Page 200 - Social Media Marketing

186 Walk Like a Giant, Sell Like a Madman

• Communicate clearly. Communication is essential, and it
doesn't mean simply saying or writing things clearly; it means
listening to what your teammates have to say. You have two
ears and one mouth, so use them proportionally. Remain in con-
stant touch with your team, with past customers and clients,
with colleagues, and with vendors. Nine times out of 10, prob-
lems arise due to miscommunication. As team leader, you
become a communications hub that monitors communication
and steps in to clarify issues when the need arises.

• Delegate and let go. Don't hover over team members to make
sure they get their work done. Hire people you can trust to do
the job you're hiring them for, provide them with the training
and tools they need, and then let them perform. You should
constantly be on the lookout for new markets. When you rec-
ognize a new revenue-generating opportunity, build a profit
center, put the right self-starter in place to run it, and then
move on to more business development.

• Create an enjoyable workplace. Work is not a four-letter word.
Well, technically speaking, it is, but metaphorically speaking,
it shouldn't be. Enjoy the people you work with and the ac-
tivities that you are involved in on a daily basis. Feel free to
break the routine every once in awhile. This doesn't mean that
you turn each day into a wild party, but don't lose your soul
in pursuit of success. Crack a smile. Crack a joke. Celebrate
accomplishments.

• Create a system of accountability. Make team members ac-
countable for their own success or failure, so you do not have
to step in and hold them accountable. Members should know
up front what you expect from them, what will happen if they
fall short of those expectations, and the rewards they will re-
ceive when they meet or exceed those expectations.

Team meetings and individual meetings are the crucial tools in
enabling you to build and manage a successful agent team. New
team members should have a mentor to get them up to speed and
address any issues that may confuse them.