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Before we begin, I cannot wait to tell you that my new guide is LIVE!

How to Write Impactful Reviews That Matter

Annual reviews are just around the corner. Writing employee reviews used to feel like climbing Mt. Everest. Then, I developed a process that streamlined the whole thing.

Now, I get to share all my best practices with you. This 8-minute read will show you how to plan, write, and deliver impactful reviews that matter.

You can ​grab it right here.​​

Now, on with today’s newsletter.

Welcome to Retail Renegades.

In every issue, I tear into 1 of the 10 biggest problems all retail leaders face:

• Delegation
• Priority order
• Building culture
• Self-confidence
• Speaking up
• Time management
• Actionable empathy
• Dealing with an overbearing boss
• Clear & consistent communication
• Streamlining processes – working smarter & saving time.

(If you want to smash all 10 of these AND master the fundamentals of running a kick-ass store, I’d love to have you in ​The Break Room​.)

Building Culture

Let people be themselves. It’s awesome.

This week, I want to help you build culture in your team.

Building sounds abstract and complex, but it’s not. Building culture means creating a space where people want to show up every day.

Here’s how you do it.

1. Let people be themselves

It sounds easy, but most companies don’t do it very well.

Corporations love rules. Wear this, don’t wear that, no gum. I get it. Some rules are necessary, but most are not. Who cares if someone has tattoos or dyed their hair pink? I don’t. Your hair color or style has nothing to do with your job performance.

I once worked with a guy with a foot-tall mohawk and sleeves of tattoos. Customers loved him. He was an excellent salesperson. He liked working with me because I let him do his thing, and he let me do mine.

Let people show you who they are, and let them shine.

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2. Listen

People are interesting. Ask them questions. Good leadership is a dialogue, not a lecture. I used to get so sick of my voice. Talking everyone in at the start of their shifts, talking about home office memos, and talking to customers.

Whew! It’s a lot every day.

Sometimes, it can feel really good to listen. Work next to people and listen.

3. Bend the rules

After twenty years in retail, I got really good at bending the rules. But they have to be certain rules. Not every rule can be bent.

When my team members needed grace, I bent the rules. When customers had a logical request, I bent the rules.

Never break the rules when it comes to money, deposits, or loss prevention.

Building culture takes time but is not difficult

Let people be themselves, listen to them, and bend the rules when you need to. After a while, you’ll see people coming together.

Mailbox

I got this DM recently – and I’m sharing it because it’s hilarious. DO NOT use DMs like this.

Okay, robot.

First of all, I haven’t been a writer for twenty-two years. I’ve been a full-time writer for two years.

This message clearly shows someone using AI or a system that DMs people en masse. The following message I received from this person was equally sucky, and they asked to set up a call with me.

How about no?

I haven’t responded and am considering blocking this person if I get one more DM.

Don’t be that guy.
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Level-Up

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One thing you can do today to be a better leader.

Trust yourself.

Your bosses will tell you how to help your customers and run your store. Listen to them, but know you are in your building way more than they are.

My bosses used to tell me to make my customers wait in line—three customers in line per one cashier.

Nope. Not doing it.

My customers had complicated transactions. We had the highest online return rates in the company. Online returns are time-consuming. I won’t make people wait when I have another person that can ring.

So, I’d nod my head and then call more cashiers.

Trust what you know to be true.

Thanks for being here!

Hit reply and let me know what you think of this newsletter. Good? Bad? Helpful? Do you have questions you want answered?

See you next time,

Kit

Looking for more ways to save time and run an awesome store? Let’s go!

If you want to learn how to write an excellent schedule in 60 minutes, go here. This ten-minute read will save you time and make your store more money, even if you are new to leadership.

Got a store visit coming up? Want to know how to prepare? Go here.​
I’ll show you how to prep for a store visit and you won’t have to work twelve-hour days.

Score 20% off right now.
Buy one and you’ll have the option to add the other in the checkout screen. 🤓

⭐️ Want ALL the how-to nitty, gritty info?

​Order my book today! The Retail Leader’s Field Guide: How to Run a Kick-Ass Store Where Everyone Wants to Work will help leaders at all levels, even if they are new to leadership.

See you next time!

PS – You’re a badass and you can do hard things.

PPS – Stay rad.