Comments for John Slimp Training & Development http://www.createawinningteam.com Performance, Improvement & Empowerment Wed, 01 Sep 2010 01:30:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on It’s your Choice; what will you do? by Tina D http://www.createawinningteam.com/it%e2%80%99s-your-choice-what-will-you-do/comment-page-1#comment-348 Tina D Wed, 01 Sep 2010 01:30:44 +0000 http://www.createawinningteam.com/?p=887#comment-348 I was not expecting your post to be a tear jerker. I loved the story, will post to my FB and twitter. Tina D. The Art of Thanking Your Clients http://theartofthankingyourclients.blogspot.com/ I was not expecting your post to be a tear jerker. I loved the story, will post to my FB and twitter.

Tina D.
The Art of Thanking Your Clients
http://theartofthankingyourclients.blogspot.com/

]]> Comment on What makes a Good DM? by Jackson http://www.createawinningteam.com/what-makes-a-good-dm/comment-page-1#comment-347 Jackson Mon, 30 Aug 2010 13:20:04 +0000 http://www.createawinningteam.com/?p=879#comment-347 I've been fortunate enough to have had a string of good DMs, only to end my retail career with a bad one. I feel that good DMs are fair and supportive. I believe the word TRUST comes to mind in this relationship. As a manager, our front lines are the sales floor and we share that with our sales associates. We depend on resources given and distributed to us by our corporate offices (hours, budgets, inventory, etc.). When we as managers come across issues with our resources, we depend on our DM to relay that information to try and deliver that support to us. The best DMs I've ever had (3 of them) all fully trusted me and took me under their wings to develop me. They always ensured I had all the resources I could possibly get in order to make my business/store successful. It's that level of trust in the relationships I've built with these three DMs that I still keep in touch with them today. Another attribute I believe is key is personality, someone who is compassionate, understanding, and resourceful. Someone who makes managers feel like they are important contributing members of a larger team among their peers in the District. Each manager has a certain unique skill set that they bring to the table. It's important to have those strengths permeate throughout the district in order for the team to improve and become more successful in reaching their goals. In areas that may be lacking, I believe a good DM will help develop the necessary skills and collaborate to make his or her managers stronger. It's a combination of finding the right tools, a lot of coaching and one on ones with the managers, and putting together management teams that will shine. A good DM will always have the mind set of developing the team around her, not just thinking about results. In the end, it's also up to the DM to make sure that their managers are held accountable for their performance. A good DM will set attainable goals and standards and will never hesitate to professionally criticize or identify coach-able moments. Improvement in each manager equals success for the District. Simply expecting the delivery of results is set up for failure and routine can become boring. Each manager requires follow up, feedback, and development to keep things fresh and moving forward. It's not about the store visits just to mark it off the calendar. It's about what the goal of the store visit is suppose to accomplish. Last thing is VISION. I believe every good DM should have a vision of what they want out of their districts. What does the DM want to be known for? What is his/her strength that they want to bring to the table? What are the expectations? Does that reflect in the district team? Making that Vision clear to his/her managers will certainly make an impact in how things are perceived in the district. The good DM will put together a plan in place in order to make that vision happen. I’ve been fortunate enough to have had a string of good DMs, only to end my retail career with a bad one.

I feel that good DMs are fair and supportive. I believe the word TRUST comes to mind in this relationship. As a manager, our front lines are the sales floor and we share that with our sales associates. We depend on resources given and distributed to us by our corporate offices (hours, budgets, inventory, etc.). When we as managers come across issues with our resources, we depend on our DM to relay that information to try and deliver that support to us. The best DMs I’ve ever had (3 of them) all fully trusted me and took me under their wings to develop me. They always ensured I had all the resources I could possibly get in order to make my business/store successful. It’s that level of trust in the relationships I’ve built with these three DMs that I still keep in touch with them today.

Another attribute I believe is key is personality, someone who is compassionate, understanding, and resourceful. Someone who makes managers feel like they are important contributing members of a larger team among their peers in the District.

Each manager has a certain unique skill set that they bring to the table. It’s important to have those strengths permeate throughout the district in order for the team to improve and become more successful in reaching their goals. In areas that may be lacking, I believe a good DM will help develop the necessary skills and collaborate to make his or her managers stronger. It’s a combination of finding the right tools, a lot of coaching and one on ones with the managers, and putting together management teams that will shine. A good DM will always have the mind set of developing the team around her, not just thinking about results.

