When most people see the acronym T.E.A.M. their first thoughts are typical; together, everyone achieves more. And, that’s a great one and one we most certainly use. However, in this post, we want to show you another powerful way to use this acronym; Teach, Enforce, Advocate and Model.
We believe this one perfectly fits influencers, entrepreneurs, small business owners, network marketers, etc.
It encompasses some of the best leaders’ more common traits and touches on a few that are sometimes forgotten or overlooked. Now, of course, these can be modified and/or adapted to fit your specific needs, but it shouldn’t take away from the underlying definition.
Let’s get started.
TEACH, ENFORCE, ADVOCATE, MODEL | the breakdown
We will break each of the ‘letters ‘down for you paired with an example or two for reference. Then, once you’ve gone through each of them, please take a few minutes to figure out how to apply them in your own business. It’s great to do this as you go through because it’s fresh in your mind.
TEACH
This is probably one of the more obvious ones, right? Teaching should include your prospects, customers, team members and colleagues. Think of ways always to find lessons that others can benefit from and relate to. Maybe you teach best through what you learned through your own mistakes or teach your audience something that you are great at!
Teaching is always an excellent way for others to view you as an expert in your niche. It can be delivered through a variety of mediums too;
- video
- blogging
- social posts
- images
… and so on. Please select the one(s) that fit best for you and get it out there!
ENFORCE
It sounds a bit militant, but please know it does not need to be at all. We can enforce different things with others; boundaries, deadlines, expectations, etc. More than anything, the enforcement should (or could) be personal for you. Be transparent with how you make yourself available to others, the respect you give to receive, how you adhere to commitments and so on.
Now, there may be things you need to enforce with others, but since you are striving for leadership or influence, you want to be very mindful of how you convey that enforcement.
ADVOCATE
Since many of our readers are in the relationship marketing business, this one is huge. You want to advocate for your customers’ needs and wants. Be vocal with your company or colleagues that customer care should always be a top priority. Use your voice to impact others and speak up for those still finding theirs.
Advocate in T.E.A.M. will look different depending on your niche, but the bottom line is that if you have customers, there are many opportunities this can be implemented. Additionally, speaking up for someone or ‘having someone’s back ‘when they need support goes a long way for lasting professional (and personal) relationships.
MODEL
Last but certainly not least, the ‘M ‘in T.E.A.M. is probably among the most important. Modelling what you expect of others is critical in a team environment, right? People are looking to you for support, mentorship or guidance — give them something good to look up to.
People who are customers or team members are looking for the things you do more than the things you say. So how can someone buy into something you’re selling without using the products or tools yourself? Model the right behaviors, creating loyal fans and loyal partners.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our take on the acronym T.E.A.M. and naturally are curious if there are other ways of using this one that you are familiar with. I look forward to reading your comments!
