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The Leadership Void

If there’s one thing retailers are typically good at it’s Store Operations.   There’s a checklist, process map or log book for just about everything.  Heck, the industry has even created task management software that resides in the cloud!   In a nutshell, retail is very good at the A + B + C = D stuff.

Another thing retail is very good at is promoting people from within.  It’s one of the great things about retail.  You can start out as a salesperson and before you know it you’re running a store or even a territory of stores.  Most of the VPs come from the stores too.   That produces a lot of consistent know-how across the organization when it comes to running the stores.

Therein lies the problem though.  We’re really good at managing.  But, there’s a lack of Leadership in most stores, territories and even senior management at times.

Our workforces have changed.  Once (not that long ago) you could just point and your people would move to action.  Being a manager of tasks was all you sometimes needed to be.  Now, you need to be an Influential Leader that people will want to follow. 

Think about this example.  Retailers have lots of standards in place that everyone is supposed to follow.  Truth is, compliance is always a struggle.  Why?  You look at anyone’s list of standards and you’ll discover there’s nothing very hard to do on the list.  Just point, and everyone should jump.  But they don’t.

If you created a culture of Responsibility in your company, territory or store then your standards would be complied with.  Why?  Because that culture of Responsibility stems from you becoming a Leader they don’t just want to follow … they also don’t want to let you down!

Leading, not managing, is what’s needed to get sustainable results from your stores.  Yet, rarely do retailers provide the Leadership training needed to their District Managers, stores and even VPs. 

That’s the Leadership Void.

And that’s why we are hosting the 2-Day Retail Leadership Summit in Toronto this June.  We’re aiming to close this Leadership Void by providing participants with the Leadership skills they need so badly.  It’s already 50% sold out.  If you see what I see when it comes to the importance of Leadership, then do yourself, your organization and your teams a favour and sign up today.

Blog Authors: Kevin

Kevin Graff

Kevin Graff is the main guy behind all things Graff Retail. A renowned retail expert, Kevin is recognized in the retail industry as a speaker, author and expert trainer. Kevin's main passion is to help retailers drive staff performance.

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