In the end, it’s also up to the DM to make sure that their managers are held accountable for their performance. A good DM will set attainable goals and standards and will never hesitate to professionally criticize or identify coach-able moments. Improvement in each manager equals success for the District. Simply expecting the delivery of results is set up for failure and routine can become boring. Each manager requires follow up, feedback, and development to keep things fresh and moving forward. It’s not about the store visits just to mark it off the calendar. It’s about what the goal of the store visit is suppose to accomplish.

Last thing is VISION. I believe every good DM should have a vision of what they want out of their districts. What does the DM want to be known for? What is his/her strength that they want to bring to the table? What are the expectations? Does that reflect in the district team? Making that Vision clear to his/her managers will certainly make an impact in how things are perceived in the district. The good DM will put together a plan in place in order to make that vision happen.

]]> Comment on What makes a Good DM? by Allison http://www.createawinningteam.com/what-makes-a-good-dm/comment-page-1#comment-345 Allison Wed, 25 Aug 2010 17:47:25 +0000 http://www.createawinningteam.com/?p=879#comment-345 I spent over 25 years "in the trenches" with district supervisors, trying to find out what the common thread is among the top performers. I've worked with top producing supervisors who had poor communication skills, so that cant be it. I've worked with supervisors who were both micro and macro managers, both posting top sales. I've worked with supervisors who were given both top managers and bottom managers, and the performers get results from both. I've worked with companies who gave supervisors a feeling of ownership and companies who kept their supervisors on a short leash....both have had top performing supervisors. I've worked with supervisors who established trust and loyalty but couldn't get sales over last year if they tried....so what exactly in the one thing that every top performing supervisor has in common??? Hire one that has something to prove! Either to him or herself, their family or the company in general. People who have something to prove are driven. They will succeed regardless of the circumstances. I spent over 25 years “in the trenches” with district supervisors, trying to find out what the common thread is among the top performers. I’ve worked with top producing supervisors who had poor communication skills, so that cant be it. I’ve worked with supervisors who were both micro and macro managers, both posting top sales. I’ve worked with supervisors who were given both top managers and bottom managers, and the performers get results from both. I’ve worked with companies who gave supervisors a feeling of ownership and companies who kept their supervisors on a short leash….both have had top performing supervisors. I’ve worked with supervisors who established trust and loyalty but couldn’t get sales over last year if they tried….so what exactly in the one thing that every top performing supervisor has in common??? Hire one that has something to prove! Either to him or herself, their family or the company in general. People who have something to prove are driven. They will succeed regardless of the circumstances.

]]> Comment on What makes a Good DM? by John D http://www.createawinningteam.com/what-makes-a-good-dm/comment-page-1#comment-339 John D Thu, 19 Aug 2010 15:47:40 +0000 http://www.createawinningteam.com/?p=879#comment-339 What makes a Good DM: Outside of the obvious skills needed: Familiarity and expertise with the industry, outstanding interpersonal skills financial acumen,You must instill trust and build trust in your on-site management team. The DM is the conduit between operations and the corporate or main office. You need to have developed reasonable budgets and business plans for the locations, communicate those goals and make sure everyone knows how well they are performing. You need to develop a team approach with your district; some managers are more skilled with financials, others at team building, and others at developing innovative marketing programs. The DM’s role is to identify the individual store management’s strengths and weaknesses and then either give support or use their strengths to help support other locations and management teams. This builds a sense of team, healthy competition and allows you to better assess your management team. You need to constantly look at ways to better your management team in order to strengthen team and be positioned for growth What makes a Good DM:
Outside of the obvious skills needed: Familiarity and expertise with the industry, outstanding interpersonal skills financial acumen,You must instill trust and build trust in your on-site management team.

