One of your roles as the leader of your downline is to keep your team motivated to achieve the ambitious goals they’ve set for their businesses.

At certain times of the year, this is an easier task than at others.

Although your team may be hyper-motivated once January arrives, they may be less so now. Why?

Blame it on the busyness and stress of the season.

Of course, the holiday season is one of the best times of the year for your team to close more sales and even recruit to expand their businesses.

After all, people are actively seeking the perfect gifts to buy for their family, friends, co-workers, children’s teachers and more.

The downside is your distributors are also in the mix of this stressful season, trying to get it all done – haul their children to rehearsals for holiday recitals and concerts, plan the family or company Christmas party, get their homes cleaned and polished for the annual visit from their picky mother or mother-in-law, and shop for everyone on their lists.

Plus, they have all of their other daily activities, whether it’s a full-time or part-time job, family commitments and so much more.

Without commitment, nothing happens.

TD. Jakes

All of their responsibilities are pulling them every which way, causing them to make cuts to their daily to-do list.

Something has to be cut, they think, in order to maintain their sanity.

What’s most often first on the chopping block?

Their businesses! And what happens after the holiday season has passed and life is somewhat normal again?

Well, their motivation (and their productive habits) has likely gone out the window – at least for now.

You see, while they want to make money, their motivation to do so falls to an all-time low when other tasks demand their attention.

It’s not that these other tasks are more important, they just demand more of their time and are much louder about it.

They may think, “How can I possibly follow up with my clients, prospects, and distributors when I barely have time to check everything off my to-do list each day?

Wait, have I even had time to shower?”

They’re more than unmotivated; they’re overwhelmed by all of the competing demands of their daily schedules.

How can you maintain motivation when you’re ready to tear your hair out?

What can you do to motivate your team?

It’s challenging to motivate your team if they’re feeling unmotivated and overwhelmed; however, it’s not impossible.

In fact, if you follow these tips, not only will it give your team the gentle kick in the backside they need to meet their goals in the coming year, they’ll also appreciate and respect you for it.

Model the behavior you expect

If you want your team to achieve their goals and stay motivated through the holiday season, start by looking in the mirror.

Are you diligently following up with your customers, prospects, and distributors daily (using Teamzy to help you stay organized and connect with the right people at the right time, naturally)?

Do you aim to make someone’s day every day, regardless of how busy you are and the number of demands of your time?

You see, if you struggle to fit these lead creating tasks into your busy day, your team is likely struggling as well. Setting priorities each day is the best way to fight feeling overwhelmed.

When you set priorities, you’re exerting control over your time and business.

Motivational speaker and business leader Jim Rohn said, “Either you run the day, or the day runs you.”

Select two or three tasks that have to get done every day (hint: one of these tasks should be logging into Teamzy and spending 30 minutes making people’s days), and place a star next to them or circle them (whatever works for you – the point is they should stand out).

Once you complete these tasks, give yourself a pat on the back and then select the next priority for the day.

This process may seem tedious; however, it gives you more control over your day and prevents other things from hijacking your productivity.

Let’s face it, there will always be something that comes up and distracts you from what you need to do.

Often, these seem like emergencies at first, but in reality, they aren’t. 

Once you begin prioritizing your day, share your process with your team!

They’re sure to see the benefit in it. 

In most cases, part of the reason they’re struggling is they don’t feel control over their days.

Teaching them how to prioritize their tasks and sharing how you do it each day will show them that it’s possible and motivate them to give it a try.

The best part of this is you’re modeling the behavior you wish to see in them.

First, you’re making the time to connect with them and your other team members, as well as your customers and prospects.

Second, you’re connecting with them with the heart to serve to help them carve out time for their businesses in their busy schedules.

Third, you’re going a step further and teaching them a valuable skill they can use not only in their businesses but in the other areas of their lives as well.

And, finally, you’re building trust.

By practicing what you preach, they’ll trust what you have to share and appreciate you more! Additionally, they’ll be more motivated to achieve their goals and build their businesses.

Stay in touch

Consistent communication is more than a way to model the system; it also allows you to check in with your team and see where they’re struggling and succeeding.

If nothing else, you’ll also make their days, which is always important, especially if they’re having a particularly stressful day.

Staying in touch allows you to show them you’re on their side and there if they need you.

Send them a message or text that lets you know you’re thinking of them.

Or, if you know they’re going through a stressful time right now, send them a positive quote to inspire them (or send them an inspirational quote anyway, even if life is treating them well).

Regardless of what you send, the point is to keep the lines of communication open and let them know you care.

The added bonus is that you’re showing them that 1) it’s possible to be consistent and follow up with people in-network even when you’re up to your eyeballs in tasks and demands and 2) it’s fun and easy – you’re simply popping into their messages to say hello, not writing an entire dissertation about the state of your life and the meaning of the season.

Look for ways to serve

As a leader, this is one of the most effective ways to build trust and loyalty among your team.

Deep down, your team wants two things: to be sure that you have their best interests at heart and that you care.

That’s it.

And, if you meet those two requirements, they’re sure to think you’re an awesome leader and respect you even more.

Whenever you connect with them, whether it’s via Messenger or you run into them at the grocery store, listen for a need to fill.

For example, if they mention their in-laws will be in town for a week at Christmas, offer up the name of a great cleaner you know who can prepare their home for their super-persnickety mother-in-law.

Another approach is to make suggestions you think may help them in some way.

For example, if you just finished a book about business leadership and you think it would help them sharpen their leadership skills to lead their own teams, mention it to them, or better yet, give them a copy.

They’ll be flattered that you thought of them and seek to help them hone their skills and become better leaders.

In both of these examples, the helpful action only takes a minute of your time – it only takes a few seconds to go through your mental Rolodex of contacts (or scroll through the contacts list of your phone) just as it only takes a second to connect your team with the book suggestion – however, the impact of the action itself is huge.

In many cases, it’s a game-changer for them because you’ve empowered them to take charge of their time and businesses.

They realize that their businesses are just as important as anything else on the list and move it to the front burner where it should be.

Acts of service, no matter how seemingly small you feel they are, are things your team is sure to remember and even practice themselves with their own teams. How great is that?

When you lead with a heart to serve, these actions will come naturally to you.

After all, you understand that the more you care for your team and find ways to mentor and help them, the stronger their businesses will be.

It’s a hectic time of year for most people, especially if you’re a network marketer.

The thing is most people don’t have a great leader like you in their upline to keep them motivated and productive.

The secret to your team’s success is you!