What Makes a Good Leader?
What makes a good leader in network marketing, or in any business? Is it necessary to be a good leader, to build a big team? Will a visionary, inspiring leader attract more team members? Is it possible for me to develop into a good leader? How do I develop effective leadership skills? What are the qualities of a great leader? What is the definition of a leader? In short, it’s someone who has followers. In network marketing it is easy to check your leadership skills. Just turn around and see. Is anyone following? This can be a real reality check. If no one is following, perhaps we need to find out why? In network marketing most associates will be building a team. It doesn’t matter what rank you are in the business. “You can't be a leader if you can't influence others to act.” -- Dale E. Zand, Author and Professor @ Sten School of Business If you have recruited anyone. They are looking to you for leadership. There are those who say that great leaders are rare. In network marketing, leadership development is the highest paying part of your business. I believe that any distributor can develop effective leadership skills, if they choose to do so. You may not have many followers. If you haven’t been doing well in recruiting there may be several reasons: Wrong Product(s) - You may be trying to sell the wrong products. Let’s check. Are they fairly priced? Would customers buy them over other similar items? Is it a repeat sale? Is the product or service in demand? Can your prospects afford it? Wrong Approach - Perhaps you’re approaching people wrong or approaching the wrong people. If you sound desperate or needy no one wants to buy from you. If it’s a weight loss product you need to find people who want to lose weight. If you’re approaching the wrong people, nothing will happen. If, in recruiting, you’re going after people with a job mentality, they may be afraid to invest in their own business. If you’re getting too many no’s, ask your prospects and find out why. You may have to either, fish in a new pond or get in front of more people. “The name of the game is sorting through people, amateurs try to convince, professionals sort. We are all looking for the RIGHT PEOPLE at the RIGHT TIME in their life” -- Dale Calvert, Network Marketing Trainer What are the qualities of a great leader? A Clear Vision - Are you presenting your opportunity clearly. What makes a good leader is being able to communicate clearly. If no one can see the vision of where, you and your company are going, it’s unlikely that they’ll join you. Very few have the magnetism of Jesus of Nazarene. He simply said, follow me and men gave up their occupations and followed. “People buy into the leader before they buy into the vision.” -- John Maxwell, Leadership Author and Speaker Ask yourself: Do I have a clear vision of where I’m going? Am I able to clearly present that vision to others? Perhaps it’s time to build a better vision. Ask your leadership to help you with assimilating the vision they are following. “The future belongs to those who see possibilities before they become obvious." -- John Scully, Businessman They Inspire - A good leader can usually inspire his followers to aspire to greatness, aspire to improving themselves and inspire us to positive changes. Inspiration is something in short supply in today’s world. their inspirational leadership causes us to expand our thinking and use our imaginations to see a better way of life for our families. “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” -- John Quincy Adams, Founding Father They’re Trustworthy - What makes a good leader is trust and integrity. Are you trustworthy? All great leaders are. Does your presentation and your marketing convey that? When you make a promise to call someone back, do you do it on time? Are you following up? “No amount of ability is of the slightest avail without honor.”-- Andrew Carnegie Our actions show if our words are really true. Does your team know that you’ll always be straight with them? The truth may not be the news we’re looking for, but we all want the truth from our leaders. Good leaders instill trust in their teams. They’re Competent - What makes a good leader is competence. Do you know what you are doing? Are you able to show a network marketing newbie how to gather new customers and new distributors right away? Do you and your company, have a system to follow, that works for everyone? Perhaps you need to work more on yourself before you can attract the people you’re seeking. They’re Optimistic - Are you an optimistic leader? Do you always see the good in situations? Ar you looking at the bright side of situations? Your team wants to be built up. When they call you, are you building them up or tearing people down? “Talk Health, Happiness & Prosperity to everyone you meet” -- Julio Melara They’re Good Listeners - What makes a good leader in network marketing is listening. God gave us 2 ears and 1 mouth for a reason. Are you willing to listen carefully to help your team member(s). Much of what your team will be doing is complaining, but a network marketing leader must develop broad shoulders. "Nature gave us one tongue and two ears so we could hear twice as much as we speak." -- Epictetus 
They Take Responsibility - What makes a good leader is the ability to shoulder the blame when things don’t work out right. Leaders aren’t about fixing the blame on others. Leaders take the Harry Truman attitude. He said the buck stops here. They don’t make excuses. Network marketing is constantly churning out leaders who take responsibility. Obviously leaders are scarce in government today.”A friend of mine characterizes leaders simply like this: "Leaders don't inflict pain. They bear pain.” -- Max DePree They’re Persistent - What makes a good leader is their persistence. Great leaders are persistent. They know that a building a big building, requires building a deep and sturdy foundation. When they’re training, they help their team to understand this concept. “It's the constant and determined effort that breaks down all resistance and sweeps away all obstacles.” -- Claude M. Bristol They’re Passionate - What makes a good leader is passion. They exude an enthusiasm about their business that seems never-ending. This passion is magnetic. It draws people towards them. “Catch on fire with enthusiasm and people will come from miles to watch your burn.” -- John Wesley, Evangalist They Invest in Themselves - What makes a good leader in network marketing is self investment. They invest in their own ongoing self development. They know they’re on a life-long learning program. “I’m recommending that you should always be in a business where you are spending at least fifty one percent of the hours you work learning new things and improving your skills. Why? Because you are investing in your personal technology.” -- Paul Zane Pilzer, author and Nobel Prize winning economist They encourage their team to invest in themselves, as well. Up to 50% of their time is spent in learning new things to keep on the cutting edge. We are living in a world that is exploding with knowledge and change. "If a man empties his purse into his head, no man can take it away from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest." -- Benjamin Franklin They Care - They care about people. Their teams success is more important to them than their own success. So what makes a good leader in network marketing? They have many qualities they are developing. They’re busy learning and growing. They care about people. The subject of what is a good leader could fill a good sized book. There are many who have written and spoken extensively on this subject. From observing the great leaders I have met, I have gleaned these observations: Great leaders care about others. They think of the good of the whole team; not just themselves. In network marketing you’ll meet both good and bad leaders. When you meet the good; learn from them. When you meet the bad; learn what not to do. You can learn from anyone even your enemy." -- Ovid How Can I Develop Into a Good Leader? Good leaders are usually developed, not born. I have had individuals that worked for me who did not think they had any leadership skills. Nor did they aspire to leadership. Yet, when given tasks that required the development of leadership, they were like ducks in water. They had the capacity to grow, but were selling themselves short. “Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other." -- John F. Kennedy Network marketing can be a leadership development factory, if you aspire to leadership. Our industry is all volunteer force. Those who join, choose to. Those who want to develop leadership skills, need only hang around, and take advantage of their opportunities. One can accelerate the leadership development process, with an individual effort of reading books and using audio learning. If you’re looking for ways to improve yourself and your leadership, you may want to read Self Improvement Ideas. “Formal education will make you a living, Self education will make you a fortune.“ --Jim Rohn Many of those who join network marketing, do so initially to make money. Only as they hit the challenges of building a business, does the self development aspect of the business become evident. Robert Kiyosaki talks about the eight reasons to join a network marketing business besides money in Business School. The reality is: Much of what you learned in college isn’t worth much in the real world. This is hard to swallow for most new graduates. Life and business require an ongoing education. A good network marketing company and their leaders can provide that ongoing education. You may also like my article 15 Tips to Overcome the Fear of Public Speaking What Makes a Good Leader Updated 08/29/2010
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