There was a moment the other day that I realized just how much retail lacks great leaders. Retail is an industry that sees a lot of turnover. It’s tough dealing with people everyday. The pay isn’t great. The hours can be unpredictable and rough – especially around the holidays. Everyone has their own walk of life and their own experiences – and not all of them are great. This becomes even more apparent when working in retail because you have to remind yourself of this fact. Everyone is different, so expect an array of shopper behavior. You can imagine just how much harder it is for businesses in retail to find great leaders, and keep them. But when they do find and keep, I notice that these leaders all have something in common: they dive.
Great leaders don’t shy away from trouble. They don’t tiptoe around situations. They aren’t shy about taking charge. They dive in.
Great leaders almost actively find trouble. Not the kind of trouble that puts them in the corner, but they search for problems they can fix or guide. I think of the elegant diver: poised, confident, twirling, and falling so beautifully before penetrating the water – separating it, parting it. There’s a moment of decision and determination. A moment where the diver thinks, “Alright. I’m doing this. Remember your form.” Am I saying you have to twirl around while helping an angry customer at the register? No (but it might be pretty funny).
Have you ever watched an Olympic diver? It’s stunning, and swift. That’s how leaders should be – and some are.
Olympic divers don’t piddle around. They mean business. They’re here to win gold.
Olympic divers might second-guess themselves – and that’s healthy. Human, even. As long as it doesn’t get in the way of success, it should be fine.
You won’t see an Olympic diver with their hands on their hips telling you why they won’t do something or that it’s not in their job description while they’re on the diving board. An Olympic diver stays in shape to make sure they are able to efficiently and effectively dive. Don’t confuse this with being a physically fit leader – think of it as being a leader who “exercises” their leadership muscles by constantly learning about it and adapting.
Olympic divers practice. Why? The old adage is probably cliched by now, but practice makes perfect.
In terms of leadership, if you aren’t “diving in” when there is an urgent call for help and only you are able to deliver, there’s a serious problem. But how do you know when you should dive in? Some people are better at coaching from the sidelines. Some would rather speak softly and carry a big stick. Others would rather just speak softly and carry nothing at all. Perhaps it’s time to find a mentor to help you determine when diving is necessary. And if you aren’t good at diving, try reading some books about leadership!
There’s a slew of information about great leadership. There’s also hundreds of books about great leaders! Maybe yours is Steve Jobs, or Tina Fey, or Hilary Clinton! Read about them. Learn from them. How did they dive in?
Furthermore, how can you?