Whether you are in direct sales or are a manager in a traditional job, sparking excitement in your team or staff can be tough? As a County Coordinator and then a CFO with non-profits, it was sometimes tough to get staff to see the BIG picture. It was difficult to get them to buy into my crazy ideas. In direct sales, as leaders, we (or at least I do) struggle with motivating my team forward toward reaching their dreams and goals,
I love this Vision recipe shared by Lynn Bardowski, the Million Dollar Party Girl, which is:
Mix 1/3 purpose with 1/3 passion
Stir in 1/3 crazy idea
Blend well and let it marinate overnight
Mix in massive action
Once you get clear on your vision ask yourself two questions: What does it look like? and How will I make it happen?
Here are some tips from the Party Girl, herself…
Empower: Empower your team. Encourage them to come up with ideas, action plans, goals and most importantly…solutions. When people feel like they contributed to something instead of just following orders, they’ll be more likely to take ownership and act on them.
Educate: It took me a long time to get this one right. As a boss, I was more about telling people how and what to do instead of teaching. I eventually learned, it didn’t matter how it got done as long as it got done. In direct sales, it’s the same. Provide your team with the training to help them achieve their goal. There are lots to trainings out there, you don’t have to have all of the answers. Use Zoom or Facebook Live so you can influence more people. “When the student is ready the teacher will appear.” Just because you have been saying things for months, someone else may say it and the light bulb may go off and they think it is brilliant.
Delegate: This is when I usually hear crickets. People lack confidence and as a result, don’t want to share. I have been trying to delegate things to my team in the hopes of building confidence and increasing engagement which help them feel like they are part of the team. Believe it or not, the time you gain by giving up the reins will make up for the stress you feel as you let go. It will all work out. Trust me. I have been there, and done that!
Recognize: I love to send “happy mail”. A way to recognize individuals for their effort, progress, and results. Did you know each generation reacts to praise/ recognition differently? Millennials expect immediate recognition. Boomers might feel uncomfortable – and even embarrassed – by the attention. That’s me! A great rule of thumb is safety in numbers when you’re giving praise.
Communicate: I am are you have heard it a million times… “The key to being a great communicator is to be a great listener”. To build stronger relationships with you need to be willing to listen to their struggles, and their triumphs. 
I have learned to meet my team where they are, and not where I want them to be. There are many ways people learn so you may need to use a variety of channels to communicate: Facebook messenger, live video chat, voice message, text, postcards and in-person coffee meet-ups. Don’t forget about GIFs and stickers, which are fun ways to communicate an emotion.
Appreciate: Feeling appreciated is a human need…which makes it a much higher form of gratitude than recognition. [Source: Huffington Post]
Happy mail to me is a great (inexpensive) way to show my gratitude and let people know how much I value them on the team. I send happy mail to my customers too. It not only helps you to stand out in the crowd BUT it lets people know you care.
Evaluate: We have all done it. Waited until the middle or the end of the month, to see where we are on our personal goals as well as those of a team member. Checking in weekly, helps everyone to make a plan to reach their goal. I share my numbers with my team to let them know I am a consultant just like they are. I am hopefully showing them how to take risks with new ideas, embrace bumps in the road and the idea of working together so we all are successful.
Discover: Look for the hidden gems on your team. Get to know Consultants who were sponsored by others – their dreams, their goals and help them make a plan to reach them. Believe it or not, they might just be your next super star.
This holiday season is a perfect time to spark some interest….What are your best tips?
Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!
Hope Wissel 