October FAQ - Mentally Ready For The Busiest Season
One Friday each month, I dedicate the post to looking at some questions I have heard recently from developing leaders. Sharing those questions and my thoughts for them is a way for me to spread the information to as many leaders and future leaders as possible. If you have a question about leadership, or just a situation you would like some additional insight on, please email me at Effective Retail Leader. Let’s take a look at this week’s question.
We are entering our busiest season, and my experience tells me that this is also a month where all the expenses get really reviewed and there is a lot of pressure to close the year out in a strong way. How do I prepare myself to be ready for this in the best way, and like- my team energized for this busy time?
A great question. Sometimes the calendar, especially fiscal calendars, seem to conspire against us. There is so much activity happening every day in a retail store, and this is especially true in what most companies have as their fourth quarter. And even if your fiscal calendars may not be the end of the year, the holiday season does span a quarter, and many of the same financial considerations come into play. Let’s break down a few things you can do to be proactive in how you approach the end of a quarter or year while still anticipating the asks for expense management and maximizing sales and output.
Know the business
It sounds like in this case, our reader has been through a peak season with their company and is already anticipating what will be coming their way. That is a great starting point: know the flow of the business, when it gets busiest, and what the common asks from the company will be. If you are new to your company, your industry, or retail in general, this is a great time to reach out to a trusted partner to ask about what is coming. Just having a mental image of what to expect goes a long way in being prepared.
From that point, I would recommend building a weekly plan now for the rest of the year, even if it is just making notes about what you expect will be happening each week. If you look at the week before Christmas, you may make notes of:
busiest week and weekend, even more than the few days before Christmas. Review the schedule and have backup plans for each day to be prepared for callouts. Remind team now about requests off and how you are handling those. This is also the second-to-last week of the year, and the DM will be closely managing payroll, keep that in mind with the schedule and sales. Schedule daily meetings with the team to keep them informed of selling, tasks we need to complete, and our results.
Even something as simple as this can help you prepare, but also serve you well when you get to December and review your thoughts from when you weren't in the middle of the craziness. Doing this ahead of time will also allow you to continue to think about and consider options and alternatives as the season progresses. Make sure you have a plan to review your notes each week as well. Make adjustments to future weeks as needed based on trends for this year.
Keep your team informed
Communication still remains the most critical element of success. Keeping your leadership team involved in what is happening or changing along the way will ensure they feel engaged and comfortable with what is going on. Regular huddles and stand-up meetings with your team will accomplish the same thing. Be honest. There is no question that most companies ask for more (sales) with less (payroll). That is just a fact right now. Every field leader I speak to says the same thing about feeling pressure to do more with less. That just puts a premium on planning and communication. The ones I see flourishing in these moments are the ones that have built a strong team around them and use them effectively to manage the business. Role clarity and continual feedback define success.
In these peak moments of the business, everyone knowing what is happening around them, and the role they play in it, can make the difference in a team feeling energized by the business or drained and frustrated. Your role as the leader is not to be running the fastest or furthest, but helping the team maintain their pace and objectives.
Celebrate, recognize, and reward
During these times of the year, celebrating every success is vital. It’s always valuable, but it carries more weight during these busy times of the year. Every day you achieve your sales plan, celebrate with your team. If you are playing catch up on sales, celebrate the steps forward. When people are making the contributions you expect, call that out and acknowledge it. Sometimes it can feel like you are rewarding people for “doing their job,” and to a degree that may be true, but everyone wants to know they are doing what they are supposed to. And I have never seen harm come from too much recognition as long as it stays genuine and specific to what you’ve asked. Celebrate on both a personal level and the group level. Expenses might be tight, but even a small gesture of cupcakes on a Saturday afternoon can go a long way in acknowledging the team’s efforts and hard work. Don’t take anything for granted and let them know how much you appreciate what they are doing.
The end of the year is hard in any business. Whether you’re part of a public company or a private one, results matter. Whether it is because they have to report to Wall Street or just interested investors, every company wants to succeed and needs these peak seasons to deliver positive results. Having a plan, keeping the team informed, and celebrating every step along the way will help you be prepared and stay ahead of the curve throughout the season. Good luck and cheers to a strong finish to your year.
What else are you doing to prepare yourself and your team for the peak season?
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