Network Marketing is populated by people mostly who have sought out the business model because they consider themselves naturally entrepreneurial.  They come into the industry and make decisions to work on their own terms because they are tired and 'over' the corporate pressure. Most of them love to say they 'fired their bosses'.

The only problem is that SOME leaders in Network Marketing actually are more familiar with corporate culture than living the entrepreneurial life  or interacting with entrepreneurs.   So at times we find upline leaders within Network Marketing who have left corporate america and yet haven't left corporate america.

If you are following me,  you will catch on.

In other words, they have brought with them a corporate sensibility. Oftentimes, they subconsciously will see their downline as their 'employees' that they get to 'boss' around.   So, for those of us who have 'fired our bosses,' and  have entered the industry for freedom as our own bosses, this projection by a strong upline can lead to conflict.  When a successful network marketer isn't really an entrepreneur at all but rather a corporate retiree, they may bring the concept and vision of hierarchy with them into their communication and team culture. This can be a problem.   I have observed several situations in Network Marketing of upline intimidation and fear-based leadership. I must also clarify that most of us have been blessed to not have to deal with that type of dynamic. However, it is important also to discuss and give perspective to a problem that does exist in the industry.

 

 

So how can you identify if you are under FEAR-BASED LEADERSHIP:

Thank you LIZ RYAN of FORBES MAGAZINE for inspiration behind this blog post....

THE FIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF FEAR BASED LEADERS.   

I created a list of 6 points.

I wanted to take my inspiration from this article and extrapolate it into the Network Marketing Industry:

*  YOU WILL LEARN IT THE WAY THEY TEACH IT OR BE CUT OFF:

Within NWM there are  systems. The systems are important to follow because they are tried and true. However, within companies, teams create their own systems as well that are not necessarily endorsed by corporate leadership.  Some of these systems that are created by an upline may never be taught in a national corporate training. However, I have seen many up and coming leaders be cut off from their upline because they choose to opt to follow standard practices only or get creative and add apply their own systems.  These new leaders have been cut out of Facebook support pages and been discredited within the team because they 'refused to follow protocol.' Upline leaders who will cut people off from not agreeing with the team system (over standard systems) are applying intimidation by excluding these downline distributors from their trainings and support.

2.   THEY EITHER EDIFY OR VILIFY (NOTHING IN BETWEEN):

If you are noticing high praise for one person and the demonizing of another you may be under fear-based leadership.  Fear based leaders like to praise people who are highly successful who are 'following the system and team rules,' and demonize the people who aren't.  Liz Ryan says 'you are either a friend or foe.'   There is really no in between.  The people in between are at times ignored and still vilified because they haven't risen to the ranks expected by their upline.  At times, very successful people within a team can be vilified because they aren't in full agreement of the culture of the team.

3. THEY CREATE STORIES ABOUT OTHERS AND SHARE THEM WITH THEIR TEAM (AKA Gossip):