Is My Director's Training Policy Fair?

[wadesgirl]

But one of the reasons for promoting so high in this company is to help your team! Otherwise she wouldn't be an ED. The absent director may not care about her team, so that would move the responsibility (in most situations) up the line. I don't think it's right to withhold training or anything just because someone in the middle doesn't feel like it. My director trains her line, several directors under her and other consultants under them. What would happen if this absent director relinquished directorship, then her consultants would roll up, would then be the next upline director's "responsibility". My upline director's all email me when I do a good job, open up their houses for training or just to talk, etc. Maybe I should just be grateful for the family I'm in.

 

[ChefBeckyD]

But one of the reasons for promoting so high in this company is to help your team! Otherwise she wouldn't be an ED. The absent director may not care about her team, so that would move the responsibility (in most situations) up the line. I don't think it's right to withhold training or anything just because someone in the middle doesn't feel like it. My director trains her line, several directors under her and other consultants under them. What would happen if this absent director relinquished directorship, then her consultants would roll up, would then be the next upline director's "responsibility". My upline director's all email me when I do a good job, open up their houses for training or just to talk, etc. Maybe I should just be grateful for the family I'm in.

Me too. In November, I was really struggling, trying to figure out how to keep my business on an even keel when doing 12 shows a month. I asked my director for help - but she couldn't answer some of my questions - so I emailed my SD
(at the suggestion of my director) - who, instead of just an email back, called me and did some training with me over the phone for about an hour. I've received emails all the way up through my ED (who is also HO direct), and I just cannot wrap my brain around an Upline director refusing training to someone in their downline....

 

[KellyTheChef]

IMO the “moocher” is the Director if she expects the ED to provide training to that Director’s down line . . . training that the Director has not made an effort to be a part of.

Usually, HO doesn’t give an inch when there is a problem with not meeting some incentive requirement or another. The reason they do that is so that more trouble is not created further down the line. You make an exception for one and you need to make an exception for all.

I suspect this is the ED’s reason for not allowing momofmany to attend.

Is the ED being shortsighted? Perhaps. But, what if many Directors underneath her decided they were not going to participate in the training (plan, teach, pay for, make food for or whatever is asked) but they were going to send their recruits on over for some training. This would not be fair to the ED or the Director’s who do work hard to make the training special.

I strongly agree that the ED should be all over the Director to participate. But, this is the Directors business to run however she sees fit (isn’t that why so many of us like this business?) She can’t twist her arm. And if memory serves me correctly, the Director is providing a training session (half-a$$ed though it may be).

I wish momofmany was not in this situation, it stinks. I hope that she can find some way to get her Director (by being the squeaky wheel with the ED?) to wake up and do the right thing (take advantage of these great training opportunities).

Wow...lots of responses here! I have to agree with Jeanine, though. It sucks, but that would explain the ED's decision to only allow the downlines of PARTICIPATING directors. I don't think that my upline would do this, though... My Director is pretty involved in ALL of our trainings from our uplines, but if she wasn't, I still think I would be invited.

 

[Chef Kearns]

Wow! I am so privileged to know so many awesome, caring and willing to share upper level directors. Many are not in my cluster. I have worked with Duska Mills who is not in my cluster AT ALL!! She will email me and we will talk on the phone. She doesn't get a penny for training me (although I hope we are friends also). The same goes for Marsha Fewell! Now she is my dear girlfriend, but if she behaved like this ED I would never know her. We shouldn't be stingy with training.

If the ED in question would just allow anyone to attend she would find that many would be WILLING to help where she needed help. Just because someone is not a Director doesn't mean that they cannot help train others or bring a recipe or run the drawings. Getting everyone in your downline involved no matter what their leadership level is grooms leaders!

Since Momofmany is in her downline she should not be excluded from this training. If she is willing to pay the entrance fee it is a no-brainer! I agree with Becky that the ED should just embrace Momofmany and train her how she should/needs to be trained because she is a fellow consultant with PC and is looking to grow. It should not rely on downlines and who she falls under.

 

[momofmany]

Update: Training Issue with EDLast week I posted an issue about a regional training that my ED is hosting for her directors/downline and the fact that I could not attend because my director opted not to participate. I appreciate all the helpful feedback so wanted to send a follow up:

At the suggestion of many, I took my concern to the HO as my ED is through HO direct. I scheduled an appointment on the HO calendar and then sent her an e-mail summarizing my situation, my assessment, and then asked for her support. I had a productive conversation with the HO person, she understood my postion and agreed with me, she complimented me on my writing skill, and offered to call my ED. She did so, and, as I expected.........nothing changed.

In this experience, my eyes were really opened to the leadership of my ED, my director and their leadership perspective. I find it amazing that an ED would turn down the opportunity to provide training in her downline, because I really think the ED's role is to help consultants succeed in their businesses. This regional sales event in new products, networking, and recognition, and all are equally important in motivating me. In addition, as an extrovert, I am energized through contacts with other Pampered Chef consultants.

I realize each leader can run their business their own way, but I don't feel valued by my leaders, as in not at all. My own philophy is to always help others, because the blessings will come back to you in the end. Right now I really don't want to be involved with my leaders.

Thank you for your encouragement, however, and for those of you have leaders who really support you - well, you are lucky!

 

[JAE]

So sorry, momofmany, that nothing changed. At least you didn't just sit back and do nothing.

 

[sfdavis918]

I am so sorry that talking to HO did nothing to help. I can not believe that this ED is being this way. It is just crazy to me!! I am so upset and angry for you. I have a very absent Director as well, and have only heard from any of her upline once, so I know what it is like to not have support. I kind of feel like your situation is even worse though, because there is a training going on that you should be able to participate in but can't. At least with my Director, there isn't any training going on at all!

 

[Chef Kearns]

I had really hoped that HO would make ED make an exception after your appeal. That is truly frustrating. Did you ask HO about switching to a hospitality? It is in HO best interest to keep you happy and WELL TRAINED!! They should actively help you find someone willing and able to support you.

 

[Jules711]

This is where I find it frustrating that you can do NOTHING when you find yourself in a cluster that doesn't help you or care for you. I LOVE my cluster and my ED is my directors direct upline. I am invited to everything they do even though it is usually too far for me to go to and I love the support I have. I think the PC really has to acknowledge the fact that if a director (no matter the level) isn't satisfying our needs, that we (with good reason) should be able to change directors. Why do they earn money, get credit, earn incentives based on what we do on our own completely without the help that we need and ask for? It would make me want to leave too. My suggestion (as others have mentioned is to see about the possibility of a hospitality group). Good luck!!