Expectations

Good morning and Happy Halloween! Today’s installment of Ms. Medicare’s things-people-think-but-are-afraid-to-say… we are going to talk about expectations. This week I had several agents reach out to me to discuss what to do regarding issues with their managers/principals and uplines, so I thought I would share.

If you are unhappy with your manager/principal, mentor, or upline, TALK TO THEM. Tell them what you need and ask for feedback on how to improve the relationship.

For those in a “management” role, understand this: those that work with and for you have dreams, goals and aspirations of their own. Have you bothered to ask them what those are? What are you doing to help incorporate those goals into your own “dream?” Have you painted a picture of your vision and shown that person how, if you move together, anything is possible? Did you MAKE THEM FEEL HEARD?

This week I have had:

1. New Kids bewildered because they were told they could achieve insane numbers with no map on how to do it. Yes, the new kid MUST take control of their own business — but did you show the way? To the New Kid: did you actually do the homework?
2. Semi-retired agents feeling harassed with “hate” emails asking “Why aren’t you producing enough?” My response was “did you, as the agent, set the expectation of what you were looking to achieve at the beginning?” I do a once-a-year discussion with my entire downline on this and a touch-base in June/July. If so, respond by reminding them of the discussion.
3. Agents who have committed to co-op funding and requested leads, and yet refuse to call the leads or use the funds. When asked why, the answer is basically that they want the money, leads and the contacts/vendors to be handed to them. You have got to take control of your own business.

This is a two-way street. You are in the driver’s seat of where you want YOUR business and your professional development to go. If you’re not happy with how it’s going, look at your expectations, then look at your plan, and last, communicate and be engaged. Keep a notebook so when things slow down in January, you can do a true assessment and make corrections to grow. I will be having a FREE conference on March 21–23rd to work on strategies and next steps, called Medicare & Margaritas.

Lastly, discussions with me are always confidential. I try to provide guidance and suggestions on next steps. I will not give you a list of 50 things and say this is the yellow brick road to Oz. I don’t believe that the same things work for everyone. You have to play to your strengths and communicate. I hope this helps. Happy Monday!