| How long has it been since your organization held | | | | The suggestion I offer is to have training on a |
| refresher or updated training? If your answer is over | | | | weekend morning prior to your business opening. The |
| 90 days then you should initiate some form of | | | | training should be mandatory for everyone to include |
| training yourself. Think about the magnitude of | | | | managers. You will have to budget for it but the |
| information you have to retain on a weekly basis. | | | | returns should far surpass the money spent on |
| Your associates should be knowledgeable concerning | | | | training. In fairness to your associates it should be |
| sales ads, promotional seasonal strategies, updated | | | | scheduled a month or so in advance giving them time |
| constantly on policies and procedures to name a few. | | | | to adjust their personal schedule if they would |
| Let's use TV sales as an example. There are so | | | | normally be off. |
| many types of televisions on the market that it | | | | Structure, preparation and rehearsal are crucial to |
| requires a vast amount of knowledge to understand | | | | ensure you have a highly productive, interesting and |
| the benefits of one over the other. If you don't have | | | | motivating training session. If you take these into |
| training to ensure your associates are up to date on | | | | consideration then your team will enjoy it and look |
| the various TV's then how can they make logical | | | | forward to future training classes. |
| recommendations to meet each customers individual | | | | I was asked once by a very wise man, if you were |
| needs, they can't. | | | | losing money in your business would you spend |
| Training can be held weekly by departments to keep | | | | additional money on training, money you can't afford? |
| up with changing technology but there are other | | | | Fortunately I had been in a leadership position for |
| considerations you have to think about. How many | | | | over 30 years when he asked me that and here was |
| part time associates do you have and who is | | | | my response. Yes sir I certainly would because if my |
| ensuring they are receiving training. Check your | | | | team isn't doing well then we obviously are doing |
| weekly labor by department and see how many full | | | | something wrong and need training to correct it. The |
| time associates work at night, typically the numbers | | | | money spent will be a wise decision if I provide a |
| are very low. Your customer's rate is most likely | | | | great training session. His reply being, you are a smart |
| higher at night during the week as customers have | | | | man that is the only answer I would have |
| jobs and can't shop until the evening. | | | | appreciated. |
| So how am I supposed to keep everyone trained? | | | | What would your answer have been? |