Reflection-Storytelling: People First

Challenge

I work as a store manager in an apparel store owned by my family. Prior to me, my brother was the  store manager for the same store. The business was set up with a goal to open one store first and  establish it in the market by building a brand name that customers could relate to, and then  subsequently open more stores.

However, these plans got stalled when the very first store that we opened started making losses,  despite having the best stock, competitive prices and highly experienced sales staff. All this was  happening during the time when my brother was the store manager. Thus this was a big problem that  had come and needed to be resolved.

Selection

After a few months, and numerous family discussions, it was decided that I should replace my brother  as the store manager and take charge of the store operations. This entire exercise was done for the  prime reason to understand what is the problem and what are the ways to fix it.

Application

So I got on the job really quick, with finding out what is wrong. I devised a strategy to look in for the  problems and the reasons for the failure. Thus I started with inspecting the stock, finding out our  pricing as compared to the competitors, understanding the customer trends, and also started talking  to the store staff – sales and helping staff both in order to understand what is the problem.

Insight

After all the inspection, I figured that the problem was neither with the stock as we had the best stock  in the market nor with the pricing as our prices were quite competitive.

So the real problem was the sales staff and helping staff. Despite them being highly experienced, they  lacked motivation. They knew what to sell, how to sell and to whom to sell, but they were  demotivated, and this was primarily because though they were getting their salaries and on time, but  they were not feeling valued at work. And this was the reason that was affecting them and their work,  which ultimately was affecting the store sales and thus the store was having losses.

Approach

To address this problem, I chose the storytelling approach. I started talking to the staff – sales and  helping both, each one of them individually in order to understand their side of the story, what is that  they expect from the employer and is lacking and how it can be improved to make them happy &  satisfied at work. I heard their stories from their previous jobs and even asked them to narrate their  happy and sad stories with their current job, in order to understand the real picture.

After hearing these stories, and figuring the real cause of the problem, I chose to adopt the storytelling  approach to address this problem. I narrated them my life story, even made up some stories so that  they can relate to them and seek inspirations from them. In order to regain their confidence, I started  interacting with them on a daily basis just like a family member with hearing their stories about their  daily activities, their family, their problems and try to give solutions or advices, all of this in order to  make them feel comfortable and important. Also rewarding them with small gifts from time to time,  celebrating festivals, birthday’s and small occasions to make them feel loved. All this helped in a major  way and soon all the staff members seemed to be very happy and motivated. And the ultimate goal  was achieved, we not only made the store profitable but also opened many other stores as planned.


Reflection - Storytelling : People First Challenge I work as a store manager in an apparel store owned by my family . Prior to me , my brother was the store manager for the same store . The business was set up with a goal to open one store first and establish it in the market by building a brand name that customers could relate to , and then subsequently open more stores . However , these plans got stalled when the very first store that we opened started making losses , despite having the best stock , competitive prices and highly experienced sales staff . All this was happening during the time when my brother was the store manager . Thus this was a big problem that had come and needed to be resolved . Selection After a few months , and numerous family discussions , it was decided that I should replace my brother as the store manager and take charge of the store operations . This entire exercise was done for the prime reason to understand what is the problem and what are the ways to fix it . Application So I got on the job really quick , with finding out what is wrong . I devised a strategy to look in for the problems and the reasons for the failure . Thus I started with inspecting the stock , finding out our pricing as compared to the competitors , understanding the customer trends , and also started talking to the store staff – sales and helping staff both in order to understand what is the problem . Insight After all the inspection , I figured that the problem was neither with the stock as we had the best stock in the market nor with the pricing as our prices were quite competitive . So the real problem was the sales staff and helping staff . Despite them being highly experienced , they lacked motivation . They knew what to sell , how to sell and to whom to sell , but they were demotivated , and this was primarily because though they were getting their salaries and on time , but they were not feeling valued at work . And this was the reason that was affecting them and their work , which ultimately was affecting the store sales and thus the store was having losses . Approach To address this problem , I chose the storytelling approach . I started talking to the staff – sales and helping both , each one of them individually in order to understand their side of the story , what is that they expect from the employer and is lacking and how it can be improved to make them happy & satisfied at work . I heard their stories from their previous jobs and even asked them to narrate their happy and sad stories with their current job , in order to understand the real picture . After hearing these stories , and figuring the real cause of the problem , I chose to adopt the storytelling approach to address this problem . I narrated them my life story , even made up some stories so that they can relate to them and seek inspirations from them . In order to regain their confidence , I started interacting with them on a daily basis just like a family member with hearing their stories about their daily activities , their family , their problems and try to give solutions or advices , all of this in order to make them feel comfortable and important . Also rewarding them with small gifts from time to time , celebrating festivals , birthday ’s and small occasions to make them feel loved . All this helped in a major way and soon all the staff members seemed to be very happy and motivated . And the ultimate goal was achieved , we not only made the store profitable but also opened many other stores as planned .