Those who are intentional achieve more.  We know this is true.  Why?  Our daily To-Do lists are full and constantly being buffeted by new priorities someone else adds or that appear out of nowhere from the dynamic business envirnonment called retail.  What we’ve observed as a best practice is that multiunit managers and others who are particularly good at their job share a common best practice of being intentional.  They are clear about the purpose of each of their interactions.  Why am I on this conference call?  What is the message I want to convey in this email?  How can I make this store visit most productive?  They ask these questions and others to get clear on what they want to accomplish and why.

Being intentional also requires being in the moment.  Being present.  One of the most effective ways to do that is to use a set of core communication skills when communicating.  Regardless of the mode of communication; email, voicemail, conference call, or in-person meetings.  Choosing to use all four of the skills whenever you communicate forces you to be present.  To think about the other person or people who will be receiving this message.  To include the reason or why you are requesting them to change or add something to their day. To show that you understand by reflecting a summary of what they have said not just say “I understand.”

When you choose to use the skills in each of your daily interactions it slows you down.  Slow down you say!  I can’t!  But you must in order to be intentional, purposeful.  To really make a difference and have an impact.

What does being intentional means to you?  Share your thoughts here or tweet us @mohrretail.  In retail, every day is a chance to learn. MOHR.

Posted in Editorial
mm

About MOHR Retail

For more than 30 years, MOHR Retail has developed the critical people-to-people skills needed to create results in the retail industry—and we’re just getting started. Through innovative classroom and online learning methods, as well as our ongoing national retail research projects, we continue to stay on top of the trends so we can fuel the success of specialty stores, chain stores, outlets, catalogue retailers, department stores, and more. Nowhere does learning meet experience as it does in a MOHR Retail training program.