It's A Jungle Out There

A store manager was forced to quit because a first impression wasn’t received well during a visit.

The truth is that this manager had everything going for himself. A successful business that was beating plan. He had a strong team which included several promotions from within. He, himself, embraced the culture and lead by example. Then why was he worth the risk of a possible termination?

The answer is politics. It is everywhere in the retail world. Do you look the part? Act the part? Blend in? Adhere to a stores culture? Does your store reflect a “family” atmosphere? Is there tension amongst the team? Have you put everything out there to be the best? Does your team reflect a great store dynamic? Are you a difficult employee to manage due to your ideas? Are you a threat? Where are your loyalties? 

So many things to think about when running a store and so many decisions to make that will reflect your character and position within a company. How do you manage it? How do you become the person THEY want you to be? I’d like to say you don’t, but that would be hypocritical of me. BUT you can mesh your management style with the image they want you to uphold. Believe me I have been there. This story, though offensive, did not surprise me. Unfortunately, I have been on the side that HAD to let a strong person go against my better judgement. It was hard, but I couldn’t let my position be the next cause for concern.  

At least that is what I always tell myself and others who approach the topic with me. It really pissed me off having to take part in the game. Being a store leader is a hard job and how you handle yourself on the job is the hardest part of all. People will view you however they want to view you whether it is in a way you want them too or not. Everyone has varying opinions on your reputation. One decision can make all the difference. In this situation, the manager chose to not to shine. It was a surprise visit and he wasn’t prepared to answer questions. He wasn’t dressed in dress code nor did he show a skillset the director needed to see to have faith in his abilities as a store leader. He failed to play the role he was hired to do. He failed to be his best self. He took his strong business for granted and was forced out of a company he loved being a part of.

It’s a jungle out there. A dog-eat-dog world. As managers, we cannot pretend to know it all, we NEED to know it all and be ready for whatever is thrown at us at any given time. One slip up and your reputation is gone. No amount of positive increases, positive reviews or beautiful merchandising will change a negative mark on an authorities list. So how can you compete with an idea that your fate can be decided at first glance? The answer…DON’T BE NAIVE. Know that you are always under a microscope. You are being watched and analyzed at every waking moment. Never be ill-prepared at the start of a day. Make sure your team knows everything that you do. Make sure THEY are prepared. Make sure they are prepared for the unknown and why you are preparing them. Protect your abilities by leading by example. Don’t give anyone the opportunity to not see you in the light you deserve. It’s the only way to survive.