Welcome, fellow ntwrkrs! I’m thrilled to be here, sharing some of my personal experiences in leadership with you. In this chapter, my focus is on a topic vital to our industry—building unbreakable bonds to transform your team into a thriving sisterhood. This journey is more than just professional development; it’s a roadmap to personal and collective transformation.

A brief introduction for those new to my story: I’m a dedicated wife, a mother of two incredible children, and a daughter of the Most High King. My career in Network Marketing has been a series of challenges, triumphs, and relentless pursuit of growth. I’ve had the privilege of building teams of over 40,000 distributors, generating lifetime sales surpassing $125 million, and achieving a multiple seven-figure income. But the true highlight of my journey has been empowering other women to realize their potential, attain financial freedom, and become the best versions of themselves.

Okay, enough about me! Let’s delve into the heart of building unbreakable bonds, and why it’s so crucial to your Network Marketing business. In my years of experience, the strength of a team lies not just in numbers or sales but in the depth of its connections. The sisterhood we create is our backbone—it’s about supporting and being supported and understanding that this is a shared journey of growth and success. Whether you’re just starting out or are a seasoned leader, building a sisterhood within your team can be transformative. Imagine a team that’s not merely a group of individuals working towards common goals but a close-knit community that supports and uplifts each other through thick and thin. That’s what we’re aiming for!

We’ll explore several key elements to building a thriving sisterhood: Proximity, Accountability, Authenticity, Vulnerability, Camaraderie, Activity, and Grace. Each of these elements plays a unique role in forging a team that’s not just successful but also harmonious and resilient. So, let’s dive in!

Proximity

Fostering proximity is the first step you want to take as a leader when you’re building a sisterhood. Proximity means being around each other (either in-person or virtually), getting to know one another, and being an approachable and relatable leader. It’s about breaking down the barriers of hierarchy to encourage open, meaningful interactions. No pedestals or velvet ropes here! You want to be in the trenches, so to speak, with your team so they can see you championing them and their businesses.

On my current team, there’s a woman I’ve worked with for nearly seven years. We’ve been in three different companies together, and I consider her a sister! But it wasn’t always like that. In our first company, we weren’t directly connected, but she was on my team. Even though we weren’t directly connected, I always made myself available for conversations and was readily available to help in any way. I increased my level of proximity to her, and over time, our relationship blossomed from professional to personal—all because I stepped out and worked to nourish that relationship with accessibility and open communication. Now, she’s an invaluable part of my sisterhood! If I had stayed quiet and kept to myself, I might never have gotten to know what an amazing woman she is. If you’re looking to increase the proximity between you and your team, here are some action steps that will help you along the way:

1. Start “Taprooting.” If you’re unfamiliar with this term, it really just means digging down into your team, getting to the bottom of who they are and how they work, and finding the people deep in your organization who have incredible potential but just need that extra connection and support from you. Once you understand who you’re working with and how they like to work, jump into the mix and start building from a foundational level!

2. Be active in team chats. This is an opportunity for your team to feel your presence throughout the day, even if it’s just quick messages to ask how they are or to encourage them as they go out into the world to grow the business. When you’re constantly engaged, your team will want to be, too!

3. Schedule Zoom meetings. In a world where we can’t always get together in person, Zoom meetings are the next best thing. Just being able to see someone’s face when you’re talking to them creates a level of connection that’s more intimate than communicating over text.

Accountability

Accountability within a team involves setting and pursuing goals together, but it’s about more than just the initial goal-setting. Accountability is about being a cheerleader, a motivator, and sometimes, a gentle taskmaster for each other! After all—it’s great to have wild, crazy ambitions in your business, but if you’re not actually doing the wild, crazy things to make those goals happen, it won’t get you where you want to go. Also, collaborating and helping your team members stay accountable adds an extra layer of excitement to our achievements. Within a sisterhood, every win becomes a collective celebration!

