No matter the industry you work in, internal communication is essential. However, when it comes to retail, creating and keeping up with a healthy and effective communication strategy is challenging. Due to specific job requirements, such as communication with customers and working in a retail warehouse, maintaining internal interactions is quite demanding.
Did you know that internal communication in the retail industry also affects the results of your sales? It reflects the unhealthy atmosphere customers can sense. This leads to a decrease in sales, as one negative experience can leave permanent scars on customers’ shopping behavior. So, how can you achieve effective internal communication?
1. Hold personalized daily meetings
With shift work in retail, it is almost impossible to hold meetings where every employee will be present. However, you can choose to organize personalized meetings or meetings between the shifts to gather the entire team together. Your employees will get a chance to ask managers whatever they like, and managers can convey important information to the team. Why are these types of meetings important for internal communication?
Daily meetings build trust. You need to show your employees that you care about them by providing them with necessary information and planning for the future. On top of that, you can track their work and progress that way, which truly helps an employee appreciation program. In the end, meetings are useful for new employees to blend in better and get a sense of belonging in the community.
2. Set a goal and an example
Just like you need to set goals for your business, you also need to set goals for internal communication for it to be effective. Your plan needs to be concise, yet contain all the informative steps on how to achieve it. For instance, if your plan is to create a more coherent team, you need to hold meetings and build trust among employees.
Besides setting a goal, you need to lead by example. Did you know that employees who have their manager’s support tend to be more productive and achieve better results in the retail industry? Take your employees’ side and show them how to communicate kindly and assertively. It will boost your relationship, team bond, and customer satisfaction.
3. Train your employees
Investing in employees in the retail industry where fluctuation and turnover rates are at an all-time high seems ridiculous. But maybe the way employers treat their employees is the main reason why the turnover rates are high? Be the leader of the change and invest in your employees by training them in communication and other useful skills!
Training is no longer boring and classroom-type course. It can be fun and engaging. To organize employee training in retail, you need to recognize the need and pick a suitable topic for the team. Ensure the training is relevant and choose the coach that can bond your team while teaching them. That’s how you teach them a skill while working on their team spirit.
4. Be truly available
A lot of managers and leaders like to claim they are available at all times for their employees. But is it really the truth? How many times have you seen a manager yell at their employee because they are busy or late with a deadline? Situations like these happen way too often, and lead to a toxic work environment! This affects internal communication. So, how can you fix it?
The truth is, you can’t be available 24/7 to your employees. However, you can set a certain time window when you’ll talk with your team and answer all their questions. Pay special attention to the employees who can rarely leave their workstations outside the breaks. In times of emergency, you are the responsible one for putting out the flames!
5. Implement technology
In huge retail stores, finding the person you need to ask them a question can be a true nightmare. On top of that, many employees can’t be by their computers at all times due to the nature of their job. So, how can you reach certain employees no matter where they are? The answer is simple, implement technology suitable for mobile phones!
A lot of companies opted for solutions such as chat apps that provide their workers with many features. Big and famous companies like these have fantastic internal communication examples you can learn a lot from. So, choose an app with multiple functions to boost the effectiveness of your internal communication in the retail industry. Your employees will be thankful for a communication platform.
6. Give lots of feedback
One of the biggest things neglected in the retail industry is feedback. Employers don’t hesitate to provide negative criticism, while employees thrive on constructive feedback! Feedback empowers employees to try harder and be more productive, while continuously bombarding them with negativity leads to pessimism and burnout. How can you solve this issue?
Organize frequent one-on-one meetings with your employees. Provide them with constructive feedback. How is that done? Aim feedback on their behavior and not personality. They can change the way they act or do something, however, changing personality is less likely to happen.
Wrapping up
We can agree that the retail industry is quite specific, especially when it comes to internal communication. It may be challenging, but it isn’t impossible! By following these tips, you’ll create a healthier work atmosphere with better and more open communication.
