There are many new Network Marketers who have built a small team, would like their people to do more. They would like for them to bring more guests to meetings, they would like for them to show more plans, they would like for them to sponsor more people. Most of all they would like their people to be just like them!
And that’s where they need to change their thinking, because their people ARE life them!
A common mistake a lot of new Network Marketers make (and I have made this mistake too), is once they have built a small group of 4 or 5 people, they want to manage them and direct them and be their “boss”. They try to “manage” their way to the top.
Network Marketing does not work like that at all. The reason why is because Network Marketing is a leadership driven business, not a management driven business. You can’t fire people if they don’t perform because you are building a volunteer organisation.
In other words, your people are volunteering their time to build their dream with you.
So you can’t manage people. If you do that, they can vote with their feet and they will. The only things you can manage are yourself and your business building events.
So if you can’t boss people around, what can you do to get them to do more in building their business?
Answer: You have to model the behavior you want to see happening in your business.
That means if you want your team members to bring more guests to meetings, then you have to bring more people to opportunity meetings. If you want them to do more in-home presentations, you have to do more in-home presentations yourself. If you want them to sponsor more people, you can’t stop sponsoring people.
You have to be willing to do everything that you want your people to do.
And that’s what leading by example is all about. That’s what having integrity is all about.
Another facet of this is the people you bring in will want to build the business in the same manner as you. That seems to be a universal law in the Network Marketing profession.
Another universal law is Network Marketing a teaching and mentoring business.
Therefore, you can really only teach what you’re doing yourself. Doing one thing and telling your people to do another violates these principles and ultimately leads to not much success at all.
So when you want your people to be more like you, live up to your own expectations first!
To your MLM success,
Wayne Wu
P.S. I would love your input! If you have an opinion that would contribute to this discussion, please leave me a comment below.
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{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey Wayne,
I learned my lesson from using this approach in acting like “the boss” instead of leading by example. Coming from experience, bossing does not work in this field like you said. So I did the opposite and lead by example and that’s how you find the leaders in your group. Thanks for sharing this!
Sherman
Sherman Smith´s last [type] ..What Are You Not Doing That Every Successful Leader Is Doing
Hi Wayne,
I agree that MLM is a leadership, teaching and mentoring business and that going into the management mode is detrimental to everybody’s success.
I also agree with the idea of leading by example – I disagree that our people should be a carbon copy of ourselves – you don’t say that explicitly, I know
Let me expand on this anyway:
For example, if something works for me, it doesn’t necessarily work for them and vice versa. If someone asks me how to get more leads, I share with them what I do and point them to the “11 ways to generate traffic”-site. For example, traffic exchanges didn’t work for me, but others got quite a few leads through them.
Take video or blogging – without judgement, it’s not for everybody, is it ? And you can become very successful in this business without video and blogging, can’t you ?
What do you think ?
Thanks for a thought-provoking post.
Take care
Oliver
Oliver Tausend´s last [type] ..Think And Grow Rich – The Ghost Of Fear Of Old Age Pt 1
I agree with your view that Network Marketing is a leadership driven business, I have never looked at it like that. Leading by example has always been the best way for a leader to run a business and it’s definitely no exception with Network Marketing. Great to read your point of view Wayne, I enjoyed reading.
John´s last [type] ..Finding Someones Email For Free – The Best Tool To Find Any Email Address Fast
Hi Wayne,
Thanks for sharing your view. Network marketing is about assuming the leadership role and mentoring others to success.
Leading by example certainly helps you to brand and position yourself as such. It’s important to always cultivate leadership qualities and instill them in your team members so they can succeed in their businesses as well.
Thanks for sharing your insights, Wayne.
All the best,
Mavis
Mavis Nong @ Attraction Marketing´s last [type] ..Hot Off The Press- 8 of The World’s Women Experts Grilled on Traffic Generation Strategies!
Hi Wayne,
Great post again and I agree with your approach. You do not know or practiced yet but this is the only way to be a parent too. You have to be willing to do everything what you expect from your child. It is hard work and goes on a very long time but at the end the result will show you that this is the only way to do this business! Never ever give up your integrity!
Marie
I could never be the kind of bossy person. I just don’t have that talent. I have a small offline business and I think I can use your approach to build a network.
Anne Sales | Coupon Codes´s last [type] ..GotoMeeting Promo Code
You are so right Wayne,
It’s something everyone in the industry needs to get a handle on, or things start falling fast at that point.
If your team followed you to that point, what makes any of us think they won’t keep following our lead? If we stop doing what worked, what we want them to do, and start “managing”, they will also stop, and start “managing” even if they only have ONE other person.
