The Retail Council of Canada hosted its Human Resources Conference this week in Toronto. I had the pleasure of being the emcee for the event, which gives me the chance to not only watch the sessions, but often to connect with the speakers.
As is always true with any RCC event, this conference was full of ideas, strategies and insights.
Here are the 5 Lessons I took away from the event:
- The link between coaching / mentoring and
improved performance is undeniable
- The link between increased employee engagement
and improved performance is undeniable.
- The link between better recruitment and improved
performance is undeniable.
- The link between investing in your people and
improved performance is undeniable.
- Getting budget approval for any of the above is still a challenge.
On one hand, it was great to see most every speaker talk about the importance of their retail teams and be able to make the link to improved performance. Gone are the days of ‘warm and fuzzy’ HR concepts with little to no obvious payback. HR is now a full time partner at driving results. Well done!
Yet, it makes you want to bang your head on the wall when you hear that getting appropriate budgets for these results-driving initiatives is still a challenge, in spite of the proven results.
Money for I.T. initiatives? Not a problem.
Money for e-commerce projects? We’ll find it.
Look, in this day and age where the greatest differentiator from one retailer to the next is the quality of the experience provided by the staff, doesn’t it just make sense to invest in them more fully?
More and more retailers are making the investments needed. On behalf of your staff, your customers and YOUR BOTTOM LINE …. Thank You!
To those that are still struggling to see the business case made at this conference for great investment in your employees, you’re welcome to call me. I’ll be happy to take the time to show you not just what I know, but what your fellow retailers know too.
