What is the ONE thing your affiliates struggle with most...and how do you address it?
Francis Tailoka, Aff (United Kingdom)
8/20/2015 10:32 am
Affiliate since: 10/05/2011, Power Rank: 292
The problems that affiliates struggle with cannot be generalised but we can categorise them into two groups:
1. Those affiliates who sign up and stay inactive
2. Those affiliates who sign up and stay active
In the first group we have people who signed up while surfing from one business to another without making up their mind and those who are just lacking commitment.
Affiliates in this group do not generally respond to the team leader’s weekly messages or indeed any message at all. What should the leader do? The leader should still continue sending the weekly messages to all affiliates in his or her group as there have been some success stories of inactive affiliates recharging their batteries and waking up.
The biggest complaint I have seen from those who are already active is that they are not making major breakthroughs in spite of their efforts. If this problem is not addressed when it arises, some of them also eventually become inactive as they feel that they are not getting any returns on their investment. I think one’s approach to these affiliates should begin with motivation by for example sharing your story with them. How you started, the hurdles that came your way and how you overcame them. A good example is advertising. An affiliate can invest on paid advertising and still find that almost all the incoming affiliates are dormant. The team leader’s advice should be never give up but advertise, advertise and advertise. That is because statistics have shown that it takes many affiliates to get five quality PSAs. If you already have a successful advertising campaign in place, then it would be a good idea to invite this type of affiliates to join your co-op.
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The problems that affiliates struggle with cannot be generalised but we can categorise them into two groups:
1. Those affiliates who sign up and stay inactive
2. Those affiliates who sign up and stay active
In the first group we have people who signed up while surfing from one business to another without making up their mind and those who are just lacking commitment.
Affiliates in this group do not generally respond to the team leader’s weekly messages or indeed
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How can I learn to be a good Team Leader for my group?
Francis Tailoka, Aff (United Kingdom)
1/7/2016 1:08 pm
Affiliate since: 10/05/2011, Power Rank: 292
Simple – lead by example!
Leading your team and becoming good at it, is all about your team members being able to duplicate what you, yourself have done, being there when they need your help and responding to their queries.
To equip yourself with good leadership qualities, never stop learning and take advantage of the many low priced E-books on leadership, which are available at Tripleclicks. In addition you can also learn from many other sources such as "The Rules Of Success" and other leaders at platforms such as the Forum or ASK SC.
In offering your leadership, it is a good idea to:
1. First start by communicating with your team members. If you listen to them first rather than dictate, it will make it easier for you to understand what they need and how to help them.
2. Visit their ledger to see how they are performing.
3. Never ignore their questions regardless of the level at which they ask.
4. Apply the process of duplication.
In summary, effective communication and listening skills are key to passing on your knowledge and wisdom to your team.
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Simple – lead by example!
Leading your team and becoming good at it, is all about your team members being able to duplicate what you, yourself have done, being there when they need your help and responding to their queries.
To equip yourself with good leadership qualities, never stop learning and take advantage of the many low priced E-books on leadership, which are available at Tripleclicks. In addition you can also learn from many other sources such as "The Rules Of
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I'm told to lead by example in SFI...but how can I demonstrate this to my PSAs and CSAs?
Francis Tailoka, Aff (United Kingdom)
8/20/2015 10:35 am
Affiliate since: 10/05/2011, Power Rank: 292
A leader must walk the talk!
Well, though PSAs or CSAs do not necessarily entirely depend on their sponsor to succeed, the team leader has nothing to lose but all to gain by building a strong team.
It is natural and proven that most people are likely to learn more from what they see you doing. In other words you cannot insist on your affiliates performing tasks which you have not done.
The goal of SFI leadership is “Duplication” and so when you become EA or higher let your PSAs or CSAs know what you have gone through to achieve your success. Having said so, one should also appreciate that the affiliates in the team have varying capacities and therefore there will always be cases where your PSA or CSA cannot duplicate one of your accomplishments due to financial constraints. In that case the leader should motivate the affiliate not to give up but continue making progress until they reach the same level. It is not wise to be too demanding of an affiliate who cannot achieve a certain goal due to other limitations. This is where the leaders often share stories about their own setbacks en route to success.
