Network Leadership

In May and June, we normally celebrate mother’s day and father’s day and this inspired me to talk about “parenting” in the network marketing business.

In some network companies, the upline, or the person that introduced you to the business is referred to as the parent.

Similar to being the parent for your child, you also have to teach your downlines everything you know about the business. You do not expect your baby to be able to run before he/she can crawl. The same applies to your new downline. Teach him/her step by step about the business and help them when they fall down. Also remember that not all children are the same, and some may take longer to walk than others. Some downlines will be able to move faster than others. Treat each one according to his / her strengths.

With this in mind, I would like to share 3 topics with you:

1.      Build relationships with your downlines

Your relationship with your downlines starts long before they join the business. It starts with the first time that they show interest in Sunbird. Take time to understand your leads’  goals and dreams. Each person has different goals and if you understand what he/she wants to achieve, you can offer the best advice. For example, Some downlines only have limited time available for a side hustle and may only want to make pocket money selling perfumes to friends and family, Therefore you can rather focus more on the profits from personal sales than the downline can make and not as much on recruiting.

In building a relationship, you don’t only have to focus on the business aspect but focus also on the person. Remember important things like birthdays and special occasions. We all want to feel appreciated and a birthday message or even a motivational message can achieve that. Make regular contact with all your downlines and help them with advice when they are facing challenges.

2.      Invest in your downlines

The most important investment that you can make in your downlines is time. Make time in your schedule to teach your downlines about the business. Remember that some of them are new in the business and you might have to repeat your training a few times before they understand. Do not fall into the trap of doing everything for a downline. The age-old saying is: Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day but teach a man how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. Example: So many Uplines fall into the trap of doing the orders for a downline. These downlines become lazy and will expect you to carry them all the time. It is similar to a baby who wants you to carry them all the time because it is so much easier than walking on their own.

Just to name a few: Teach them how to handle their money from the first sale that they make and to keep aside the stock money from the profit they make. Teach them how to place an order, to follow up. Teach them how to sell to an easy customer and to a difficult customer.  Teach them how to use social media and how to use the Company resources available to them.

3.      Lead by example

We all have seen how children copy their parents. Many of us have been embarrassed when a child repeats a swear word that we might have used in private and they loudly use the word in public. The same can be said of our downlines in the network business. You are their example, the person that they aspire to be like and they will copy your habits. Your actions speak louder than words. You cannot expect your downline to make personal sales or recruit if you don’t. Sometimes it means that you have to take them out in the field and show them practically how to sell or how to recruit.