The DM is the conduit between operations and the corporate or main office.
You need to have developed reasonable budgets and business plans for the locations, communicate those goals and make sure everyone knows how well they are performing.
You need to develop a team approach with your district; some managers are more skilled with financials, others at team building, and others at developing innovative marketing programs. The DM’s role is to identify the individual store management’s strengths and weaknesses and then either give support or use their strengths to help support other locations and management teams.
This builds a sense of team, healthy competition and allows you to better assess your management team.
You need to constantly look at ways to better your management team in order to strengthen team and be positioned for growth

]]> Comment on Blackberry Employee Have You Picked Yours by Diana http://www.createawinningteam.com/blackberry-employee/comment-page-1#comment-338 Diana Thu, 19 Aug 2010 15:45:44 +0000 http://www.createawinningteam.com/?p=861#comment-338 The problem is they have such incredibly high (or ridiculous) expectations Often, a job description will consist of skills that are actually several different jobs. It's as if a nurse would be expected to perform surgery, do administrative work, lab work, and oh, yes, nursing. The problem is they have such incredibly high (or ridiculous) expectations Often, a job description will consist of skills that are actually several different jobs. It’s as if a nurse would be expected to perform surgery, do administrative work, lab work, and oh, yes, nursing.

]]> Comment on What makes a Good DM? by Teresa http://www.createawinningteam.com/what-makes-a-good-dm/comment-page-1#comment-337 Teresa Thu, 19 Aug 2010 15:42:54 +0000 http://www.createawinningteam.com/?p=879#comment-337 Sense of urgency with the ability to analyze a situation quickly and take decisive action. Sense of urgency with the ability to analyze a situation quickly and take decisive action.

]]> Comment on What makes a Good DM? by Jill http://www.createawinningteam.com/what-makes-a-good-dm/comment-page-1#comment-336 Jill Thu, 19 Aug 2010 15:41:32 +0000 http://www.createawinningteam.com/?p=879#comment-336 Echo Elaine's comments - Hiring great managers, giving ownership to the retail managers to drive business and encouraging managers to think out of the box. Weekly phone meetings to share ideas and weekly one on one meetings with managers. Ability to manage above as well as below. Ability to establish a sense of urgency by establishing time lines and goals. Establish trust and loyalty amongst the team. Echo Elaine’s comments – Hiring great managers, giving ownership to the retail managers to drive business and encouraging managers to think out of the box. Weekly phone meetings to share ideas and weekly one on one meetings with managers. Ability to manage above as well as below. Ability to establish a sense of urgency by establishing time lines and goals. Establish trust and loyalty amongst the team.

]]> Comment on Who’s controlling your Thoughts? by Sukumar http://www.createawinningteam.com/who%e2%80%99s-controlling-your-thoughts/comment-page-1#comment-335 Sukumar Wed, 18 Aug 2010 14:22:10 +0000 http://www.createawinningteam.com/?p=883#comment-335 I think in today's corporate world almost everybody plays the roles of a Robot, a Slave and also a cult member. In their leisure, though it is very feeble, they must think of themselves. and as you said use their power... I think in today’s corporate world almost everybody plays the roles of a Robot, a Slave and also a cult member. In their leisure, though it is very feeble, they must think of themselves. and as you said use their power…

]]> Comment on What makes a Good DM? by John http://www.createawinningteam.com/what-makes-a-good-dm/comment-page-1#comment-334 John Tue, 17 Aug 2010 21:25:38 +0000 http://www.createawinningteam.com/?p=879#comment-334 You are so right Jackie, thanks for your comments! Top down and bottom up is the only way a message can be delivered with clarity and consistency. You are so right Jackie, thanks for your comments! Top down and bottom up is the only way a message can be delivered with clarity and consistency.

]]> Comment on What makes a Good DM? by Jackie http://www.createawinningteam.com/what-makes-a-good-dm/comment-page-1#comment-333 Jackie Tue, 17 Aug 2010 18:58:48 +0000 http://www.createawinningteam.com/?p=879#comment-333 First I would like to say I have had experiences with all kinds of these leaders and being a DM/RM my self the HERO is the only kind of DM ! I totally agree with Mary as well as the others that have commented. We need the support of our superiors in the same HERO mode to ensure total company success and keep the Vision going. Being the voice of your employees either management or pt will make the difference between building respect and loyalty vs just being the dictator of the company policies! Great Forum First I would like to say I have had experiences with all kinds of these leaders and being a DM/RM my self
the HERO is the only kind of DM ! I totally agree with Mary as well as the others that have commented.
We need the support of our superiors in the same HERO mode to ensure total company success and keep the Vision going. Being the voice of your employees either management or pt will make the difference between building respect and loyalty vs just being the dictator of the company policies!
Great Forum

]]>