Direct Sales Tips: Team Meetings Made Easy

As Team Leader, you should hold regular group meetings to educate, inform, and motivate your team. Meetings provide an opportunity for your team to get together, learn new techniques, be recognized for achievements, and become more successful Consultants.

As a Leader, you must realize the importance of education every time you bring your Consultants together.

Try using the following guidelines to enhance the effectiveness of your meetings:

. Hold a business meeting at least once a month.
. Be sure the time, date, and place of the meeting are listed accurately in your team correspondence.
. Plan meetings to last approximately one hour.
. Start on time and stay on task.

The following is a possible agenda with suggestions:

Opening.
Welcome everyone.
Introduce Consultants and visitors, and in particular, make all new Consultants and visitors feel welcome.
Ask visitors what inspired them to attend. With this information, you can direct comments and conversation to them when appropriate.
Recognize Consultants who have brought guests and encourage them all to bring guests to future meetings.

Update.
Brief everyone on new and up-coming events, both locally and company-wide, such as contests and trainings.

Recognition.
Review the results of the previous meeting’s challenge.
Offer congratulations, applause, or small gifts to those who have met the challenge.
Also recognize other successes, outstanding sales, sponsoring of new Consultants, or meeting quarterly projections.

Education.
Include tips on how to improve bookings, show sales, sponsoring, and business management.
Ask Consultants in advance to prepare a tip or idea for the meeting.
While you may be delegating the education portions, keep in mind that it is still your responsibility to ensure the contributions are appropriate.

Sharing.
Encourage Consultants to share a new business tip that has worked for them.
Thank them for sharing.
Congratulate Consultants on their successes and create a supportive spirit. Consultants will continue to contribute when they know their suggestions are appreciated.

Challenges.
Offer a challenge to all Consultants (i.e., talk with three new people each week about the business opportunity).
Make the challenge attainable and be sure to recognize those who completed the challenge the next time you meet.
Motivate all attendees with your enthusiasm, organization, and challenges.

Other suggestions:

. Prepare a handout for each person.
. Everyone likes to go home with something.
. Keep your handouts simple.
. Usually you should limit the handout to one page.
. Be available to meet with people after the meeting.
. Use this time to your advantage by talking with guests and answering questions.
. Be sure to talk to each person individually, even if it is just to say hello.
. Involve all the Consultants in your area.
. Any Consultants from other teams should be made to feel welcome.

All materials should be distributed in the same way as to your own Consultants. Leaders should present information with energy, enthusiasm, and promote participation amongst the Consultants. This creates a desire to attend future meetings and rejuvenates the business savvy spirit.