| Retail Managers have a lot of information to | | | | on these items as possible.Tasks, your every day |
| process in the course of one day. They must | | | | routine items. Tracking payroll, sales, statistics, |
| decide what to act on now and what to save for | | | | maintaining organization and control of your |
| later. Most of us are still expected to sell, be a | | | | environment and such. Preparing for meetings, |
| leader and a team member at the same time. | | | | conference calls and store visits from your boss |
| Depending on your management style and work | | | | all are routine tasks which should be done after |
| ethic you may find yourself having more to do | | | | priority and goal action items.Who Should Be Doing |
| then time in a day. Letting go of some tasks may | | | | This?The first question you should ask yourself |
| be a hard pill to swallow, but giving your team | | | | every time you do something is, "Should I be |
| some of the control will free up some time for | | | | doing this?" Next, "Am I the right person for the |
| you to complete more important action items to | | | | job?" Then, "Is this moving me towards |
| achieve strategic goals, while developing a | | | | accomplishing my goals" and lastly, "Who would be |
| stronger team. As a manager your sole purpose | | | | better suited to do it and when?"You may have |
| for existing is to create sales. Therefore you | | | | to take some time to give clear instructions or |
| should spend most of your time moving towards | | | | training on the task at hand but consider it an |
| and creating that reality, not doing the same old | | | | investment of your time versus wasting your |
| thing every day.Should it Be Done Now?Priority | | | | time when you do the task yourself. Next time |
| (Now) vs. Goal Accomplishment (In between!) vs. | | | | this task must be completed you can point and |
| Task (Later)As all Retail Managers know, there is | | | | shoot. Delegate it and move on!The benefits are |
| always something happening or changing at the | | | | many. You have someone doing the task for you |
| last minute creating havoc in your life. New | | | | and they know more because of it. If you were |
| programs, promotions, meetings, conference calls, | | | | to leave your store right now, would the ship sail |
| someone calling in sick and the list goes on as you | | | | forward or sink? Your ability to develop your |
| know it. These are priority items which may need | | | | team is a measurement of your leadership. You |
| attention right away.In between havoc and control | | | | owe it to your self to do the things every day |
| are your goals. You are paid to create sales. | | | | that accomplish your goals while developing your |
| "How" you do that are the actions you take | | | | team.Craig Cook is a Retail Manager and |
| every day relative to the respective goals. | | | | Administrator of a resource portal for Retail |
| Managers must spend the most amount of time | | | | Managers. |