It is true that one can have thousands of PSAs or CSAs but if they are not following, the leader is not leading but only taking a walk.
In summary, I would say with all factors considered, duplication is the best demonstration of leadership one can give to either the PSAs or CSAs.
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A leader must walk the talk!
Well, though PSAs or CSAs do not necessarily entirely depend on their sponsor to succeed, the team leader has nothing to lose but all to gain by building a strong team.
It is natural and proven that most people are likely to learn more from what they see you doing. In other words you cannot insist on your affiliates performing tasks which you have not done.
The goal of SFI leadership is “Duplication” and so when you become EA or
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How do you build a team where everyone knows they are valued members and part of something special?
Francis Tailoka, Aff (United Kingdom)
11/19/2015 11:04 am
Affiliate since: 10/05/2011, Power Rank: 292
Each member of the group will feel part of the team if he or she is treated respectably and equally rather than means or tools of achievement.
I think respect and trust are central to building a coherent team, for if a team member does not trust the leader he or she will in most cases perform below par.
In the “physical world” team members can see and talk to each other and their leader face to face and preferential treatment has been known to divide or even destroy a team. On the other hand in the “online world” such as here at SFI, with the exception of teams that organise Skype or conference calls, the leader knows who are in his or her team but the team members in most cases do not know each other. However, it is still important that the leader treats each member as a valued individual. It has been known that people often do well if they think their efforts are valued. This also makes them feel that they are part of something special
A simple example, where a member can feel let down, is if the leader never responds to queries. The member may interpret this as being ignored and therefore not valued. The team leader should develop a habit of acknowledging the queries, even if he or she cannot give an answer right away. This shows that the leader listens and will build trust and respect with members.
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Each member of the group will feel part of the team if he or she is treated respectably and equally rather than means or tools of achievement.
I think respect and trust are central to building a coherent team, for if a team member does not trust the leader he or she will in most cases perform below par.
In the “physical world” team members can see and talk to each other and their leader face to face and preferential treatment has been known to divide or even destroy a team.
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How can we guide our new affiliates in a way that prevents or minimizes information overload?
Francis Tailoka, Aff (United Kingdom)
9/10/2015 8:18 am
Affiliate since: 10/05/2011, Power Rank: 292
As a sponsor, you are likely to come across two types of affiliates in your team:
1. Recently joined or “newbies”
2. Established (both active and inactive)
“Information overload” resonates more with your new team members. They have just joined SFI and will need guidance where required. Every new team member looks at exactly the same SFI website and its resources but not everyone responds to this information in exactly the same way that SFI says they should. To avoid or minimise information overload, start with the basics and take it step by step: Just let the new affiliate know that they can begin their journey with:
1. START
2. SFI Basics
3. Launchpad
The short video on SFI gives them an insight into what SFI is and it can do for them.
In the absence of a process, it is possible for the affiliate to jump from one topic to another and in the end get nowhere. Your role as a sponsor is to help them and avoid this. If you can build their confidence in the initial steps then you will have planted a seed. As they make progress, they will be ready for other tasks.
In the first stages, always listen to the affiliate and you can always have an idea of what your affiliate is actually doing by looking at his or her Ledger. I have come across many affiliates who have signed up and even logged on and yet still fail to register. Then there are also others who manage to register but choose not to do anything else after that. And still there are those who sign up, log on, register and focus only on doing all the Launchpad lessons in one day. What these examples illustrate is that the first step that one takes is very important but having said that there is always room for correction if only the sponsor and affiliate can communicate.
If the acquisition of information is not structured it can seem overwhelming and deter further progress.
