Advice on How to Deal With a Seasoned Consultant

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Discussion Overview

This thread explores the challenges faced by a participant in managing a seasoned consultant on their team who struggles to meet her business goals despite expressing a desire to succeed. Participants share their personal experiences and suggestions on how to approach the situation, focusing on emotional support and accountability.

Discussion Character

  • Anecdotal
  • Opinion-based
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, identifying as a consultant, shares their experience of trying to coach a team member who often becomes emotional when discussing accountability.
  • Another participant suggests that the consultant may struggle with negative self-talk and self-belief, which could hinder her progress.
  • Several users mention the importance of asking the consultant what specific support she needs to hold herself accountable.
  • One participant discusses the value of providing encouragement through small gestures, such as postcards or newsletters, to boost the consultant's morale.
  • Another participant notes that the consultant may be uncoachable at this time, suggesting that the participant focus their energy elsewhere while still offering support.
  • One user proposes pairing the consultant with a new consultant for mutual support and accountability.
  • Another participant raises the possibility that external factors, such as a spouse's influence, may be impacting the consultant's ability to commit to her goals.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ on the best approach to support the consultant, with some participants emphasizing emotional support and others suggesting a more hands-off approach. No clear consensus emerges on how to effectively manage the situation.

Contextual Notes

The discussion reflects the complexities of personal dynamics within a business context, particularly in a direct sales environment where emotional factors can significantly impact performance.

Who May Find This Useful

This thread may be of interest to consultants facing similar challenges with team members or those seeking strategies for providing support and accountability in a direct sales context.

finley1991 said:
I under no circimstances require anyone to promote! I apologize if I gave that impression! That is most certainly not the case! She has said for 3 years that she wants to promote... I am only going by what she tells me. I have several consultants who do not want more from their businesses and that is totally fine. I do feel, however, that as a Director it is my job to help those who want more from their business. I will never push for anyone to do anything they don't want to do... like I said, I'm only going by what she told me she wants from her business. That's why I was frustrated... because she says she wants more but then doesn't act on it.

On a great note, she did send me an action plan today. It's VERY vague but I think I can work with her to narrow it down to make it more specific (without her crying!!!!)

Thanks again for all of your input! --- COLLEEN :)
Click to expand...
Colleen,
At no time did I get the impression that you were requiring or pressuring her to promote. Only as you said, trying to make HER wishes come true. I have never heard of someone REQUIRING promotion to any level of PC.
Glad you did get an action plan, Colleen! You can coach her, but she needs to do the follow through. Congratulations! Hopefully she will keep working towards her goal!
 
  • Thread starter
  • #32
mommyhugz1978 said:
Have you offerd her the step up to director program or the HIP team? If she doesn't want to coachings from you.... may you should talk to your up line about it. Maybe sit down with her and write some goals down. If I see the goal it is much more achievable to me than just hearing it.
Click to expand...

I'm contemplating doing a Step Up program but am wondering what a HIP team is... can you fill me in? I LOVE the name!!!!!
 
I would just recognize her at cluster meetings where you think it's appropriate and let it go at that. I have a male consultant like that--every meeting it's "i'm gonna do....(fill in the blank". It's been three years now.....
Don't need to bless and release her, just bless her!
 
Please, let me tell you my story. (as someone who might be classified as the same group as your consultant). When I first signed on last year, I had BIG dreams to promote as well. Well, life happens, and me promoting didn't happen. I talk to my SD often, and she always encourages me to work on being a director (she thinks I'd be great.) Well, I'm trying to get recruits, and it just ain't happening. So, for now, I'm working hard just to get shows booked. I've been busting my hump, to sell the dream, and there is no interest from anyone at any of my shows. Do I feel bad because I have this big dream to promote? Of course I do, and I feel like I'm letting her down as well and myself. And, sometimes, yes...I cry too. I feel like a failure, because I haven't started "building my team"...but not for lack of trying. I am pretty faithful to the 3-2-1 plan, well, at least the 3 part. I have other things going on in my personal life so that I am not able to live, breathe, sleep and eat PC...like others do out there. We are all different in how we run our business. I don't mean for this to sound harsh...but just because some people find success, doesn't mean that everyone will...even if they are trying their hardest. Me, personally, I have been trying to recruit and promote for a LONG time, and it just isn't there. Support her when she needs support, but don't close the door on her. You never know when she just might surprise you.

Okay, down off my soapbox now...and I apologize if my post sounded nasty. It wasn't meant that way at all. Sorry for the long post.

