In MLM Network Marketing helping your downline is crucial to your success. Although you must give them all of the tools and expertise to succeed, you should not have to be a source of constant motivation. These people may work in your network of distributors but they are still their own bosses, which means they should be self-motivated. In fact, if you try to motivate your downline too much, you might just risk alienating them and destroying your own network. If you find yourself constantly motivating your downline then you should know some of the reasons why this is not a good practice. Here are three reasons why you should never try to motivate your downline:
1. Your downline will resent you
Remember, you likely sold your downline on the idea of “being their own boss,” which means that they might not take kindly to you constantly looking over their shoulders. Even if your intentions are good, you could risk alienating your team if you are constantly trying to motivate them to do more. This type of motivation could actually have the opposite effect as you intended, which could lead to your downline to become apathetic or even quitting altogether. Once you have provided the necessary training and mentorship, it is time to let your downline motivate itself.
2. Your downline has their own lives and methods of motivation
Your downline consists of real people with their own lives and own methods of motivation. These people likely got involved with your business so that they could be their own boss and make a more flexible work schedule for themselves. This will not happen if you are always urging or motivating them to do more. It might be that they are going through troubles at home or simply had a bad month. This does not mean that the person lacks motivation. Obviously, if the problems continue over long periods of time then you might have to step in, but ultimately you need to trust the team you have built and let them use the methods that will work best for their individual situation.
3. Your downline won’t be self-motivated
Ultimately you want to build a network of distributors that are entirely self-motivated. If you have a downline that has to rely on you as a relentless source of motivation then they are probably not going to be successful. In addition, if you are always there motivating them then you could actually be preventing them from being more self-motivated. You will not reach the level you desire unless your downline is filled with people that can motivate themselves. You might think you are being helpful but you could actually be stunting the growth of your downline.
Although it may seem like motivation is a good thing, it can go wrong if you do it too much. Your downline might grow to resent you, or just might not develop the skills of self-motivation. The most important thing for MLM success is to develop a downline that does not require constant motivation.
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The best way to motivate your downline is… Produce! Keep producing and putting up results. They are watching you and if you’re not producing they won’t either.
Exactly, well said Matt. Thanks for the comments!
I agree with Matt. When you produce, you’re downline sees that and are inspired to go for it. It’s important to give your downline access to the tools and strategies that you are making you a success. Make sure these tools & strategies are duplicatable.
Thanks for sharing this, Nate!
You’re welcome Etieno. Thanks for comments!
Hey Nate!
Touchy touchy issue… I would have to agree with you especially the first 2 points. I wouldn’t want anyone breathing down my throat watching my actions, and asking me why I haven’t done what I was supposed to do etc. etc.
That’d make it sound like my mum was trying to help me run the business and that is not what I want for sure!
Sponsoring someone into the business can be difficult at times because we want our team to succeed and this may end up being seen as overbearing.
Leading is never as straightforward as it seems, which is why there are so many books and courses out there to guide people.
Regards,
Darren Spruyt
It is a touchy issue. I’ve seen it happen before. One of those things where we share the idea of time freedom yet when I see upline sponsors trying to motivate and manage their downline, it’s like having a job all over again. If the reps wanted to have a job, they would have stayed with their job and not look for an outside resource to generate income. Love the feedback!
Amen 100 times over Nate lol! You hit on many real-life experiences, the exact same stuff I went through, so I have to give you a thumbs up. People need to drive themselves to succeed.
Thanks for sharing!
Ryan
Thanks for the feedback Ryan!
Fantastic post Nate!!! Keep up the awesome value my friend!!
Thanks Joan!
Hey Nate,
You are right on point! This post here speaks volumes about the reasons why you should never motivate your downline. They are their own boss. You are definitely right about if they depend on you to motivate them, then 9 times out of 10 they won’t be successful.Thanks for sharing!
You’re right Sherman, they are their own boss. If they wanted a second job, they would have looked in the classifieds for another one. Not in a business opportunity. Excellent feedback!
I think the best way is to be an inspiration to your down line. Also an important skill is to know when to let go. You know when someone signs under you but then just sit on their hands. That can be frustrating but you have to save your energies for your own business and those who deserve it.
Great post as always.
Ding, ding! Inspiration is the key, not motivation. Inspire your group, not motivate them. Thank you for the comments!
Good stuff as per usual Nate. I have tried this to no avail. As Luke said, Inspiration is the KEY.
A little here and there is fine, but do not over do it.
Thanks man.
Exactly, well said Adam!
Great message today. I tend to focus too much on what I don’t have, instead of what I do have. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the feedback Pam!
Hello Nate: So when your downline doesn’t get busy, when your downline doesn’t take action, when your team members just don’t seem as serious as you… is there any way to light a fire under their butts to take action? Unfortunately, no. At least not in my experience. You cannot want success more for your team members than they want for themselves. You can lead them to the starting line, but you can’t run the race.
Hi Vicky, much of what you said is very true. Thank you for the comments!