This is accomplished through a combination of onboarding and training that emphasizes one-on-one communication and follow-up, as well as long-term skills development. With studies showing an average time frame of eight months from hire to full productivity, ongoing support is essential. This involves investing in peer-level mentoring, as well as periodic managerial oversight. As new team members progress to milestones, they should receive recognition, as well as incentives and resources to upskill, or elevate, their retailing knowledge.
Ideally, this process is flexibly designed to allow for participant feedback and managerial insight, and the elimination or addition of training plan elements as the employees progress. For larger organizations, some type of “Passport Program” is recommended for hires who demonstrate motivation and potential in the early going. This allows them to cross-train between positions and departments, and gain a fuller understanding of communication styles and promotion possibilities within the company. The end result is less time and money spent on the intensive recruiting and training process, and more on productively growing the business.