Another thing about that… if we want to make it really big, we have to do what works, and not stop. If we get a little success, and then suddenly change tactics, things have a way of slowing down. If it works, keep doing it.
Very important message today Wayne!
Susanna
Susanna Hess@Internet Video Marketing´s last [type] ..The Debate on Building a Brand Identity Through Your Offer
Good points Wayne,
I think all bosses or managers should be leaders first, this may be especially true with MLM’s because your downline doesn’t really have to stay with you. If you’re not a good leader, they’ll go elsewhere.
But it doesn’t really matter what kind of a team your leading (or managing) you won’t get much of response from your subordinates if you don’t first inspire and set a good example first.
Thanks for your great insight Wayne
Take care, Liz
Liz´s last [type] ..On-Page Keyword Optimization
Great Post..
I agree, if you want to attract leaders, you need to become one, period
thanks for sharing..
Jack Foley´s last [type] ..How To Get Your MLM Blog Ranked Fast In The Search Engines
Hi Wayne,
MLM or even majority of other business types can be run more successfully by a Leader than a BOSS. I am not a Boss type person and never like any such person. Anyway your post will help me to drive my online marketing business to higher peaks.
Nazam Warriach
nazimwarriach´s last [type] ..Web hosting UK Promotional Code
I think, the fact that you are not doing something, doesn’t mean you can’t teach it to someone alse, as long as you understand it, of course.
I am waiting anxiously for your next post, Wayne.
I would prefer to be a Leader or Role Model than a Boss as I think that any work can be done in a perfect way in friendship environment. We should develop Team Work in our offices.
nazimwarriach´s last [type] ..Hostgator Coupon Code
Especially in the network marketing context, there must be “leadership by example”, which means that the leader has to “live up to ones own expectations” and show others how the job’s done. Bossing and dictating others will give only negative effects. Thanks for bringing it up.
steven papas´s last [type] ..My Norton 360 50 Review
Hi Wayne!
This post of yours reminded me about this quote: “You cannot give what you do not have.”
I agree that as purported leaders in our field, we should lead by example; only then can we have the credibility to preach what we are actually practicing. Makes no sense to boss people around us when we just sit comfortably in a chair waiting for results. We should be working as well and inspiring others to have the same zest and dedication for the work that we do. In our world of network marketing, bossy people do not thrive.
This is a good reminder to all of us who might have lost track of the essence of good leadership. Thanks for sharing it to all of us!
Wayne, You are not writing any post and even not replying to the comments. Are you all right dear?
Please come back on your blog as soon as possible.
nazimwarriach´s last [type] ..GoDaddy Coupon Code
I totally agree with you, if you want people to follow you, you have to set the example-be the role model-you can’t preach something and end up doing the exact opposite!
Pam Sheraton´s last [type] ..3 Things You Must Do When You Go Self Employed
Network marketing takes a lot of self discipline, you have to be the whole company, I have tried it several times, dont think I am cut out for it
Suppose it comes down to don’t expect others to do something you wont do yourself. So if you are a good role model they will follow
Sam Peters´s last [type] ..Australian landscape photography
As an employee, I always try to lead by example and always trying to be different. If people are lazy and coming late, I always come in early. I believe that to become a leader you should lead by examples, and always try to find a way to help your colleagues. Great read though.
sanjay´s last [type] ..How to Create a Contact Author Form without a Plugin
People get into networking marketing to create a business and life for themself. They don’t want to fall back into the boss / employee role. You can only make so much as an employee; however, if you are in networking marketing, it is your business, not the company you work for on your job.
hi…
I am also a Role model type of person and also not like the boss type as boss type of people did not understand the problems for others. So be the Rolo model type of person…
Hi, Wayne I recently came across your post and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Very much pleasing info about Leadership, network marketer thanks for sharing..
Orthotics Pain
Hello Wayne,
I totally agree. Being a boss is different from being a role model. Leading by example is indeed the best thing to do so you really got to know what your subordinates need to do, and show them you can do it yourself.
There’s a lot of leadership and management types out there but based on experience, what really works is to inspire your people by showing them how you do things to accomplish your goals.
Not to let them focus on how things are done but to do things which are required of us, regardless of their styles or how they go about them.
Cands
I find your post very interesting and your approach very helpful. It is true to self and I guess it will really work in building a network
As in many cases being subtle will give you better results. bossing around maybe worked in the past, but it is certainly a bad idea in marketing!
Hello Wayne, thanks for giving your suggestion of the business. You are absolutely right that marketing is a leadership driven business not the management driven business.
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