WAHM Forums

When you develope a team that is not close enough to make personal contact how do you keep them motivated?

Hello Ann Marie,

I have a team that is spread out from coast to coast and I try to keep in contact by phone. We have a great team message board so we are able to keep in contact and share ideas that way, but I really like to talk with them over the phone and not just about business. I really truly enjoy getting to know them and hear how things are going for them.

I do have a cell phone plan that has plenty of minutes to I try to use it to make my calls from. It really is worth it when you have a large team spread out and if you haven't got one yet, I recommend it. smileys/smiley2.gif

It's also nice to send out team emails. Again, we have a great leader who is just terrific at keeping everyone up to date and then there is the message board that is key to the latest information, but it's still important to let them hear from me personally. For instance, I am sending an email out today to share my expo experience with them and teach them what I learned there.

The last thing is to let them know that I am always available if they need me. I really want my team to know that they can contact me and I will answer the phone. I might not be able to always give an immediate answer, but I am there and I do follow up or at least I try to and if nothing else, I tell them I still don't know.

We aren't actually doing our parties yet, so it's not quite to the point that I can offer incentives or do special promotions but it's also something I plan to do in the future. Our company offers two trips a year to earn, but I like to do little incentives that they can achieve month to month.

Hope this helps,
Brenda P.

Hey Ann Marie, I had a pretty large team across the country with Petra. I did newsletters for them with lots of recognition each month, I sent them rewards when they hit an achievement and I called them to congratulate them for their accomplishments. But besides that, I made sure to do one on one calls with each of them to get to know them, like Brenda talked about. I loved each and every one of the girls on my team and considered them friends, not a paycheck. I did branch meetings for the ones local to me and spent ALOT of time on the phone with the ones that weren't. I know how supportive my Director was to me and I was2 states away from herand I learned from her to be that way for my team. They could call me ANYTIME. I had office hours but I never abided by them because I couldn't stand to not help someone if they needed it.


I plan on being the same way with Latasia. I have one team member already that I can't wait to help get started and support. We are both so excited about this new venture and I know it won't be long until there are more team members and we can start doing conference calls with us. Then on top of that Latasia has 3 national conference calls a month and our Structure has conference calls once a month as well. The support with this company is second to none. Each time I've not known how to answer something I have been able to get on the phone right away with the Vice President of the company and get the answers I need. And it's that way with each Designer. Plus, I'm ready to start giving prizes away again! That was so fun for me. Getting to pick out things for the ladies on my team that had earned recognition and send it to them and then hear what they thought about it when the received it. The whole experience was awesome and I believe they felt really supported and part of something instead of feeling left out in the cold.

Our Executive team has a Yahoo Group that all of my Consultants are welcome to join! It has all the latest flyers and information to help them be successful in their business. There is also a conference call once a week with challenges for all who want to call in and get great tips and ask questions.


My Director holds unit meeting conference calls once a month. We have recognition and training on these calls. They are a lot of fun! Most of my unit is located other places so this is a great way to feel connected to the rest of the unit! She also sends out emails with important information.


I personally support by email and phone calls. I say they can ask questions or contact me at any time. Just like a corporate boss who says: "I have an open door policy" most will not contact me. So I do follow up with them a couple times a month to see how they are doing. It is their time to bring up anything they want to talk about.Be a good listener. Bydoing that, you will be able to help them when they really need it.


Build a good relationship with your consultants and always make sure they always feel included in the unit activities.

I have the most fantastic yahoo group I started back in April for my team and my upline's team. I also have weekly chats. I do tons of phone calls and e-mails as well! I would have to say the yahoo group is the biggest connector between me and my team!

Hi Ann Marie,


I've done conference calls with my unit once a month while I had out of area people (I don't currently). It's a great way to get everyone to "talk" together, do recognition, etc. I thought it was wonderful to do. But since we're all local now and we have monthly meetings together we're stopping the conference calls for the time being. But as soon as I add some out of area people again, I'll reinstate them. You can use freeconference.com which is free. I'm sure there are others also. Our company uses a different conference call company that does charge, but we're all welcome to use the line for our calls as long as we reserve the time first.

I do one on one calls, team calls, manager training calls, a yahoo group, and contests. smileys/smiley36.gif


I've got a great team! We made the newsletter again for January!


Debbie

I've got a great team! We made the newsletter again for January! Congrats Debbie! smileys/smiley32.gif


- Hold your own personal incentive for your team
This could be something as simple as a a gift certificate for the one who sells the most in a month.

- Set up a message board just for your personal team
A great way to keep in contact with everyone. Many wahm boards already have a section for your company, so if you don't have the time to set up your own you could use a specific board for your team.
- Send out a monthly newsletter to your team
Keep it personal and let them know how you are doing....motivate them by explaining some of the ways you have advanced durring the month.

- Contact your downline on a monthly basis
Personally contact everyone and see how they are doing. This is a good idea even if some in your team are making sales without your help. Just check in and see if anyone has questions or problems - they may be afraid to ask for help.


- Hold your own conference calls
There's places online you can set up for your own conference calls. If you search hard enough might even find some free ones. (There's probably limitations too) The ones I've seen are very reasonably priced also.


Take care,
Anita smileys/smiley17.gif

I believe the one we used with Petra and the one we use with Latasia is at www.freeconferencecall.com (http://www.freeconferencecall.com) Seems like that's what it says every time I get on a conference call. Hope this helps somebody :-)

I use Freeconferencecall.com as well. It's very convenient, and it sends you a list of the phone numbers that are on.


Debbie

We are using freeconferencecall.com for our message board conference calls as well! I think it is great! You get to keep the same number and code for 4 months. Our Executive team had a free conference call number and code that would change every 30 days in the past.


I highly recommend freeconferencecall.com.