I have a team member who embodies this perfectly. She may not top the charts in sales, but her commitment to the team’s success makes her an invaluable asset. Anytime there’s a challenge, or incentive in the company, she is the one who takes it by the reins and runs with it. We rely on her to keep the energy positive and enthusiastic. We know we can depend on her to show up on every Zoom, no matter what. Her consistency and dependability have made her an integral part of our sisterhood! 

Remember, when you’re thinking about accountability, it’s not always the high-ranking leaders or the number-one recruiters who are going to shine here. It might be the woman who just wants to make a little extra money each month but who has the time and personality to inspire the rest of the team to keep going. Here are some ways to encourage accountability on your team:

1. Do a power hour. Dedicate a specific time for your team to meet and work together to complete goal-driven tasks. Doing this collectively encourages accountability in ways that individual commitments may not achieve.

2. Create team challenges. These are a great way to energize your team, even when there’s no company-wide promotion going on! Doing team blitzes, 90-day challenges, 5-day recruiting challenges, and similar activities can maintain momentum and accountability!

3. Encourage accountability partners. Pair team members to work together on their daily method of operations (DMO). This not only helps with individual accountability but also builds trust and connections among team members!

Authenticity

Authenticity is about embracing and expressing your true self, and showing up just as you are. In this business, it’s tempting to feel pressure when you’re rising up the ranks to look and act like the leaders you see on stage. But you need to silence those expectations and instead be true to your values, interests, and personality in order to attract your tribe. 

And before you start thinking that your tribe should be a group of people just like you, you should remember that those closest to you won’t agree with everything you say or share all the same opinions with you. The people in your tribe will simply love you for you, and you’ll love them for them. The mutual respect and admiration come from being around authentic human beings.

I didn’t always know this, of course. In the beginning of my career, I was starstruck by the amazing women I saw on stage. I thought I needed to be just like them, but as I tried my hardest to emulate these women, I realized that I wasn’t capable of duplicating their success unless I brought my authentic self to the scene. From then on, I started attracting people that fit into my tribe better and began building my sisterhood.

The women in my ‘girl gang’ know—I might rock Valentinos on the red carpet in the evening, but by midnight, I’m hanging in the hotel lobby wearing my pajamas with my team. They’ll find me headed to a Bible study one moment and jamming out to rap music on the way home. They understand that I work hard and pour my all into my business (but not before 10 a.m., since I don’t get along with alarm clocks)! But that’s just me, and people can love it, or people can hate it. There’s no showing up as anyone other than myself. So, if you’re looking for ways to step into your authentic self and build pillars around your personal brand, you’ve come to the right place!

1. Get quiet and figure out who you are. Sit down and write it out. What’s important to you? What do you like? What do you not like? Get crystal clear on this and ask friends to chime in if you need to.

2. Share it out to the world. When you’ve got a good idea of who you really are, start spreading it consistently! You’ll more than likely attract people who appreciate your unique qualities and the fact that you’re willing to put yourself out there. 

3. Don’t be afraid to go against the grain. When you’re willing to stand out in your company, or even in this industry, for being who you are, you grant others the permission to do the same and you may attract people you never would have otherwise. There are great surprises in store for those brave enough to be authentic!

Vulnerability

When you hear the word “vulnerability,” some of you might assume that it requires sharing your deepest, darkest secrets with complete strangers to achieve it. However, vulnerability is not solely about showing your weaknesses; it’s also about opening your heart to those you lead. It’s about embracing that emotional courage to reveal your true self, and that’s what can truly transform relationships from surface-level friendliness to genuine connections.

I understand that it can be scary! We all carry wounds that have left scars. You might worry about being perceived as weak, but, in reality, the opposite is true.  When you share your struggles and triumphs with those around you, you become relatable and accessible. It’s this honesty that deepens the bonds of sisterhood and inspires a connection that goes beyond the superficial.

