend to perform better.

Ask yourself what can you do to challenge your team members this month? Whatever it is it will cause everyone to stretch–even you. Do it now.

Maximize Your Tradeshow Efforts to Grow Your Direct Sales Business

We have been talking a lot about tradeshows in my Direct Sales Business Breakthrough group the last few weeks. In this economic climate, I encourage you to try new things. If it does not cost you much, tradeshows can be a good marketing strategy. They can also be a huge waste if you do not strategize for how to make them work for you.

 Here are some tips for winning at tradeshows
 http://www.directsalescoaching.com/articles/tradeshows.htm

Is Your Spouse on Your Team?

Every woman deserves a spouse that is supportive of their business. Today on our Direct Sales Business Breakthrough call, a woman shared how her spouse was not supportive of her business. Truthfully, I have heard this way too may times.

Unfortunately, I have also seen too many times that a successful direct seller does not make it when her spouse is not supportive because at some point she has to make a choice between her marriage and her business.

Even if you have a totally supportive spouse, you will encounter this challenge with some of your team members as your team size grows. Here are four big tips to create an environment of support for your direct sales business among spouses:

1. Share your compelling vision with your spouse. (for more on compelling vision listen to the Create Your Compelling Vision podcast here http://directsalescoaching.com/blog/create-your-compelling-vision/ )

2. Tell your spouse you really need their support to be successful and make a request for it.

3. Tell them specifically what support looks like. For example: pick up the kids three days a week, make dinner on show nights, load and unload the car, etc.

4. Increase your acknowledgment of your spouse. This is another important topic I will write more on in the near future. For now listen to this awesome podcast to learn this skill.
http://directsalescoaching.com/blog/podcast-up-your-acknowledgement-for-more-direct-selling-success/

You deserve support from your spouse for your business. You need it to be successful.

Five Small, Fast, Free, Easy Things You Can do to Grow Your Direct Sales Business in Challenging Times

I wanted to share last week’s teleclass on how to grow your Direct Selling Business in Challenging Times. You can download it below.

Expect Success!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

You Plus Two

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How To Increase Outside Orders Immediately

This is one of my hottest tips that I have had a lot of requests around lately so I want to make sure you have not missed it. Read the rest of this entry »

Are You Going to Conference?

I know that Passion Parties and Avon and several other direct selling companies are getting ready for their spring business building or leadership conferences- I know other companies conferences have already passed in January or February. Whatever the case with your company- here is the point: you cannot consider yourself a committed entrepreneur if you do not go to your company’s conference.

 The reasons are many but let’s just pause to review three of the most important:

Education
Every time you go to a company sponsored event you learn the latest tips and strategies. Plus you are well positioned to become even more of a product expert. The more of a product expert you are, the more product you will sell.

Continuing education is a cornerstone value of every successful entrepreneur that can boast a profitable and sustainable business. Make it a value you consistently embrace to ensure your success.

Inspiration
While it is great to work from home, it can still sometimes be a challenge to stay motivated, inspired and in action when you are alone with your computer and telephone whenever you are working on your business and not out doing a show.

It is so important to go to conference to get pumped up for the latest specials, ideas and products. Most importantly though when you, go you get reenergized and recommitted to your business and that does result in more focused action when you return.

Support and Exchange of Ideas
There is nothing better then talking to people from your company and sharing ideas for how you all run your businesses. Many consultants have shared with me and I have also experienced so many “ah ha” moments from a little something that made a huge difference in their business.

And isn’t it the truth that sometimes you hear something you knew- but forgot and hearing it now, again is perfect timing.

Be sure to include attending all company sponsored education opportunities in your business plan for each year. If you do, you will definitely get to the top of your company and enjoy all the benefits that has to offer.

If you missed your company event, join me at the DSWA Celebration in April, click here for more info: http://www.mydswa.org/celebration_benefits09.asp

Have you checked out your local leads groups lately?

Outside of the “big guys” like BNI, you might be amazed at the number of groups that are set up in your local area that only allow one person per business category and may not charge very much for membership or meetings.  Becoming a member of a leads group can be very fruitful for your business, especially because it provides an opportunity to develop a close network of people who you see frequently (every week or perhaps every other week) and as they get to know you, are set up to provide good quality leads for your business.

Most groups these days do not have a requirement that you bring a lead for someone to the meetings. However, the more you look out for the other members of the group, the more they are likely to give you referrrals to people in their lives.

To find groups in your area just do a Google search
networking+(your geographic area)+ 2009

I am sure you will get lots of search results.

Otherwise start your own group. I have a innovative strategy to make this a business breakthrough strategy. I call it a Circle of Eight. Check out this concept here (this article is on my attractclientswithease.com website).