(If you can't tell, I'm pretty discouraged with myself right now.)
 
finley1991 said:
I'm contemplating doing a Step Up program but am wondering what a HIP team is... can you fill me in? I LOVE the name!!!!!
Click to expand...

I knew you were going to ask me that and now I can't think of what it is ..... I will find out what it is and let you know... I am drawing a blank... sorry!!!
 
finley1991 said:
I'm contemplating doing a Step Up program but am wondering what a HIP team is... can you fill me in? I LOVE the name!!!!!
Click to expand...

HIP = Highly Intentional Prospecting

Other than that... not sure, I wasn't able to do it when some in our cluster just did this spring.
 
I've been listening to a wonderful CD my hospitality director lent me called 'First Class Coaching'...it's from NC a couple years ago. It was presented to upper level directors.

There is a part where she asks the audience members to think of a problem and then asks 5 or 6 questions about it....then she asks a completely different set of questions. The focus of the first set was more focused on the problem, whereas the second set was focused on the solution. Wow, it really opened my eyes to the importance of word choice.

I have a class this morning, but will post the two sets of questions later so you can see what I mean.
 
  • Thread starter
  • #38
I have all of the conference cds from the last 7 years so I'm sure I have it! I'll check into it! Thanks again for your help! :D
 
pcchris said:
Please, let me tell you my story. (as someone who might be classified as the same group as your consultant). When I first signed on last year, I had BIG dreams to promote as well. Well, life happens, and me promoting didn't happen. I talk to my SD often, and she always encourages me to work on being a director (she thinks I'd be great.) Well, I'm trying to get recruits, and it just ain't happening. So, for now, I'm working hard just to get shows booked. I've been busting my hump, to sell the dream, and there is no interest from anyone at any of my shows. Do I feel bad because I have this big dream to promote? Of course I do, and I feel like I'm letting her down as well and myself. And, sometimes, yes...I cry too. I feel like a failure, because I haven't started "building my team"...but not for lack of trying. I am pretty faithful to the 3-2-1 plan, well, at least the 3 part. I have other things going on in my personal life so that I am not able to live, breathe, sleep and eat PC...like others do out there. We are all different in how we run our business. I don't mean for this to sound harsh...but just because some people find success, doesn't mean that everyone will...even if they are trying their hardest. Me, personally, I have been trying to recruit and promote for a LONG time, and it just isn't there. Support her when she needs support, but don't close the door on her. You never know when she just might surprise you.

Okay, down off my soapbox now...and I apologize if my post sounded nasty. It wasn't meant that way at all. Sorry for the long post.

(If you can't tell, I'm pretty discouraged with myself right now.)
Click to expand...

I don't think this sounded nasty & honestly, I feel like I could have written it! I also want to promote & am trying to mention it at shows, etc. I always get people who say no, not interested. It's very frustrating. I take all this training (Step Up, conference, cds, etc.) so you would think I'd be recruiting like crazy b/c I'm doing what I've been taught to do when wanting to recruit & nothing.

So, maybe this gal is trying (or maybe not--I don't know) to do what she's learned & she's getting frustrated because it's not happening.
 
There are those who do, those who don't, and those who sit around talking about what they are going to do.
It seems like she falls in the third category.
You already said she's an emotionally charged woman. She probably has high highs and extremely low lows, thus the crying when she feels as if she's being picked on. I'm not going to touch on the matter of her not taking her meds.
Now you mix an emotionally charged woman with a Conference that is designed to pump you up and get you motivated. The adrenalins pumping, she's living the dream. This year is going to be HER year. Next time she'll be strutting across stage, her consultants cheering her on.
Great dream, but the dream quickly fades in her mind when she is away from conference and the emotional pow. So she settles into a semi ambulent state where she still has the dream, but none of the fire.
You're a nice person, you want to help her out. It's great to be needed.
So I think the best thing you can do is to give her a surrogate cheerleader in the form of motivational tapes, CD's, DVD's (make her pay for them of course). She should find a motivational speaker she REALLY loves, someone who when she listens to them helps her get back that fire from conference. Then also find a few from some successful PC exec's and directors that she likes. Now the secret is that whenever she is feeling down she needs to play these. If her car doesn't have a CD player or tape deck, then have her buy a walkman or MP3 player that she can turn on and listen to her "cheerleaders" as she goes to her shows and recruiting appointments.
What this will hopefully accomplish is that when she gets to her party or recruiting interview she will be PUMPED and there will be enough momentum and belief to carry her through to filling out the requirements to obtain her directorship.
I'm not promising that this will work or that she will go for it, but its worth a shot.
 
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