[:en]It’s hard to build a successful “team.” And make sure you consider that word carefully!
A “team” doesn’t just refer to the people you work with. If that’s what the word means to you, then you have a team achieving sub-standard performance.
Rather, a true team is a group of people who work together to achieve a common goal and higher performance they couldn’t otherwise on their own. Now, it’s hard to accomplish this in real life because you have so many different people with conflicting personalities. But, to get your business to the top, you must make it happen. So, you’re wise to constantly struggle and strive to create truly successful teams.
In retail, whether you’re referring to your pick and pack team, customer service (either on the floor or online), or your associates on the floor, how do you get the best out of them?
Here’s some tips:
It’s so easy to fall into the trap of pointing out where your employees are wrong and how they need to improve.
But remember that’s only part of the recipe for success. If it’s the only approach you use, you run down workplace morale.
Make it a point to include positive workplace recognition, while also avoiding perceived favoritism.
Of course, ideally you’ll want both. But, if you want to consistently perform well, always go with cooperative, willing-to-learn employees who respect your company, rather than competent employees who selfishly put themselves first. You might even consider interviewing multiple prospects at once to see how they interact with others so you get a sense of their attitude.
Of course, there’s much more to creating an all-star retail team. But for now, you have a solid foundation to work from.[:]
