Retail sales is among the most competitive types of work environments. There is competition among brands, among retailers, among stores in the same retail chain, and among employees who strive to stand out from the rest of their coworkers.

This competition requires a conscious and dedicated effort on the part of management to create a cohesive team environment. When coworkers work as a team, everybody wins—including the customer.

A quick Google* search on the term “team building” returned about 364,000,000 results (in 0.63 seconds no less!). An Amazon.com* book search on the same term provided a list of 57,990 titles. LinkedIn*, another 1,006,059 results. Suffice it to say, there are countless opinions on how to build a team in any industry.

The Concept of T.E.A.M.

As the search results above indicate, there are many strategies, tips, guidelines, and recommendations for how to approach team building. It’s a pretty good assumption that most would also consider the importance of management roles within the process.

Ultimately, it is the responsibility of those in management to create opportunities for team building. Here are some components popular across many recommended team-building programs and activities:

T = Train

Most retail stores carry many brands, makes, and models. Employee product knowledge is invaluable for building self-confidence, creating positive customer interactions, and meeting sales goals.

Create opportunities for your sales professionals to learn about products, their functionalities, and how they benefit their customers. If a brand offers product training programs for its products, encourage employees to participate. Some major brands provide exceptional learning opportunities for product knowledge, customer interactions, and sales tips.

E = Engage

In general, the more engaged employees are at work, the more productive they tend to be. Engaged employees will contribute more to a company’s overall performance because they’re committed to the company and the company’s goals.

A recent Gallup* study showed the percentage of U.S. employees engaged in their jobs averaged just 31.7%. That leaves a lot of unengaged employees who might be stifling sales growth, impeding the implementation of new ideas, and leaving customer needs unmet. Take the first step to improve overall performance metrics by engaging your employees.

A = Adapt

Changes in the retail work environment usually happen frequently and, at times, without much advanced notice. Providing instruction and support will help everyone on the team adapt to new procedures, new responsibilities, new technologies, and other inevitable changes that may come up.

Successful managers can usually adapting to change pretty quickly. Incorporate strategies in the team- building process to help your employees appropriately and adequately deal with these changes too.

M = Motivate

In order to feel motivated, one must feel valued. And that value often has nothing to do with how much money a retail sales professional earns in an hour or in a month. As a manager at any level:

• Do you ask your employees for their ideas?
• Do you challenge employees in a positive way?
• Do you empower your employees according to their individual strengths?
• Do you thank them for their efforts, both individually and as a team unit?

Answering yes to these questions means you are outwardly showing employees you value them and, therefore, are providing motivation.

Staff turnover in retail is high, particularly in those stores selling technology devices and electronics. Retaining good, qualified staff is a challenge for many stores. Keeping employees motivated has a big impact on retention rates and sales. Take a genuine interest in your staff. Motivate them not only with words, but with your actions too.

The “I” Factor

Psst… it’s true what they say, there really is no “I” in “team.” For retail stores to succeed and exceed, it takes teamwork. There isn’t a single magic formula that can be applied in one broad brushstroke for all businesses. Owners and those in management positions must work together to find the right team building approach for their organizations based on identified needs, capabilities, and overall strategic goals.

Henry Ford said, “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” Do your part to create success for your business and a better customer experience by building a strong, positive team environment.

The Intel® Retail Edge Program provides an educational and fun way for retail sales professionals, and management-level staff too, to learn about Intel® products and technologies. You’ll also find tips for improving sales skills, opportunities to interact with members of your team and others in the community, and more. 

Sign up for the Intel® Retail Edge Program today and encourage your staff to sign up too. Click here to find out more details.

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*Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.

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