Enterprises often organize people into a working group and call them a team even when the members work independently and have no overlap of tasks or outcomes. Because they are called a team, leaders naturally hold meetings with the collective, asking them to provide updates and review performance metrics that others on the team could care less about.
This is a powerful observation and accompanying wise counsel for the industry of network marketing. I've fallen prey in the past to the desire for a cohesive work unit which led me to call my downline a "team". In reality, we had some things shared - like the learning curves and difficulties encountered, but all of the incentives and daily work happened as individuals.
I believe that this advice is powerful and I'll be sharing it with leaders in this industry.
One thing we have done with some success is to create some community around the most common objectives. For example, we established a daily "personal growth" virtual meeting. For periods of time it was fueling to the individuals and we found that many drew a great deal of benefit from the structure.
Thanks again for these daily gems. I'll call out your generosity here. These blogs are highly valuable and the fact that you are sharing them freely is greatly appreciated by me and others with whom I've shared them.
'Classmates' have the implication of being in a shared experience but each on a slightly different course of study... but you are all students.
We should also consider if you want to take advantage of the hierarchy of the downline in your metaphor, or if you intentionally want to flatten that out?
“Home Room” is the right starting place. I’d love to discover something with less potential negative baggage though.
I’ll have to think about the “hierarchy” question. The model I’ve seen always wants to flatten. However, that may have been a concession to achieve “team” vibes and to encourage shared ownership. I have sensed a void in leadership coming perhaps from that very thing.
I like what a "tribe" might do as opposed to "team" or "family"
But you might have to be too cautious about leaning into that metaphor if you will suffer accusations of cultural appropriation by calling your meetings a pow wow. But you don't have to lean into it that far.
This is a powerful observation and accompanying wise counsel for the industry of network marketing. I've fallen prey in the past to the desire for a cohesive work unit which led me to call my downline a "team". In reality, we had some things shared - like the learning curves and difficulties encountered, but all of the incentives and daily work happened as individuals.
I believe that this advice is powerful and I'll be sharing it with leaders in this industry.
One thing we have done with some success is to create some community around the most common objectives. For example, we established a daily "personal growth" virtual meeting. For periods of time it was fueling to the individuals and we found that many drew a great deal of benefit from the structure.
Thanks again for these daily gems. I'll call out your generosity here. These blogs are highly valuable and the fact that you are sharing them freely is greatly appreciated by me and others with whom I've shared them.
What metaphor might you use instead for that group?
Good question!
Consortium?
Small group. Lol.
Collaborative?
Fellow Travelers?
Saw Sharpeners?
Maybe I’m too close to it to see. I’m not crazy about any of my suggestions. Do you have one?
Will interject and take a stab...
School might be a directional metaphor.
Your daily meeting are a 'home room' of sorts.
'Classmates' have the implication of being in a shared experience but each on a slightly different course of study... but you are all students.
We should also consider if you want to take advantage of the hierarchy of the downline in your metaphor, or if you intentionally want to flatten that out?
“Home Room” is the right starting place. I’d love to discover something with less potential negative baggage though.
I’ll have to think about the “hierarchy” question. The model I’ve seen always wants to flatten. However, that may have been a concession to achieve “team” vibes and to encourage shared ownership. I have sensed a void in leadership coming perhaps from that very thing.
I like what a "tribe" might do as opposed to "team" or "family"
But you might have to be too cautious about leaning into that metaphor if you will suffer accusations of cultural appropriation by calling your meetings a pow wow. But you don't have to lean into it that far.
👍
This is some good and practical wisdom for making an arbitrary grouping into a real team.
That word may indicate less individuality than is accurate.
Getting closer though!