I remember a retreat we had in Washington, where a diverse group of women from different backgrounds all came together. Many of these women were meeting each other for the first time, and you could definitely feel the uncertainty and nervousness in the air. But the magic happened as we sat together and shared our stories! Some were beautiful, and some were tragic. There were tears all around as we all found out what each other had been through. But each story helped us bond a little more and ultimately took us from a group of co-workers to a true sisterhood. If you want to cultivate an environment of vulnerability for your team, here are my favorite ways:

1. Create a safe space for sharing. Whether it’s a local gathering or a huge retreat, create an environment where everyone feels comfortable opening up. This could be as simple as sitting in a circle on the floor where each person shares their “WHY” and their journey.

2. Encourage storytelling. Ask your team members about their motivations for joining the industry, their life experiences, and the obstacles they’ve overcome. This allows each person to be vulnerable and also helps others to see the strength in their stories.

3. Take your stories beyond meetings. Encourage your team to share parts of their stories on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok. This is a way to extend the spirit of vulnerability and sisterhood to a larger audience, offering hope and inspiration to others facing similar challenges!

Camaraderie

Camaraderie involves nurturing deep trust and mutual respect within your team. It goes beyond creating a fun and loving environment; rather, it’s about establishing a sense of safety, support, and genuine care for each other’s well-being!

In my own journey, I’ve come to understand that camaraderie isn’t based on ranks, titles, or achievements. It’s about consistently showing up with the best interests of your team at heart. It’s about staying in consistent conversation, leading by example, and building the kind of trust where each person knows, “I’ve got your back, and you’ve got mine.”

About a year ago, I faced the challenging decision to change companies. As you may know, such a move is never easy or pleasant! However, I shared my decision with my personal leaders at the old company, not with the intention of persuading them to follow but out of honesty and respect for their careers and what it would mean if I left. Amazingly, each one of them chose to join me in this new venture, and many of them told me that it was an easy decision to make because it was rooted in the trust and bonds we had built as a team. I like to think this was because I was committed to being a servant leader, one who put the team’s needs ahead of my own. I encourage you to take action in the following ways if you want to foster camaraderie within your team:

1. Get in the trenches. Lead from the front and show up consistently with your team. Let them know that you’re standing alongside them in this constantly changing profession! Trust is built in the trenches through honesty and transparency. Most people value direct conversations over sugarcoating and beating around the bush! Leading with integrity and being willing to have hard conversations builds mutual respect and camaraderie.

2. Show off Your team. Highlight your leaders’ ideas and achievements in team zooms, have fun with team-branded swag, rank-up gifts, social hours, and work to collaborate in any way possible to make your team members feel included, seen, and heard. 

3. Put everyone in the same room (or Zoom room!). Bringing your team together through activities like team Zooms, dinners out, and retreats solidifies the camaraderie that you’ve already cultivated remotely. Gathering everyone for a dose of fun and connection goes a long way! And speaking of activities, my next topic will cover just that!

Activities

Activity, fun, and energy are all essential elements of a thriving sisterhood. These are the things people remember and talk about long after the actual events are over, creating a lasting positive sentiment of joy and excitement around being part of the team.

In today’s digital age, we’ve become accustomed to building connections through social media. But there’s an irreplaceable magic that can only be found when gathering in person! It’s in these moments—whether it’s laughing together, crossing off goals from our dream boards, or simply dancing and singing the night away—that we find out who we really are beyond the computer screens. For people who are introverts like me, these in-person experiences are transformative, helping us step out of our shells and forge deeper connections.

I recently returned from a trip to Charleston, a place I had never been before and one I wanted to cross off my dream board. It was a girls’ trip, and one of our goals was to shake off the typical winter blues. The energy was incredible! We created reels together, shared belly laughs, and made many core memories. These experiences left us all invigorated, not just about our business but about life itself. It was through moments like these that we transitioned from being just teammates to becoming close-knit friends. So, if you want to infuse this sense of fun and energy into your team, here are some actionable steps:

1. Kick virtual activities up a notch. Regular old team Zooms can be turned into a party with themes or dress-up elements! For instance, I hosted a ‘Santa Beck’ Christmas event, complete with costumes and company trivia. I had everyone wear their favorite Christmas attire, and I played Santa and gave away lots of prizes! Even though it was a virtual event, it really helped bring the atmosphere of fun and connection.

