Team Building: 5 Ways to Build a Successful MLM Team

Team building is one of the most important aspects of your business. The business relationship is based on trust. There is only one way to gain a team member's trust and that is to deliver - no, make that over deliver - on your promises.

I can't emphasize enough how important it is not to build false expectations. Sometimes, in our enthusiasm about our new business, it's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that what works for us will work for everybody else. We find ourselves exaggerating how easy it all is. We promise to be there with our new team member every step of the way and then get busy with our own to-do list and neglect them. Here are five things that will help ensure you build a successful mlm team.

Building a business is not easy. When recruiting, you must be upfront about the time and money commitment. Don’t minimize the effort involved or how long it might take for a business to take off. If you make it all seem so easy a child could do it, you are not doing your prospective team member or yourself any favors.

If someone comes in to your business expecting immediate profits and they don't get them, they will give up. People usually stay about three months in a particular mlm before they start looking around for something else.

False expectations lead to frustration and defeat. Realistic expectations lead to earnest people who know what needs to be done and are willing to do it.

2. Team Building Means Being Willing to Listen

If a prospect expresses reservations about a given sales method or is feeling insecure, listen carefully. Don’t jump in with pat answers. If you have real solutions to the problem, by all means offer them. Do NOT discount their worries by saying things like, "fake it 'til you make it," or "don't worry, so-and-so made six figures by the end of the first year." Your prospect is not "so-and-so" and they may not have the same success rate as someone else.

If someone resists the business opportunity as a whole, don’t continue to badger them. Mary Kay Ash, founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics, once said ,”When someone shows you who they are, believe them.” If someone tells you a home business is not for them, stop trying to convince them it is.

When a team member is having difficulty in a particular area, offer guidance on ways to move forward based on their strengths and comfort level, not yours.

3. Team Building Requires Leadership

There’s more to being a Team Leader than collecting a higher commission rate! You want to train your team to become leaders as well. You must brand yourself as a leader. That means you have to hold yourself to the highest standard. Your team will be watching everything you do and they will follow your example.

If you want your team to sharpen their marketing skills, be an avid learner yourself and share what you have learned. If you want your team to be known for the best customer service, be prompt and efficient with your own customers. Whatever your goals are for your team, in order to duplicate yourself, you must always demonstrate to your team members how things are done by your own consistent work ethic.

4. Team Building Means Being a Great Communicator

As your team grows, regular communication can become a challenge. You may need the help of tools like Live Messenger which provides instant messaging services, or a service to allow for phone calls or “webinars” that let you conduct training sessions with several team members at the same time.

You can set up a blog which you keep regularly updated with team news, or update them via your website. Of course, regular emails are another easy way to keep in touch. Many people like to send newsletters.

Be sure that your written material is clear and concise. Check frequently to be sure that your team members understand the material you are sending. It is very important that you develop good copy writing skills. Study effective means of using the written word and use it for every piece you write.

And don’t forget that communication isn’t just about team news. Use a system to remind you of birthdays, anniversaries and other important dates. Just as you want your customers to know you care, you need to demonstrate a real interest in the welfare of the people who are building a business with you.

5. Team Building Means Sharing Responsibility

Promote the power of being part of a team by giving responsibility and encourage sharing ideas. Set up a mastermind group made up of some of your hardest working team members. By doing this, you not only give them recognition for their outstanding effort, but the entire team will benefit from your brainstorming sessions.

Ask for volunteers to conduct training sessions on a variety of topics. With everyone doing part of the work, no one person is overburdened and a strong sense of unity results.

Publish an effective sales letter or video produced by one of your team members. When you get into social marketing, you can promote your team members’ sites and articles as well as your own. The more your business grows, the more ways you will find for your team members to chip in. Perhaps you could use some help keeping up with customer requests for information. You might consider selling your leads to your downline when the numbers grow to be unmanageable for one person!