4 More Things That Can Limit Retail Store Managers From Reaching Their Full Potential
Last month I shared some areas that may become roadblocks for reaching your full potential. I have received a lot of positive feedback from that and the desire for some other areas that may be barriers to success. So, here are four additional potential hazards that store leaders (or any leader for that matter) can be conscious of, and avoid.
Not Trying New Things
It can be easy to stick to the status quo, the same routines day in and day out. In order to get ahead, it is important to try new ideas. They do not have to be completely disruptive in nature, although those are sometimes good things too. Perhaps you can reverse the order in which you or your team does some of their work. Just changing it up a little bit can breathe new life into something that has become monotonous. You may ask your team for their ideas on how to shift the habits up a bit. Don’t be afraid to try something, even for a short period of time to see what impact it may have. Different is good.
Not reaching out to peers inside and outside your district
This one is outside of many people’s comfort zone, especially reaching out to people you may not know. Take comfort in the idea that you all have something in common. I promise if you phone another a store manager, whether you know them or not, they have experienced the same challenge you are facing at some point in their career. I believe that once you make the phone call you will wonder why you didn’t do it sooner. Not only can it be an excellent way to learn something new, it may create a new partnership that can be leveraged in many different ways for the future.
Not planning your week and updating for each day
I have written numerous articles on how important planning is for any store leader. Two of the most popular - Your Path to Success is Paved With Planning and Plan Today for a Great Tomorrow – 3 Ideas to Set Yourself Up for Success provide some ideas on how you can get started if you are not already in the habit of planning ahead. Setting aside some time at the beginning of each week to plan the upcoming seven days can be a game-changer for you and your team. Understand that your plans will change along the way—this is retail after all—but having a good feel for what is on the horizon will make it much easier to adapt and adjust throughout the week when you started with a plan to begin with. Take time each day to update your plan and prioritize what needs to happen for the day ahead. You can do this each morning, or update at the end of the previous day so you can hit the ground running the next morning. Planning will absolutely make a difference in how you lead, follow up, and deliver results.
Not creating a culture of accountability
Accountability Isn’t a Four-Letter Word. Accountability may be the most overused and misunderstood word in retail leadership. (Focus is right up there with it.) Having a culture of doing what you say you are going to do is a good thing. That is all accountability is about. Do not confuse it with performance management. Lack of accountability may lead down that path, but that can be controlled by an individual’s actions. Having a culture of accountability ensures that everyone plays their role, knows what is expected of them, and expects that there will be follow up on the tasks and projects that are assigned to them. All of these things also create a high level of engagement. When team members know that you are providing them opportunities to do new things, gain knowledge, and results in a positive contribution to the team, they will continue to engage at a high level.By themselves, none of these seem too difficult or special, but as you work towards incorporating all of them into your leadership style and routines you will continue to grow into a leader others choose to follow. If you have found yourself stuck with some of the potential obstacles mentioned here or in the previous article, take a moment to think about how you can tackle just one of them now. Determine what that first step is to try something new and take action on it. It can make a big difference in where you find yourself in a couple of weeks or months down the road - all for the positive.Join other retail leaders in continuing their development journey with Effective Retail Leader.com. SUBSCRIBE today to receive FREE leadership tips directly to your inbox and monthly newsletters that provide many tools to help further develop your leadership skills all at no cost. JOIN NOW!No spam ever - just leadership goodness.Photo by Arya Meher on Unsplash