Moving Forward We’re all having to adapt to a new way of working in this very different world of ours, and now more than ever your team needs to know what is expected of them and how best to achieve it
Are you and your staff firing on all cylinders? Life has been very challenging over the past 18 months. All of us are having to adapt to a new way of working. Let’s remember your team may also find it challenging to adapt when getting back to work. Having been away from the Addressing changes in the business for such a lengthy time current climate can bring up old habits which were Adapting to new ways of working present pre-lockdown. It’s important can be choppy waters for everyone to recognise this and work through to negotiate. This inevitably trickles any issues in a timely fashion. through to impact on your customer’s Bridal retail, as we all know, is very experience, too. hard physical and emotional work. New rules and regulations from the All those who work on the shop Government seem to be constantly floor – and indeed anywhere in your developing. Having to try to integrate business – need to have bags of these changes and adapt them into energy, stamina, and motivation. your business takes patience and Sometimes this can be hard, creativity. particularly in a busy retail Keep all your staff in the picture environment, a Saturday afternoon, for regarding how Government and example. I remember very well. societal changes may affect your Grabbing a sandwich as you are business and their jobs. going along. High heels in the morning Their roles, and the intricacies of and flats in the afternoon. Talking peaking to staff regularly (in so much during the day your mouth person as opposed to via SM) how they do their jobs, have already becomes dry. will help alleviate any niggles, evolved, haven’t they, from the wearing of face masks, sanitising worries, or concerns and And who can forget, pin thumb feelings of uncertainty that they may everything regularly and the whole and pin finger! Yes, our poor digits process of running appointments. be experiencing. which ache and bleed. Not to mention Regular meetings are invaluable in The length of an appointment may be bridal shoulder from carrying all those longer or shorter now. The number order to recognise the systems and heavy dresses! of guests a bride can bring with them structures that may need extra input So, ease staff back into their jobs. from you in order to help staff excel in may have lessened – in some cases Avoid piling on the workload. Where no bad thing. their positions. possible, divide appointments and Feelings of uncertainty and I understand some bridal business floating duties between staff giving instability are normal. These feelings owners work remotely – and their everyone a change of scene and time are best managed and worked reasons why. However, physically to recharge their batteries. Stagger through in a natural and easy way. Use appointments and workloads; ensure being in your premises regularly will what could be perceived as negative help reinforce your commitment to regular breaks. energy in a positive way. your staff and to the business. It will That way, you can be confident your Don’t panic and beat yourselves up. team and your customers are getting give a good deal of reassurance to everyone. Strong leadership is vital in Go with the flow, take your time, and the most out of their customer/bridal remember to breathe! any business. consultant interactions.
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