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As a sponsor, you are likely to come across two types of affiliates in your team:
1. Recently joined or “newbies”
2. Established (both active and inactive)
“Information overload” resonates more with your new team members. They have just joined SFI and will need guidance where required. Every new team member looks at exactly the same SFI website and its resources but not everyone responds to this information in exactly the same way that SFI says they should. To
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I want to be a good co-sponsor to my CSAs...but I don't want to overstep boundaries on those who have a great sponsor. How do I fill my role appropriately?
Francis Tailoka, Aff (United Kingdom)
3/27/2016 9:25 am
Affiliate since: 10/05/2011, Power Rank: 292
You should not be afraid to treat your co-sponsored affiliates just like your PSAs, as long as you are aware of the limitations.
If the CSA has an awesome sponsor that does not mean that your role as a CSA suddenly disappears. As co-sponsor, you are there to provide help and support to them when they need it. This does not necessarily mean just answering questions when they ask but also sending messages of encouragement or congratulations when they for example reach milestones or win prizes. And you can also share your own ideas. I think that if the CSA has an awesome sponsor that should also be a source of inspiration for you.
Your question focuses on the CSA having a great sponsor but the opposite is also true; that is a situation where the sponsor does not give much support to the CSA and in this case if you are good co-sponsor, the CSA will communicate more with you than his or her sponsor (My old sponsor did not communicate with me for more than one year and much of my correspondence was from my co-sponsor or other upline).
The success of your affiliates, both PSAs and CSAs is also your success and if you want to know the differences in how you share from their gains, read the SFI Compensation Plan at:
https://www.sfimg.com/Reference/CompPlan.
(Remember that PSAs are affiliates that you have personally sponsored through recruitment, advertising or buying).
Your CSA having a great sponsor is in my view very good for your team and should not in any way deter you from playing your part as a co-sponsor.
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You should not be afraid to treat your co-sponsored affiliates just like your PSAs, as long as you are aware of the limitations.
If the CSA has an awesome sponsor that does not mean that your role as a CSA suddenly disappears. As co-sponsor, you are there to provide help and support to them when they need it. This does not necessarily mean just answering questions when they ask but also sending messages of encouragement or congratulations when they for example reach milestones or win
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How can I help the Movers on my team move up to the next level?
Francis Tailoka, Aff (United Kingdom)
11/19/2015 9:45 am
Affiliate since: 10/05/2011, Power Rank: 292
There are many ways in which you can motivate your active PSAs and CSAs (movers) to rise up to the next level and some examples include:
1. Help them through duplication, that is lead by example.
2. Have a look at their ledgers and identify areas of weakness and make some helpful suggestions, without being demanding.
3. Never forget to congratulate them when they do well, win a prize or reach a milestone.
4. Communicate with them on a regular basis.
5. If possible re-assign some of your affiliates to your movers to help them build their own teams.
In summary be supportive of their efforts and be quick to notice their shortcomings and help them where you can.
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There are many ways in which you can motivate your active PSAs and CSAs (movers) to rise up to the next level and some examples include:
1. Help them through duplication, that is lead by example.
2. Have a look at their ledgers and identify areas of weakness and make some helpful suggestions, without being demanding.
3. Never forget to congratulate them when they do well, win a prize or reach a milestone.
4. Communicate with them on a regular basis.
5. If possible
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For building my business, what is the most valuable thing to spend my TCredits on?
Francis Tailoka, Aff (United Kingdom)
8/4/2015 6:24 am
Affiliate since: 10/05/2011, Power Rank: 292
There are a number of ways in which you can spend Tcredits examples of which are:
Pricebenders Auctions
For every bid you make, this will earn you 5 or even 10 MRP (if there are double mrps in the auction) and 1 AVP. You can earn a maximum of 500 AVP in a month. On top of this you could be the lucky winner of the auction with savings of as much as 90%.
500 AVP is significant and could be the difference between two SFI ranks. Your SFI rank of course determines your earning potential and therefore also contributes towards building your business.
