Retail Leadership Training
If Leaders Don’t Change, Neither Will Anyone Else
Clients frequently ask about how to get more accountability in their organization. They also worry about leaders accepting mediocre performance because the thought of recruiting a replacement just adds work to an overburdened schedule. So they struggle with employees who coast or have inconsistent performance. On the other hand, when we read employee blogs about…
Read MoreWhy You Should Rethink Your Approach to Retail Support Leadership Training
Management is about getting things done through people, so all management training programs can teach all managers how to do that. Or so the conventional wisdom goes. But ask leaders and managers in store support and home office roles about what they’re dealing with in the complex world of retail management, and that conventional wisdom…
Read MoreThe One Non-Negotiable for a Successful Retail Leadership Training Initiative
The other day I met with a team of senior L&D leaders from a well-known chain. They’re looking for leadership development across all levels of the organization—store leadership, multiunit management, and the home office. I knew they’d probably implemented some kind of leadership development programs in the past, so I wanted to get a better…
Read MoreWhy Retailers Are Paying Attention to Core Values
Over the last few weeks, at least four retailers have introduced themselves to us by talking about their core values. While values and mission statements have always been around, for many there seems to be a renewed sense of importance in connecting core values with learning and development initiatives. These retailers want to make sure…
Read MoreInterest in Retail Leadership Skills Heats Up
A new urgency for retail leaders and high-potentials to up their games and take on more responsibility has been driving an increasingly intense focus on retail store leadership training. We’re not only hearing about it from clients; it’s something you can see being played out in the news and in the leadership shuffles among major…
Read MoreRetail Store Leadership and the Value of Clarity
What do you mean? There are many phrases and words used every day, both in the stores and in corporate offices, to describe some action or expectation: “Get to this quickly.” “Be more proactive.” “Run the business like you own it.” “You should get the merchandise on the floor faster.” “You have to tell a…
Read MoreThe Power of Empathy
As we explore the topic of listening, and as we practice “listening to learn” in our workshops, I’ve noticed that participants often still define it in narrow terms. When they think of listening, they think about being intent and paying attention. They don’t think about the more active part of reflecting to gain insight. So reading…
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