How to Overcome the Pressure of Being in Charge of a New Store or Large Project #NewStoreManager #Manager
First, the conclusion.
There are five things you can do to control the pressure:
・List everything you need to do in chronological order
・Set deadlines for each task
・Clarify who is responsible and who is the decision-maker (Store Manager/Area Manager)
・Set a "sharing deadline" for tasks that require support
・Value your relationships with those who help you and express your gratitude properly
If you do this much, the project will be quite stable.
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When you are assigned as the person in charge of a new store or a major renovation at a store,
it is true that you feel a strong sense of pressure along with the joy.
Looking around,
it is also a fact that many people react by saying, "So it's finally my turn..."
It is a role with that much responsibility and so many things to do.
"Now that I've been entrusted with this, I absolutely cannot fail."
"What if I miss something?"
"I'm anxious about whether I'm in control of everything."
There is more to do than you can imagine, and there are moments when you feel like giving up halfway through.
However, recently, even in the same situation,
I have stopped being crushed by the pressure as much as I used to.
Part of it is that I've gained experience,
but the biggest factor was having a "system" for how to proceed.
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Why does it become so difficult?
The cause is simple.
It's trying to process things while running without seeing the whole picture.
Even if you think you are moving according to the schedule,
・Preparation for announcements is missed
・Ordering of supplies is forgotten
・You realize at the last minute that you are short on stock
These discrepancies pile up.
Furthermore,
・Adjusting help staff
・Explaining to stakeholders
・Aligning on decision-making
These "coordination tasks" get pushed to the back burner,
and the workload spikes all at once toward the end.
This is the true nature of the difficulty.
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There is one solution: "Visualize everything."
What you need to do is simple.
List everything you need to do in chronological order.
That is all there is to it.
What is important is the precision of your preparation.
By creating this sheet, you can also grasp the overall picture at the same time.
Therefore, you can respond to sudden changes, and because you understand the related tasks, it becomes easier to make adjustments.
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■ ① List all tasks (chronological order)
List everything you can think of.
・Sales plan
・Layout
・Ordering
・Sales promotion
・Staffing adjustments
・Operations on the day
You don't need to worry about the granularity; just list them without omissions first.
These two are particularly important.
• Sales plan (the starting point upstream)
If this is off, the purchase volume, staffing, and strength of sales promotions will all be off.
It is a prerequisite to get it approved quickly and accurately.
• Layout finalization (the foundation of everything)
This affects the flow, the capacity for stock, and the perfection of the sales floor.
It is important to have a deadline for finalization, not just a tentative one.
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■ ② Set deadlines
For each task,
always set "by when it will be done."
Without this,
the more important tasks will be pushed to the back burner.
It is also important to set a "sharing deadline" for support tasks.
For tasks that involve others, such as help requests or support requests,
always include a "sharing deadline."
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■ ③ Clarify the person in charge and the decision-maker
・Who will take action (person in charge)
・Who will make the final decision (decision-maker)
Is it the store manager or the area manager?
If this is ambiguous, things will definitely come to a halt.
Also, next to the task,
・Category (supplies, help, etc.)
・Segment (XX merchandise, etc.)
If you note these down, it will be easier to organize tasks and grasp the overall picture.
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④ Value relationships with people and gratitude
No matter how much you organize, it is people who ultimately take action.
That is why you must
value your relationships with those who help you and express your gratitude properly.
This is directly linked to how easy it will be to move forward next time.
By doing this,
・The other person's shift creation
・Coordination with other stores
・Busy situations
You will be able to think based on these backgrounds,
and your requests will go through smoothly.
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How to face pressure
Honestly, you cannot reduce pressure to zero.
New stores and major renovations are jobs where it is not uncommon to work with budgets ranging from millions to hundreds of millions of yen.
Since that much responsibility is involved,
I think it is natural to feel the weight.
However, if you change your perspective,
opportunities to be involved in work of that scale are limited. It might be a chance to realize what you usually think about. You might as well enjoy it.
And another thing is the customer's perspective.
New stores and renewals are events that customers are looking forward to.
・What kind of sales floor will it be?
・What kind of products will be lined up?
・Is it better than before?
They come to the store with expectations.
Pressure is also a state of carrying those expectations.
Will you be chased by it, or will you ride it?
It changes with your preparation and mindset.
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Honestly, it is a tough job.
However, I think it is an experience that is even more valuable than that.
I hope this will be helpful to those who are working in a similar position or those who will be entrusted with it in the future. I am rooting for you from the bottom of my heart.