Lasting engagement
Store managers are under significant pressure. They are the ones who bring corporate strategies to life in the stores, a crucial link between the higher-level planning and day-to-day employee actions. It's their leadership that solidifies the team's commitment and injects the company's values into the store's daily rhythm.
Managers typically oversee around 80% of a company's personnel and yet, organizations are more focused in delivering human-centric skill training to senior HQ rather than frontline leaders. Despite 70% of frontline leaders being interested in developing leadership skills only 48% had the chance to do so in 2022, according to Harvard Business Publishing Corporate Learning study, “Leadership Reframed for the Workplace of the Future: 10 Capabilities and 7 Superpowers,”. The result is a deep-rooted sense of hopelessness and burnout. Managers are increasingly feeling detached from their work, leading many to consider stepping away from their roles.
Why does it matter?
Managers are often the glue holding teams together. They are responsible for rolling out new strategies and driving the adoption of transformative business operations, like the integration of new technologies. When they're overwhelmed, the ripple effect touches everyone, impacting employee morale and customer experiences alike.
When you invest in managers and help them become great leaders, you're not just empowering individuals; you're creating a ripple effect of positive culture, motivated teams, and increased sales.
Phil Vickers
Director of Human Resources at Charles Tyrwhitt
Managers have a huge impact on how much their team cares about work — they drive 70% of the team's energy and passion. When we back our managers, we build a place where every employee wants to do their best. This discretionary effort from the team can make customers happier and more loyal. In short, when we support our managers, we create a winning environment for everyone, from our staff to our shoppers, paving the way for our business to succeed.
Reframing your relationship
Store managers are crucial to retail success, yet they often navigate their roles without sufficient support or the power to make impactful decisions. For store managers to excel, they need the freedom to innovate within their stores while aligning with broader company goals. We’ve identified three key strategies:
1 Simplify through technology
Streamlining managerial duties starts with simplifying technology—reducing the excess of systems and logins. Automation steps in by assigning tasks directly to staff, allowing managers to focus on leading rather than micromanaging. Empowering employees to manage their own schedules (or ensuring clothes arrive pre-tagged) are practical steps towards freeing managers from the minutiae, allowing them to lead with a focus on the bigger picture and strategy.
2 Nurture long-term relationships
Incorporate store managers in the omni-channel transformation journey. As retailers strive to enhance customer experience with integrated digital and physical touchpoints, store managers are invaluable consultants as they possess firsthand insights into customer behaviors and preferences in-store. Forging strong, long-term relationships means providing store managers with opportunities for growth and training, ensuring they're well-equipped to face whatever changes occur. For instance, regular strategy sessions with CEOs and collaborative workshops ensure store managers are heard as well as active participants in steering the brand's course, effectively bridging the online-offline divide.
3 Empower with autonomy
Give managers the autonomy they need to succeed. Trusting them to operate their stores guided by the company's vision. This means flexibility in scheduling and operations, which can contribute significantly to a manager’s sense of empowerment and well-being, fostering an environment where they can thrive.
Uplift your managers
Ultimately, the success of a retail business hinges on the well-being and empowerment of store managers. Through targeted support and development opportunities, companies can lift them up as they rightly deserve. Because store managers are more than just employees. They are the vital link that transforms corporate vision into reality, deserving recognition and support as the backbone of the retail world.
For more insights and detailed strategies on enhancing the employee experience with digital communication technology, visit relesys.net.
