Connecting Our Three Degrees of Separation
The Independent Sales Field + The Corporate Executive Teams + The Supplier as Partner Resource
The Direct Selling Channel has always been built on relationships, trust and shared growth.
And, within this very human business model, there are three distinct perspectives that shape how we each experience it.
There are many of us who have had the opportunity to serve and experience this industry from three distinct vantage points representing our uniquely positioned three degrees of separation:
The Sales Field
The Corporate Executive Team
The Supplier Partner Community
Each of these participants plays an essential role. Each brings valuable insight because each views, practices and supports direct selling via its own unique lens.
Our Independent Sales Field
Where Connection Begins
Where relationships are built and brands actually come to life. Where …
Products are shared person-to-person
Stories are born and told
Customers become part of something larger
Distributors become leaders and find their stride
As a result of this relationship-driven distributor and customer interface there exists huge potential for previously unrealized brand insights.
How are you cultivating the connection and conversation? How are you creating a bridge between the distributor experience and corporate strategy?
There is something powerful that happens when the voice of your sales field is heard.
Inside the Company
When Vision Becomes Strategy
Identifying, defining and executing on brand initiatives is nothing short of a balancing act to determine:
Long-term sustainability
Brand consistency
Regulatory environments
Technology and infrastructure
Growth across multiple markets
AND do we have Sales Field buy-in
This is an activity that requires extensive connection and conversation across ALL participants … Sales Field, Executive teams and Supplier partners.
Enter… The Opportunity to Deepen Connection
When the company’s executive teams:
Create consistent ways to listen and learn from the field …
Invite sales field perspective earlier into planning conversations …
Welcome supplier insight as part of strategic thinking …
… it allows strategy to be shaped with greater clarity, relevance and ultimately the buy-in from the Sales Field.
The more connected the executive teams are to the “walk in our shoes” experiences of the sales field, the more naturally strategy translates into action.
The Supplier Partner Community
Where Perspective Broadens
Supplier Partners bring an often underappreciated perspective to the Direct Selling Ecosystem.
They frequently work across multiple organizations, industries and growth stages - offering a broader view of what is evolving, what is resonating/working, and what is possible.
When Suppliers are identified as extensions of our business infrastructure they can and will…
Share ideas earlier and more proactively
Align recommendations with business goals
Take time to understand both field experience and corporate priorities
… they move beyond execution into meaningful collaboration.
This is when the 3 degrees of separation…
The Sales Field brings the customer and live brand awareness
The Company brings structure and sustainability
The Supplier Partner brings breadth of insight, perspective and support
… becomes a purposeful collaboration.
For your consideration…
In direct selling, we focus on growth strategies, systems and performance.
However, at its core, Direct Selling has always been about people working together toward something meaningful.
When we take the time to understand our respective roles… to listen a little more closely… collaborate a little earlier… our people strengthen as does our business!
And perhaps, we realize that we were just not that far apart to begin with.
Just three degrees.
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