Tips For Developing Leaders

So how do you begin to develop others? Like I mentioned in yesterday's post, it all starts with yourself. Once you get to the point where you are satisifying the questions I posted yesterday, you'll be well on your way.

Here is what has worked for me in developing successful leaders:

• Believe in them - To help your leaders grow you have to believe in them. Once they sense that belief they'll begin to soar. Belief in them takes some effort on your part. You have to believe that they can do what you need them to do before you actually see them do it, so it takes some faith. You have to step out on a limb and take a risk on them. But if they are meant to be a leader, they'll know that this is their opportunity to shine. I recently took my 15 year old son to his first job at a local gun club. We left his name their last fall and the owner said he'd call in the Spring. Sure enough he called at 4 p.m. and wanted to see if my son could be there at 6. My son said yes. On the drive over I told him, "You should work your butt off tonight so the guy knows your serious. If he asks you to do something, run to do it. Really impress him." When I picked him up several hours later he told me it went really good and that they're going to be calling him back for more work. I asked if he took my suggestions and he said, "Yes. Everytime they needed someone to do something I jumped up and said I would do it." That's how your potential leaders should act when you give them an opportunity. If they don't, then you know whether or not they'll make a good leader.
• Trust Them - Along with the belief piece is that you have to trust them. This is different in a sense because you have to trust them with important opportunities fullly knowing that they may screw it up. Furthermore, you have to trust that they'll learn their lesson and not make the same mistake twice. You almost have to expect that they're going to make a mistake and let them do it. Then you can help them discover the lesson later. This is why when you choose potential leaders you should have some small demonstration of leadership from them already. You don't want to give an important opportunity to someone who's not out really working their business. Don't let their first demonstration of commitment be in something important that you give them to do.
• Be available for them - Part of developing leaders is your commitment to pour your life into others. When you make the commitment to start developing leaders you have to be there for them. You have to make sure that you set regular, consistent times to meet with them and discuss their progress. Nine times out of 10, if they are good potential leaders, they know what their strengths and challenges are. But you have to be willing to invest the time in helping them grow. To do that you need to be there for them.
• Encourage them - The reason most people never move on to leadership positions is not because they don't want to. It's because they don't believe they can do it. They may get excited at a meeting or major function and have the belief, but lose it on the way home. That's where your encouragement comes from. If you see something in that person that says they would make a great leader, tell them! Give them examples why you think that. Tell them that you believe in them and that you trust them and that you know they can do it. One of my upline Diamonds built his massive network around four simple words: YOU CAN DO IT. That was his answer for every objection that someone gave him. I can't sponsor anyone. You can do it!. I can't sell any product. You can do it! I can't get to that next level. I believe in you! You can do it! My spouse and I haven't stopped fighting since we got into this thing. You can do it! And he didn't use it as an excuse not to help them so he didn't have to get involved with their problems. He did it because he believed in everyone, but waited for no one.
• Love them - Finally, to develop leaders you have to love them. And the way you do that is to build a real relationship with them. Not the kind of relationship you build just because it will help you in your business, but the kind of relationship where you really get to know them because you care for them and you want to spend time with them for many, many years. Build a friendship with them and genuinely learn to care for them.

If you practice these 5 things, I can promise you that the leadership in your organization will not only grow but will shine. When you believe in them, trust them, are available for them, encourage them and love them, they will step up to the plate and help you grow your organization and take it to the level where you want it to go.

I know you can do this and I definitely believe in you!

Rich Vosler is a certified coach specializing in the Network Marketing Industry. He can be reached via his website or by phone at 609-268-0430. To access his Free Report "Why Most People Fail In Network Marketing and 5 Things You Can Do To Succeed" click here.