2. Create shared experiences. Organize team retreats, excursions, and incentive trips. These events are not just concerned with having fun but also about building relationships and understanding each other on a deeper level. If you have a local team, plan a regular team dinner or coffee meet-up so you can have fun and build your in-person connections!

3. Utilize company events for activities. When a large portion of your team is already together for a company conference, leadership summit, etc., take this time to plan fun activities with your team! Arrive a day early if you can and plan some exciting content and reels, team pictures, and maybe an interesting local activity that can help make that event more memorable.

Grace

Grace and empathy are not just “nice-to-have” virtues for a leader—they are essential elements in creating deep-rooted bonds within your team. You can be crushing it in every other aspect of leadership, but without grace and empathy, you risk isolating your team members, which can potentially lead them away from your circle and team.

Grace in leadership means understanding and accepting that everyone has their highs and lows. There will be times when team members are buzzing with energy and fully engaged, and other times when life takes over, whether it’s a new relationship, a pregnancy, or personal challenges. When their focus shifts away from their business, it’s absolutely critical to show grace. Support your team members, celebrate their joyous moments, and stand with them during their toughest times. This will promote a culture of understanding and acceptance, regardless of their current engagement level with the business.

Empathy is about genuinely putting yourself in someone else’s shoes, digging deep into their perspective, and responding with compassion. It’s recognizing that what might seem trivial to you could be everything to them! Every interaction should be approached with an intention to understand and support, rather than judge or dismiss.

There was a time in my Network Marketing career where lack of empathy from a leader had a serious impact on my path. One particular month, I lost a huge bonus due to a technical issue in our back office. When I asked my upline to run it up the chain and try to help me, her response was, “Oh, sorry, I guess you should work harder next time.”

I was crushed. Here was this person who I trusted to really show up for me, to root for me, and to help me when things got tough, but she didn’t. That was it for me; it was over. Once this trust was broken, I couldn’t move even another inch forward with her. This experience taught me the importance of empathetic leadership, which is not just about business outcomes, but about nurturing trust and respect. In order to integrate grace and empathy into your leadership style, here are some practical steps:

1. Be present in good times and bad. Whether a team member is celebrating a milestone or facing a challenge, show up for them. Your consistent presence reinforces your commitment to their well-being.

2. Offer support proactively. If a team member is going through a tough time, find ways to help. This could be as simple as a one-on-one encouraging call, sending a thoughtful gift, or just a message to let them know they’re loved. Also, stand in the gap for their team. There’s nothing worse than needing to take a step back and experiencing fear about what will happen to your business during your absence. This is your opportunity to step up and be there for her team so she can focus on getting through the challenge.

3. Encourage open communication. Create a space where team members feel comfortable sharing their struggles without fear of judgment. This openness nurtures a supportive environment and strengthens team bonds, leading to a sisterhood that is unbreakable, no matter what life throws at them!

Okay, friends, we’re nearly finished! Remember that these elements—Proximity, Accountability, Authenticity, Vulnerability, Camaraderie, Activity, and Grace—are what create a truly remarkable team. In fact, these elements create a sisterhood. Team building is more than achieving business success; it’s about making a lasting impact in people’s lives. 

This era, more than ever, calls for genuine connection and deep relationships. By applying these principles, you’re not only paving the way for long-term business success but also enriching lives, including your own!

Thank you for being here on these pages with me. You have the power to create a positive ripple effect in the world of Network Marketing and beyond! So, let’s go out there and build sisterhoods that not only stand the test of time but also bring joy, fulfillment, and unparalleled success. See you out there!