Valeri’s Story
One of the most difficult tasks for building a company or organization is to find the right team that will support your project and long-term vision. I have learned through the years to look for people who not only possess the desired talents but who are also willing to learn from one another and work together collaboratively. A cohesive team is more easily able to move past tough hurdles and be motivated to achieve more.
Experience is the Best Teacher
Be aware of candidates who have outstanding talent and a likable personality, but who don’t know how to be a team player. The next test is to see if the person understands your vision in its entirety. Once you share your vision have the person verbalize everything they believe it entails. The problem is most people have a personal agenda that has little to do with what you want to accomplish. This exercise verifies you are on the same page.
A friend and I first met years ago. At that time, both of us had the feeling that we would one day work together. As the years past, I recognized the talent she could provide for my company, and so she was offered a position.
Team Maneuvers
Another team member, ‘Donna,’ did not agree with my decision. She found the new member’s continued statement, “I’ve never done that before, but I will learn,” to be irritating. Donna insisted that we were in need of someone with more experience. Her perspective was, the new member had never done any of the work before that would propel us forward. She repeatedly asked to have someone more seasoned take over the position.
We all admired Donna’s talent, but she is unable to see another perspective. Even worse she judges people. As one judges, it creates a totem pole syndrome which is damaging for maintaining a team spirit. On the other hand, varying insights among a strong collaborative team will enhance the vision and increase your success.
Time Tells All
Meanwhile, I saw that my new team member did love to learn. Even better, she mastered the assignments.
According to Elinor Stutz, Chief Business Development Officer for PWIC,
“Society and technology change so frequently, we must dedicate ourselves to continued learning for the journey ahead.”
To put this in perspective, upon becoming an entrepreneur she was advised to establish credibility by writing a book. She did, and her first attempt broke records. Upon presenting her original manuscript, the first publishing house gave her a resounding ‘Yes!’ The book, Nice Girls DO Get the Sale: Relationship Building That Gets Results was featured in TIME Magazine, and translated into several languages to become recognized as an International Best-Seller.
Eleven years later, men read the book and tweet about it for others to read. It has become a classic sales book that most do not achieve. She attributes the book’s success to her continued learning.
Time Investment and Reward
Elinor’s mantra is “Believe, Become, Empower.” A unique trait that I love is that Elinor mentors as she learns. The past few years, she studied marketing, how to build one’s personal brand, developed a power-branding strategy, and was an early adopter of social media. The learning becomes another form of mentoring as she documents all of it in her latest book, “The Wish: A 360-Degree Business Development Process that Fuels Sales.”
Further mentoring appears in her blogs, articles, and tweets. Her reward arrives in daily messages from followers declaring they learn a lot from all that she shares. All of these activities has her known globally and as a Top 1% Influencer. Most notable is she does everything with integrity. Any opportunity leaving a question mark will be declined.
Our Expert Team
We now have a synergistic team in place with each being a high-level expert. Our team goal for our growing company is to help women humanitarians make a bigger impact in society. Elinor is working with individuals and organizations to become involved and change more lives. The bonus is we are also a team of good friends.
Trust Your Vision
Some people will arrive to help you get to the next level, but once achieved they soon depart. Create your list of values and find those willing to adhere to them. Goals may change, but by maintaining your vision and priorities, you will remain on track and achieve more along the way.
Tips for Team Selection
1.Describe your mission to potential hires, and then have them interpret in their words what it means to them.
2.Discuss a tenuous situation and ask how the candidate would handle it for indication of moral values.
3.Hire people that have the natural talent for the work you need.
4.Be confident the team will enjoy working with the person asking to join.
5.Develop the team experience and create loyalty.
“Having a collaborative team in place promotes creative ideas and builds greater potential.”
“Find the joy in your work.” ~Valeri Bocage
View Our Team Making a Difference in Our World
Lead and Be A Champion!
We invite you to join us to make a difference in the world! Take a look at what some of our other members are doing:
Join PWIC ‘Women Humanitarian Leaders Global Map to showcase how you are making a difference. Complete our World Leader’s Map (No cost to complete the short form.) to showcase how you are making a difference in the world. The added benefit is to build a highly admired personal and company brand.
Some of our humanitarian Member Projects include:
•Burn Survivors
•Human Trafficking
•Reducing Recidivism
•Children at Risk
•Empowering Developing Countries
•Homelessness
Together WE can create a better world.
There are several ways you can join us in our efforts to make the world better:
1.Become a member of Powerful Women International Connections.
2.Contribute to our GoFundMe site above. (Any amount helps us to assist our members.)
3.Mark Your Calendar and plan to attend the Global Impact Conference August 10-11, 2017
With your help, we can expand our projects, unite more women humanitarian leaders, and help them make a bigger impact. For more information about the difference our members are making, visit www.pwiconnections.com/projects.html or emails us at info@pwiconnections.com and let us know about your project or desire to make the world better. We would love to hear from you!
We Invite You!
Email us at info@pwiconnections.com OR There are also many ways you can join us in our efforts to make the world a better place. Become a member. Let us know what you are doing to change lives!
Always include giving back to help change lives. That is where the juice of life is! We invite you to join us to make a difference in the world!
NOTE: By incorporating giving and helping communities of your choice, you will experience The Smooth Sale!
P.S. Send us your sales related questions to elinor@smoothsale.net
Visit Elinor’s Author Page: