MLM Leadership Training for Network Marketing- Essence of MLM Leadership

The Essence of MLM Leadership
By Rod Cook, B.sc, M.A., M.B.A.

(Hey guys- Hot article from my buddy Rod)

A few weeks ago, one of my clients was discussing a challenge he was having retaining distributors below his first level or two. I happened to mention that to Greg Arnold that afternoon and asked him his opinion. Greg very quickly said that my client should practice over-lapping leadership. I knew right away what he was talking about. I could have helped that client in a powerful way with that principle alone. I also advised him with a few other tips, but that’s another article. What prompted me to write this article was something else Greg said. He said that building a large organization and keeping it in tact was “more about leadership than money.”
As we talked I asked him to break that down so anyone could understand and practice his brand of leadership. He sent me his “Nine Rules of Leadership and Working with Downline Leaders” I am now going to share Greg’s rules with you:

“Greg’s Rule #1: All leaders are primadonna pains in the rear, ALL OF THEM! Their drive to accomplish the impossible makes them achieve greatness.....and be annoying. You just gotta love it.”
What Greg is saying here is that leaders are a rare breed. They are very intense and highly focused. In their drive to get to the top and stay there, they tend to be as demanding on others as they are on themselves. I’ve worked with many leaders since the late 60s, when I joined my first MLM. Every one of them gave me moments of grief. You should be so fortunate as to have a half dozen of these on your distributor team. Which brings us to;

“Greg’s Rule #2: Leaders write your paycheck, the better you communicate with them and the more you make them feel special, the bigger they write it.”
Greg once sponsored 183 distributors over a six-month period. As it always is, one out of a hundred people in your organization are going to be leaders. Of Greg’s 183 sponsorships, two were leaders. An organization of 11,000 distributors sprang up through those two leaders. Had Greg not kept in close communication with them, his chances of enjoying that kind of success would have been very slim.

“Greg’s Rule #3: Communicate with all your leaders, no matter how deep they fall in your organization, whether you get paid on them or not. Practice and teach over lapping leadership.”
Don’t leave the task of growing a superstar to inexperienced people. Large organizations don’t just happen. Like roses you have to cultivate them. By keeping in close contact with all the leaders on your team, you build long-term relationships and loyalty. Leaders always want to work with other leaders, they want to win and they don’t like being ignored by their upline. Where the leaders go, so goes the rest of your organization. Turn your downline leaders into your partners in success and it will pay huge dividends for you. The second you spot a worker on your downline report, call him or her and get to know them. Make them a part of your inner-circle.

“Greg’s Rule #4: No matter how good you treat your leaders, they will still take you for granted. Learn to let everything roll off your back like water off a duck. Take nothing personally.”
Leaders do not and will not remember what you do for them, on a daily basis, beyond 24 hours. It will always be “what have you done for me lately?” Get used to it. Your rewards come on your paycheck and from the praise you get from your upline leaders. Never expect your downline leaders to run around chanting your name. They have an empire to build. As Greg says, don’t take it personal.

“Greg’s Rule #5: Everything bad that happens is your fault, everything good that happens is your leaders fault. Be sure you never let an opportunity go by to publicly praise your leaders.”
On the other hand, you must go around chanting your downline leader’s names. Do it every chance you get. You’ll just have to settle for being proud to be a part of it. Never pat yourself on the back. Pride yourself in appreciating the efforts of those that look to you for leadership. You will have the best team in the league as long as you believe that and enthusiastically share those beliefs with your team.

“Greg’s Rule #6: Never, never, never argue with your leaders, the day you do this is the day you have lost them forever. Apologize early and go on, remember Rule 5.”
You never can win an argument with someone in your downline. You might get the best of them during your petty verbal jousting match, but you will have just sent your team member in search of a new upline. Is it worth it? You’re the leader, suck it up and find a way to get past whatever stumbling blocks that get in your way. Learn to admit when you’re wrong. If your indiscretion was offensive in anyway, apologize! People, who are always right, usually are right by themselves.

“Greg’s Rule #7: Everyone has bad days when they hurt inside. Champions perform even when they are hurting inside. Leaders often have to learn to be champions, always be understanding and sympathetic.”
This rule is about you first. Don’t let life get you down. When you’ve had a hard day at work, don’t crash out on the couch and watch TV. (see my article, The MLM Ring). I’ll give you five minutes of rest and maybe dinner. But then, you have to pull a Clark Kent and get into your Superman outfit and go out and build your MLM business. Everyone has his or her moments of doubt and frustration. It’s how you deal with these moments that separate you from mere mortals. As Greg said, your downline leaders will take their example from you. Teach them, by example, to be champions.

“Greg’s Rule #8: Always listen , always tell the truth, always explain the problem and always offer a choice of solutions and let them choose.”
You don’t have to always be the bearer of good news and you don’t always have to say yes to every request made to you. You do have to be a consistent example of leadership though. You may not be able to offer a solution for everyone’s problems. The best you might be able to do is offer a little understanding. You’re human, and it’s ok, just be honest about it.

“Greg’s Rule#9: Always lead the way, blaze new trails and operate outside your comfort zone, all greatness is achieved outside your comfort zone. Develop a strong desire to prepare to win. Victory doesn’t go to the best talent, it goes to the best prepared. Always prepare to win and work harder than the other guy.”
Well said. People say work smarter, not harder. I guarantee, the big bux go to those who work hard, smart and lead the way.

Presented by PassionFire Intl

blessings...doug
PassionFire Intl
MLM Leadership
doug@powerfire.com

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