Network marketing is something that can get a bad reputation simply because most people don’t go into it with the right attitude. They see those stories online about earning tens of thousands every week from home and assume that they can get rich quick without having to put forth much effort. That’s why so many people fail, but then they just blame it on the entire idea of network marketing.
The reality is that for many, network marketing offers a direct path to becoming a business owner and growing your skills and talents in some significant ways. However, it’s not an easy path and the network marketing leaders who are out there making significant changes and getting big results are those who are taking direct steps to better themselves.
The Big Tips To Remember
To really get the best results and to start moving towards your goals in a better way, it’s important that you take certain steps on a daily basis and that you remember some fundamental elements that all of the best network marketing leaders have. Simply put, if you want to succeed then there are a few key things you’ll want to remember. Here’s a look at some of them. You don’t have to do them all or use them all, but the more that you adapt these tips into your efforts, the better your success will likely be.
1. Get started immediately on becoming a leader. Just because you don’t have 20 people on your team doesn’t’ mean that you can’t start acting like a leader. The best leaders out there actually start by acting as though they have a stable of team members even if they only have one – or none. Grabbing responsibility is the first step towards being a true leader.
2. Understand that you’re a leader of people, not just of your business. You need to be able to connect with your team members on a personal level and lead them like the people they are – not just as numbers in your business strategy.
3. Building morale is a must. If you want to really ensure that network marketing works for you, you’ll need to be sure that you build up stronger morale for your team members and even yourself. Plus, building morale in your customers is important as well.
4. Look your best. Sounds silly, right? But even if you’re in jeans, you should still look great and look as though you’re the leader that you are. A great leader always looks their best no matter where they’re going or what they’re doing. It’s about confidence in yourself and instilling it in others as well.
5. Be sure that you treat others with the respect that you would want them to give to you. Whether it’s a customer, a new team member, someone you meet at a company event, or someone you’ve met online, be sure that you treat everyone with respect. It will impact your overall reputation in a very real way – something that many people tend to forget.
6. Communicate constantly. Listen to your own leaders and to your team. They could provide you with new ideas, tell you some issues they’re noticing that you need to correct, and more. When you listen to others, you are able to build on your current model and move towards even greater success.
7. Find your top producers and really devote yourself to them. You shouldn’t ignore any of your team, but there’s a good chance that you’ll spot some top team members. Try to identify at least five of them, and do all you can to help promote them and their efforts. It could be as simple as giving them a quick call to tell them how proud you are or something like giving them a gift that will help them further themselves even more. No matter what step you take, find your top team members and develop their skills.
8. Give back on a regular basis. We’re not talking about just giving back to the community here – we mean giving back to your team when they go above and beyond. And it’s not just relegated to your immediate team members, either. You can give back to those who help you as well. A shipping agent who sped up delivery for you could deserve something as simple as a thank you card. A team member who worked longer than needed to set up a display deserves a gift card to Starbucks, right? Think of who is doing more for you, and give them a little thank you.
9. Leaders don’t lead through fear. It’s a mistake that far too many make. You want people to respect you, but that doesn’t mean that you want them to constantly fear your arrival. Try to lead in a positive way instead of through negative actions and trying to bring down major punishments.
10. Organize Training sessions to help your group learn more. Let’s say you carry a product developed by a specific person, and he’s willing to do short conference calls or video Skype conferences to talk more about their products. Organize that and get your group together. It can get them more inspired about the products they’re selling.
11. That’s another key element of being a good leader – helping your team find their motivation and their drive. You’re trying to lead a group to success for all of you. Taking the time to point out the different ways that you want your team to succeed is important, and giving them inspiration in your products and in your company is a must.
12. Leaders don’t go negative or talk badly about anyone, no matter what that other person has done or what others think. Lifting yourself up by bringing others down isn’t a leadership quality in the least.
13. You also need to hold onto your passion and let others see it. That energy and love you have for what you’re doing can become quite infectious, and help inspire others to seize it in the same way. It could keep them motivated in a big way.