Eager Zebra Games
For every game that you play where you spend 1 Tcredit, you will be awarded at least 5 MRP and 1 versa point, regardless of whether you win or lose and you can make a maximum of 200 AVP per month.
TC Music downloads
Here you can earn one versa point for every download and a maximum of 50 AVP per month.
Member Listings at Tripleclicks
Each listing (things that you are selling) will cost you 1 Tcredit and for every listing that you place you will get 1 versa point and a maximum of 50 versa points per month.
Assign Tcredits to your PSA or CSA
Here, you will be promoting team building by recognising the efforts of the stars of your team. You will not earn a versa points but your reward will be seen through the growth of your team.
To summarise how use Tcredits is a matter of personal preference and also how many Tcredits you have. The more Tcredits you have the more options you have and you can choose from the above which options best suit what you have.
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There are a number of ways in which you can spend Tcredits examples of which are:
Pricebenders Auctions
For every bid you make, this will earn you 5 or even 10 MRP (if there are double mrps in the auction) and 1 AVP. You can earn a maximum of 500 AVP in a month. On top of this you could be the lucky winner of the auction with savings of as much as 90%.
500 AVP is significant and could be the difference between two SFI ranks. Your SFI rank of course determines your earning potential
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Should I put my CSAs into the new CSA Exchange? If yes...or no...explain why.
Francis Tailoka, Aff (United Kingdom)
8/4/2015 6:35 am
Affiliate since: 10/05/2011, Power Rank: 292
The main reason that has been advanced for exchanging CSAs from other countries for those from the country where you live is that it may help to overcome limitations in communication due to cultural or language differences. This is certainly a valid point. However, one also has to bear in mind that if you have CSAs from other countries who are active and with whom you already have a good working relationship, it is worth keeping them rather than exchanging.
Since the exchange started, some team leaders have already reported activities in their teams. If you go to the forum, you will find an interesting debate on the issue. For example one silver team leader wrote that he has already received replies from his welcome letter to the new CSAs and some of them were exceptional.
In other words, it is possible that some currently inactive CSAs may possibly wake up if they find themselves with a co-sponsor from their own country!
So, I would say yes exchange those CSAs with whom you do not see any further progress in communication as it negatively impacts on the growth of your team and do not exachange if there is no advantage in losing your CSAs.
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The main reason that has been advanced for exchanging CSAs from other countries for those from the country where you live is that it may help to overcome limitations in communication due to cultural or language differences. This is certainly a valid point. However, one also has to bear in mind that if you have CSAs from other countries who are active and with whom you already have a good working relationship, it is worth keeping them rather than exchanging.
Since the exchange started,
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What tips do you give to your PSAs in your welcome letter to them?
Francis Tailoka, Aff (United Kingdom)
8/4/2015 6:39 am
Affiliate since: 10/05/2011, Power Rank: 292
As it is a welcome letter I think it is essential not to overwhelm your new PSA with so much information but still provide adequate leads to get him or her going. If the affiliate can even log in to the homepage that is a good sign in itself because you can let the PSA know (in case they cannot find it) where to start. The Basic and the introductory video should provide him or her with a brief insight into SFI.
In my experience, for one reason or another most new PSAs do not bother to respond to the welcome letter but they also tend to be the ones who remain inactive or never log in. If you do get a response from the PSA then it is easier to provide even more information and develop a working relationship as it shows that the affiliate is eager to learn.
In your welcoming letter, you should also try to make the new PSA feel at home just by being friendly rather than demanding in your approach as first impressions can either inspire or discourage someone.
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As it is a welcome letter I think it is essential not to overwhelm your new PSA with so much information but still provide adequate leads to get him or her going. If the affiliate can even log in to the homepage that is a good sign in itself because you can let the PSA know (in case they cannot find it) where to start. The Basic and the introductory video should provide him or her with a brief insight into SFI.
In my experience, for one reason or another most new PSAs do not bother to respond
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8/20/2015 10:32 am