Here’s an eagle’s eye view of the Six Essential Steps of Hostess Coaching. Following these simple steps will go a long way to ensuring the party is a success.

1. Initial Coaching – You will present her with her Hostess Handbook packet and review the first steps.
2. First Coaching Call –Check on her progress with her Guest List, provide guidance on how to make guest calls and encourage her to get the list to you within the next three days.
3. Second Coaching Call – Confirm receipt of her Party Guest List.
4. Final Coaching Call – Build her enthusiasm and confirm the last minute details including directions.
5. Pre-Party Coaching – Prior to the guests’ arrival, take ten minutes to 1) learn about the guests who are coming, 2) ask who is most likely to book a party and 3) determine who she thinks would make a great  Consultant or could use more fun or income in their lives.
6. Post-Party Coaching – Make the most of each party by contacting the “no-shows” and asking for a booking or a referral.

You should create a Hostess Handbook Packet for each hostess. The hostess packet contains everything your Hostess needs to plan for a successful party.

At AZULI SKYE we recommend the following:

The Hostess Handbook may be presented in a large white 9”x 12” envelope, a high-quality folder or an attractive gift bag. Your local Dollar Store should have a wonderful selection of attractive folders and gift bags at very reasonable prices.

Each Hostess Handbook packet should contain:

• 1 Catalog
• 2 Order Forms
• 1 AZULI SKYE Hostess Handbook
• 1  Hostess Rewards Flyer

Organization Tip: Many Consultants find it helpful to keep all Hostess Handbook supplies in hanging folders in a portable filing box or crate. When you need to assemble Hostess Handbooks, simply pull from each file folder and place them in the envelope.

In my next blog posting I’ll go over what you should do in each of the above steps.

When hostess coaching you should focus on 1)  building rapport, 2) increasing her motivation, 3) providing instruction, and 4) showing your appreciation.

Do these four things and you’ll have fewer cancellations, higher attendance, and more profits!

1. RAPPORT

Rapport is a harmonious connection shared between two people. When you build rapport with a Hostess, she senses you have a sincere interest in her. Interactions are warm and friendly and working together is fun and rewarding for both of you. Following are some ways to establish Hostess Rapport:

• Send a warm, handwritten note
• Find a common interest or hobby
• Express your interest in her
• Learn about her family
• Use her name often
• Offer sincere compliments

Perhaps the fastest and easiest way to build rapport with others is to commit to conducting your business with the five core principles of success. They are Trust, Respect, Service, Integrity and Authenticity. In fact, these five principles can do more to enhance your relationship with your Hostess than all of the above suggestions combined.

2. MOTIVATION

Each Hostess has a reason for holding her party, which falls into one of the categories listed below. Coach each Hostess according to her primary incentive to motivate her to work toward a successful party.

To receive free and discounted jewelry: Tell your Hostess: “I want to help you get all the free and half-price jewelry you’ve listed on your Wish List, so let’s set a goal to have at least 10 guests at your party!”

To help you build your business: Tell your Hostess: “Because I’m just starting out I need as many bookings as possible so please think of 3 or 4 people who may be interested in their own party.”  OR “I’m trying to win the Fast Start Reward Challenge. It would really mean a lot to me if we could shoot for $1000 in sales!”

3. INSTRUCTION

In addition to rapport and motivation, it is crucial that you provide each Hostess with the proper instructions on how to make her party a success. Follow the Six Keys to Effective Hostess Coaching and schedule frequent calls with your Hostess to ensure she understands the next steps to take.

4. APPRECIATION

As you work toward a successful party, keep in mind that your Hostess is your most important business partner. Recognize that she is taking her precious time to support you in your business and introduce you to her friends, relatives and co-workers. This gesture of confidence in you and your product line should be honored with a show of your sincere appreciation throughout the coaching process. When we honor and appreciate the people who support us along the way, we strengthen our relationships and therefore our business.

Hostess Coaching describes the frequent contact you have with your Hostess before her party to ensure its success. Coaching is one of the most critical aspects of your business because it greatly influences the sales and bookings that will result from each party.

Coaching is the motivation that keeps your Hostess working toward a successful party. When consultants nurture this relationship, they increase the party’s potential, as well as the potential of turning the Hostess into a consultant.

There are many ways a Hostess can be coached toward a successful party. I’ll present the best ideas, each of them proven by experience, to be successful. As you develop your Hostess coaching skills, gradually implement the ideas presented in this blog so that your parties consistently generate high sales, bookings and new Consultants.

What Needs To Be In Place?

The success of a party is directly related to the quantity and quality of your contact with the Hostess. A study conducted by AZULI SKYE identified poor communication as one of the greatest frustrations of a Hostess. You can avoid this by keeping in touch and clearly communicating her role in making the party a success.

Consultants who wish to build their business quickly and efficiently ensure a high level of excellence by understanding four elements that maximize every party’s results: Hostess rapport, motivation, instruction and appreciation. These are the keys to more sales, bookings and sponsoring leads.