The difference between a wildly successful season and a good or bad one almost always comes down to one element. The difference won’t be the economy, the political landscape, what the competition does, or how you do your windows.
The difference will be you.
There is an intangible vibe that separates a winning season – and a winning store – from all the rest.
It is a result of YOU.
You are the leader and you have a great effect on your team.
These intangibles directly impact each customer’s experience and, ultimately, store results, in either a positive or negative way. They are the difference between a wildly successful season and one that’s not.
Want To Fix It? It Is As easy as ABC
Attitude
Well-led, winning teams are excited about what is coming up next. They know that a new season is busy and exhausting sometimes – but they’re also eager to get started because they know that it is fun to keep moving forward and sharing new items with customers. At the same time they are committed to getting rid of those last few sale items because they want them gone!
In the so-so stores, the staff is dreading the next season. They’re talking about how difficult it is to re-merchandise everything, how much inventory there is to check in, and about how they believe everyone is tired of winter and certainly not ready to think about the next season..
The attitude of the leader is the attitude of the team. Period. Everytime.
With what behavior/action do you successfully demonstrate a winning attitude?
What behavior or action could you execute better to demonstrate a winning attitude?
Beliefs
Well-led, winning teams believe they control what happens this next season. They don’t dismiss how challenging the economy is for a lot of people, but they also know they have the products and store experience that people will pay for.
They’re ready!
So-so teams are already preparing to struggle. Maybe even fail. They’ve been told that customers only buy on price so they just do the best they can. And no one wants to buy now!! Unfortunately for them, when the bar is set so low, even the best isn’t going to be good enough.
Staff beliefs come directly from the leader.
With what behavior/action do you successfully demonstrate winning beliefs?
What behavior or action could you execute better to demonstrate winning beliefs?
Certainty
You have to KNOW that you will have a fantastic season. You have to be certain of it. As God says “Take every thought Captive” that might tell you otherwise!
That certainty – along with your attitude and beliefs, make a difference that can be felt in your store. Customers can feel the energy and passion from a well-led team. Energized teams have a bounce in their step as they work the floor and enthusiastically welcome every customer into their store. The busier it gets, the more energized this winning team will be.
Not so for the so-so teams. Maybe they’ll find it when the season is in full swing – but if they don’t have the energy now I’m not sure they’ll get it later. Also they will have already lost many sales.
The daily energy level of the leader sets the energy level for the team.
With what behavior/action do you successfully demonstrate winning energy?
What behavior or action could you execute better to demonstrate winning energy?
As a leader, all you have to do is look around to see what your attitude, beliefs and conviction are. Your team is reflecting them back to you today.
What I know for sure is that how you feel about your team is how you feel about yourself.
So let me ask, are you leading a winning team?
Happy Profitable Retailing!
