Communications

[hereticus]

Item 4 of the agenda for the advisor feedback seminars is :

''Communications - mechanics, frequency, subjects, advisor website / chatroom''

I've seen very few comments posted on this topic so just want to give it a gentle nudge. I imagine that what is intended is a discussion about such things as weekly mailers, fax-vs-email, tracking reports, sales talk magazine, team meetings, etc - I'm sure there must be some frustrations or ideas out there so please post.

One biggy in this category is that we have been promised a number of times that this forum would be publicised to all agents - but it hasn't happended yet, so this is a definite breakdown in communications. Perhaps we could suggest that instead of a simple mention we should get a full page feature, and maybe include a photo of Motters and Mellisa together (at the Leeds seminar) to show that, independant and outspoken as we must be, we are civilised about it and seeking ways to work together for a 'better future' for all.

[Augustus]

hahaha , we wouldn't want to put people off !

a photo might be a little too much, but I will be pushing hard for this forum to made totally public.

If this was the case then I'd better make sure I have a shave !


'On topic' - the monthly reports needs scrapping or just sending via email - it will save them a fortune.

The figures are always way out anyway, I had a lead effect of over 40,000 % one month !
We should all be able to keep our own figures - or maybe something tagged into SAM ?

Why send things in the post if we can have email ? Some weeks I still get both dispite having told them a number of times just to email.


P.

[nonails]

hereticus said:

Item 4 of the agenda for the advisor feedback seminars is :

''Communications - mechanics, frequency, subjects, advisor website / chatroom''

I've seen very few comments posted on this topic so just want to give it a gentle nudge. I imagine that what is intended is a discussion about such things as weekly mailers, fax-vs-email, tracking reports, sales talk magazine, team meetings, etc - I'm sure there must be some frustrations or ideas out there so please post.

One biggy in this category is that we have been promised a number of times that this forum would be publicised to all agents - but it hasn't happended yet, so this is a definite breakdown in communications. Perhaps we could suggest that instead of a simple mention we should get a full page feature, and maybe include a photo of Motters and Mellisa together (at the Leeds seminar) to show that, independant and outspoken as we must be, we are civilised about it and seeking ways to work together for a 'better future' for all.

This offer to publicise was the Mellisa idea. Seen postings on her ability to "talk the talk, but inability to walk the walk" here earlier.
Think it over.
Hillarys have used " Divide & Rule" management techniques successfully for them in the past 3/4 years.
Now why on earth would you want to assist your slaves to formulate what in your eyes is a revolt, by assisting them to get together and bring about awful things like regional meetings North & South.

Its bad enough from Managements viewpoint that we have got this far WITHOUT an organised publicity campaign to boost the numbers.
Think how we will progress when we ARE acknowledged by Hillarys as a voice for Agents.

The peasants are revolting--Watt Tyler come back , all is forgiven.

Nonails

[Blind Scout]

Team meetings

These used to be 2 way discussion events, with advisors being able to cross fertilize ideas with other agents. After being stopped under the old Area Managers regime, our FSM has re-introduced 1/4 meets, but they now tend to be one way. In fact my FSM usually asks me to keep it positive and not to raise problems in front of other agents.

If these meets were run properly and feedback from agents taken to regional Managers meets, then to board, we wouldn't be having this forum now. We would all still be happy agents.

[grumperbear]

The quarterly meetings are all one way. Any other business is never on the agenda and is not allowed. They say things like if you have anything to say, see me in the bar afterwards, then its not raised in a formal manner and is not discussed at all. i.e it never happened.

Keep it positive as their are new agents at this meeting and we do not want to put them off.

Health and Safety never mentioned.----- as if they care.


The only time l have contact with my fsm is at these meetings.

[Bear]

grumperbear said:

The quarterly meetings are all one way. Any other business is never on the agenda and is not allowed. They say things like if you have anything to say, see me in the bar afterwards, then its not raised in a formal manner and is not discussed at all. i.e it never happened.

Keep it positive as their are new agents at this meeting and we do not want to put them off.

Health and Safety never mentioned.----- as if they care.


The only time l have contact with my fsm is at these meetings.

FranklyQuarterly meetings are a joke.

You get threatened by Manager if you bring up a contentious point.
See me in the bar afterwards.
If you bother to do that, you get the "Its only you, Bull***t".
I have not been to the last 2 meetings and will miss the next if the format is the same as before.

I propose we give the next quarterly meeting a miss in protest at the dictatorial way it is run.

What have you ever brought away from a meeting that improved your day-to-day job. Sod all. So why go?

Any one think similar?

[Augustus]

I'm affraid I have to agree.

The meetings are no longer 'meetings' instead a presentation with a school like routine asking us to name four ways of this or four ways of that.

Playing with figures like einstein so it looks like HQ were right all along !!!


I for one, would be mch happier having this presentation sent to me either by post or email so we can get on with earning the money.

