Is Your Downline Engaged?
Copyright © 2011 Soaring Eagle Companies LLC
Traditional businesses have long known the value of employee engagement. Employees that are engaged are happier, more productive, and less likely to leave the company (12: The Elements of Great Managing by Rodd Wagner, Ph.D. and James K. Harter).
The same is true in a multilevel marketing business. If you have a downline that is engaged, they are far more likely to be productive and less likely to move from your company to the next best thing. How do you keep that level of engagement high? How do you implement some of the principals outlined by Wagner and Harter? With a little effort, it can be done.
1. I know what is expected of me. In multilevel marketing, what is expected is often determined by the distributor when they join the company. It is important to have that conversation at the beginning. What the distributors expects to happen after they join is important information. Too often distributors sign up someone and that is the end of the conversation.
2. I have the materials and equipment I need to do my work. In multilevel marketing, this means making sure that someone is equipped to do the work, even though not all the materials and equipment are provided by the company. For example, if a computer is needed to be successful in the business, does the person have a computer? Do they know how to use it? You know what they will need, be sure they have it or are willing to get it.
3. I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day. Find the strengths of your downline and help them learn how to use those strengths in their business.
4. In the last seven days, I have received recognition or praise for doing good work. In multilevel marketing, this may not happen quite as often, but it is important to recognize people that are doing good work. Even if the company has some recognition program, direct recognition from the upline is sometimes even more valued.
5. Someone in the business seems to care about me as a person. This aspect of multilevel marketing is what attracts people to the business in the first place. Once they join, be sure to keep that feeling going.
6. There is someone who encourages my development. With their close personal contact, distributors should be encouraging one another. It is easy to forget this, particularly once the organization becomes large. It is important to train everyone in your organization to encourage the others they bring in on a consistent basis.
7. My opinions seem to count. If you have been in the business a while, you may know what works best, but there is always room for improvement. It is important to listen to people that have other ideas.
8. The mission or purpose of my company makes me feel my job is important. It is important that everyone in the company know what the company is all about—not just the products. If distributors feel connected to the company and their mission, they are less likely to jump ship.
9. My upline is committed to doing quality work. Lead by example. If you are not doing your best, you can expect that everyone below is following your example—not doing their best.
10. I have a best friend at work. Do you have a good friend in the business with you? Have you made friends since you have been in the business? Making friends in the business is important. After all, who leaves their friends behind?
11. In the last six months someone at work has talked to me about my progress. In fast-paced world of multilevel marketing, it may need to be more than every six months. Talking to everyone becomes difficult when the organization gets large, but hearing from your upline directly goes a long way toward encouraging people.
12. This last year, I have had opportunities to work at learn and to grow. Of all the elements, this is one that abounds in multilevel marketing (and is why many people are attracted to the business). Most companies do a very good job of giving distributors an opportunity to learn and grow in many different ways. It is up to them to take advantage!
Keeping people engaging in a multilevel marketing business, particularly if this is not their main job, can be challenging. Face-to-face contact is often minimal, there are lots of distractions, and people are easily discouraged.
The 12 elements can work in your multilevel marketing business just as they do in traditional businesses leading to greater productivity and greater profits for everyone.
“Dr. Robin Rushlo”, is a well known MLM Radio personality and is nationally recognized as an expert in the network marketing business.He is the current host of the radio show, “Networking with the Blindguy”live daily. Visit his sites at http://www.robintrushlo.com .Free report at http://my-green-future.info















