As the end of January nears, you should already have some solid plans in place for a successful year. Being an effective convenience store manager is a tough job, but with the right planning and the right skills, you can make 2016 a year for the record books. Keep these key strategies in mind:
Execute Smart Staffing
As more jobs become available outside our industry, the labor pool for good employees is shrinking. While having a full staff is imperative to your success, don’t make the mistake of filling positions with anyone who can pass the background check. Balance your short-term c-store staffing needs with your long term company goals by:
- Evaluating personality traits as well as skill sets.
- Providing an excellent orientation program that ensures a consistent knowledge base for all employees.
- Use on-the-job training and an ongoing training program to reinforce employees’ skills and increase their confidence.
Be a Leader, Not a Boss
Your employees need a leader, not just a boss. Set leadership goals that are focused on what you should be doing for your employees rather than what they should be doing for you. Follow the acronym READ: Respect, Expectations, Advancement and Development.
- Show your employees you respect them by recognizing the challenges they face and telling them you appreciate their hard work.
- Set clear expectations for job performance and customer service. The more clear you are with your expectations, the more likely employees are to exceed them.
- Provide opportunities for advancement. Set employees on a path for career progression that leads to a promising future in our industry.
- Employees are an investment in your company, so treat them that way. Develop their skills through effective training every day.
Develop Effective Training Plans
As a c-store manager, to have a successful training program you must have clearly defined goals. When you have well thought-out c-store training objectives, it will show in how your employees treat your customers and, in turn, how your customers feel about your operation. Follow these steps:
- For every aspect of every position, answer this important question: “Why am I doing this?”
- Identify performance gaps and determine the best training to fill those gaps.
- Put a plan for long-term training success in place with on-the-job-training and mentoring.
Coming up in February, we’ll cover more strategies to secure your success in 2016. Stay tuned!