14. Always acknowledge others, especially when they’re fellow leaders. Even a short introduction in the vein of “Today Mr. XXXX is joining us. He’s part of XXXX and is here to observe and maybe answer a few questions about what they do” is all it takes to let your team know that you’re working with others and to maintain respect from others.
15. If you really want to be a great leader, stay ethical. Even if you’re in a situation where you are the only person who will know that you made the right ethical choice, it’s important to do just that. Taking shady actions can do more than ruin your reputation – it can also bring your entire future down.
16. Create the right alliances. Your company doesn’t exist in a vacuum. If you want to ensure that you’re working to grow and develop your business in the best way possible, be sure that you set up relationships with others in the field to ensure that you move towards your ultimate goals.
17. If you can let someone else talk for you, do it. We’re not talking about official announcements here, but let’s say that you have a guest speaker or someone who is knowledgeable about a particular subject close by. Instead of telling your team what you want them to learn from the speaker, let the speaker do the talking for you. Placing your trust in others shows that you’re wiser than many and that you want to share knowledge from other people as well.
18. Don’t lose your cool – especially over trivial things. It’s easy for business leaders to get bent out of shape over something as simple as missing a phone call or an email server going down. But in the long run, the way that you conduct yourself in these situations is more important than the situations themselves. Keep your cool.
19. Focus on the growth of your company and the development of your team instead of just on a big bonus check. The best leaders with the most loyal groups aren’t those who treat everything like its’ a number getting plugged into their pay scale. They’re the ones who look at the bigger picture and who work to grow a business, not earn a bigger bonus.
20. Find your vision, and ensure that it’s clear and obvious to you. Today’s business leaders need to know where they want their company to go and how to get there. If you don’t have a clear vision, it will be harder for you to lead and to help others follow.
21. True leaders don’t get discouraged when a setback occurs. The fact of the matter is that sometimes, things are going to go wrong and you need to be able to confront unexpected challenges and not let them destroy your motivation. Instead, learn from each setback or problem and take it as a chance to grow your business in new ways.
22. Responsibility is something that is often overlooked. To be a great leader, you need to be able to admit your mistakes and learn from them, not try to shift the blame onto someone else’s shoulders. This helps you grow and learn, but it also helps you show your team that you’re the kind of leader they can trust and count on.
23. Leading with compassion matters, too. Sometimes your team members may not be able to attend a seminar or may turn in a lackluster performance during a certain week. Don’t get frustrated at them – you never know what they may be facing in their personal life. Instead, use compassion and common sense.
24. Good leaders become part of their team, not just a figurehead. Simply put, you’re not always going to know more than everyone. Instead of just ignoring the ideas and comments that your team has for you, listen to them. You could be able to grow your business and inspire your group. You’re the leader, but you don’t have to be an authoritarian.
25. Always learn. Whether you’re spending an hour reading about a new product, checking out a blog from a network marketing professional about how to develop new leads, or just thinking back on a past experience and how you can grow from it, the best leaders are always learning new skills and ideas. It can make a big difference in your success.
26. To really lead your company to success, you’ll want to use all the tools out there. Today’s leaders use blogs, videos, social media, and more to connect with others. Be sure that you use everything available to you in order to help grow your business and your bottom line.
27. Another key thing to remember if you want to be a better leader is simply to keep at your work. Leaders don’t take a few days off – they spend several hours each day trying to round up leads and sell products. You don’t have to overwork yourself to death, but deciding just to stop for a day could mean stopping for weeks – or months – and by then, it’s too late.
28. A leader is always thinking about new ways to improve their business and its future. Whether it’s a new contact that you want to convince to join your team or a new way to market the products, you should always be thinking about your company and its future.
29. Experiment. Don’t be afraid to try something new just to see if it works. You may be wasting your time – but what if you aren’t? The best leaders are willing to try out new opportunities and ideas.
30. Never give up. That’s the biggest one, and why we added it last. You’ll be working hard and working constantly at times, but the key is to keep moving towards your goals in meaningful ways. Don’t ever give up.
Those 30 tips should help you start moving your network marketing company into the future. It can be a long road, but the rewards are well worth it in the end. And being a better leader will help you reach those goals.