They have already cut back the evening meets so they don't have to payout for a bar bill or any food.

Why not cut out the meetings all together and save on the cost of the room aswell !!!


P.

[grumperbear]

lt was mentioned at the last meeting in Nov that if you did not attend meetings they would terminate your contract. lt would be OK to miss the odd meeting as you might be at work (part time Hillarys agents), but if you do not attend for several meetings it was threatened that you would be terminated.

[gloryboy]

Hillarys want a uniform approach from agents with customers in Aberdeen having the same 'Hillarys experience' as those in Exeter, yet there is such a mish mash approach from HO when it comes to Communication.
I'll get a letter/memo from my fsm one day, next day a text message, next day an email and if i'm lucky the next time a phone call. (obviously these are seperated by weeks not days!).
if i send an email to one department i get an automated reply advising me it will be dealt with, send another email to a different dept. and i'll receive a personal email from the person who has dealt with my request.
One day clc and sales support ring me on my mobile the next they ring the land line. Some leave detailed messages some enough to let me know they've called and i have to guess the rest.
If i ring sales support for any reason one person wants the customer number, the next time i ring this person wants the order number, but it could be the system number, post code, next door neighbours date of birth. (ok not the neighbour).
do you get my drift?

[dodgybracket]

I will definitely miss the next quarterly meeting.
30 miles there and 30 back to listen to " Didn't we do well" Everythings great" while back at the ranch they have thought up yet another way to increase our costs or lower the service

I am another for the Quarterly meeting boycott.

Come on folks --Imagine a meeting with only 2 turning up out of 30 or 40.
NOW WOULD THAT SEND A MESSAGE --OR WHAT?
-and there is a saving in it for you--you could work or not and you save the costs of the time and diesel!!!

I agree with Bear--What did I ever gain from attending a
Hillary meeting. Go to one--and you've gone to the lot!!


Dodgybracket

[dodgybracket]

grumperbear said:

lt was mentioned at the last meeting in Nov that if you did not attend meetings they would terminate your contract. lt would be OK to miss the odd meeting as you might be at work (part time Hillarys agents), but if you do not attend for several meetings it was threatened that you would be terminated.

Speaking of Contract, as you do above, has anyone actually got a signed copy of one??

If so can you look and see if it says they can sack you for not attending the Party Meetings ( Hitler had the same rule if you missed a Nazi Party meeting--honestly--check it out)

I do wonder where it is all going

[russell]

thing is dodgy they dont need to sack you a loss of all leads is all it usually takes be careful of not attending fsm meets because from experiance most say lets not turn up and then they do so your left holding the can lets see if this forum changes things its a good start hillarys must read this site and must be aware of the feelings we have if they dont start to listen it will be a loss on both sides of the fence

[nonails]

newbold said:

I agree 100% with everything you said there Motters, and Bear if everybody agrees then stay away

Ok OWL , Count me in as another absentee for the next
Festival of Hillarys slapping their own back.

I have been to one of the last 4 quarterly meetings, and it made me sick.

The FSM thingy stood up and used two Agents names & Numbers stating one had a super "Lead Effect" because they worked hard and self generated and tried to succed, Then the FSM twit said the other one doesnt try and has £100 lower Lead Effect figure.

WHAT IT FAILED TO ADD WAS THAT THE BETTER AGENT WORKED IN THE "NOB HILL" END OF TOWN AND POSH VILLAGES, AND THE OTHER AGENT DID POST CODES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CITY FLOGGING CLOUDS INTO COUNCIL ESTATES, WIPING HIS FEET AS HE LEFT.

Totally unfair comparison, twisting facts to fit a lying story. THAT is the Hillary Way.

Why would I ever want to go and listen to an evening of this cr** EVER again??

Nonails

[JoY]

dodgybracket said:

I will definitely miss the next quarterly meeting.
30 miles there and 30 back to listen to " Didn't we do well" Everythings great" while back at the ranch they have thought up yet another way to increase our costs or lower the service

I am another for the Quarterly meeting boycott.

Come on folks --Imagine a meeting with only 2 turning up out of 30 or 40.
NOW WOULD THAT SEND A MESSAGE --OR WHAT?
-and there is a saving in it for you--you could work or not and you save the costs of the time and diesel!!!

I agree with Bear--What did I ever gain from attending a
Hillary meeting. Go to one--and you've gone to the lot!!


Dodgybracket

We have only 9 advisors at our meeting in February, and our FSM has very kindly removed all our availabilty from our diarys for the evening, just so we can go.

[RED]

I can not for the life of me work out why people are talking badly about the quarterly meetings.
I know sometimes it is not that relevant for us out in the field, but these meetings were brought about at the request of advisor's in the first place. So as to be better informed and be able to meet other advisor's in the area.
It seems pointless degrading something that advisor's wanted and asked for.
Red