A few years ago, I watched a video about Walmart’s company strategies.

No matter what you think of it, Walmart is thriving.
(I don’t shop there. I didn’t appreciate the bait-and-switch from ‘Made in America’ goods.)

As supervisors (or parents!), we can learn from this retail giant in this area:

Remarkable communication

Clear communication is the key

I have a master’s degree in project management. Our professors drilled this idea into us during the two years we met with them:

“It doesn’t matter what else you get right.
If you don’t communicate well, your project is in trouble.”

With this in mind, one strategy jumped out at me in the Walmart film:

The managers in the video were good communicators

We also need to communicate well if we’re a small shop with two employees.

Even if we are a small shop with no employees.

Why?

Because the customer is always there.

Covert ops!

One of Walmart’s interesting methods is to pop an executive into a store.

They visit anonymously to check it out.

If there is a problem – or something is done particularly well – it is addressed.

Here’s an example:

One store outsold all other locations’ inventory of a specific item.

We’re talking worldwide.

The visiting manager discovered unique p-l-a-c-e-m-e-n-t was the key.

The product stood out … and went out in customers’ shopping carts.

This no-cost way to boost sales was communicated to all the stores.

Leaders at Walmart are not afraid to ask,

“How did you do this?”

or

“Why do you do it this way?”

They know great ideas come from their in-the-trenches employees.

Let’s dump the platitudes

Walmart managers don’t think in these ‘never’/‘always’ terms:

“We’ve never done it that way.”
(Did you just cringe?)

– or –

“We’ve always done it this way.”

We shouldn’t go there, either, but it’s easy to slip into this mindset.

We’ve figured out the best way to ________.

Right?

Our team needs to listen to us.

Right?

Well …

It’s hard to argue with success.

When was the last time we incorporated a suggestion from our rank-and-file?

Two listening examples from my world

When I taught high school biology and zoology, some of the best ideas (and the biggest changes in my lesson plans) came from my students.

Sometimes, they came from the most surprising students!

They usually had good points. And I typically changed something.

Nowadays, my editors and proofers have a knack for asking, “Did you mean…?” when I’m absolutely, positively, 100% sure one of my documents is ready to go.

They usually have good points. And I typically change something.
(or – in both cases – I explain why I don’t)

NOT another 2020 vision cliché (you’re welcome! 😎 )

We have settled into our new-decade-of-2020 routines by now.

We are clickin’ along and getting things done.

But we can still take advantage of improved methods for most of the year.

Here are three questions to ask ourselves as managers or owners:

“Do I listen to staff, vendors, and family?”

“Do I at least consider their suggestions?”

“Do I communicate, or do I just … t-a-l-k?”

Staff. Vendors. Family.

All three are excellent sources of ‘fresh pair of eyes’ ideas.

Wrapping it up

Let’s communicate strategically with the folks we see regularly.
( Check out my Titanic post on strategic management. It’s not what you think! )

We can learn a bunch from our staff, vendors who may know about exclusive deals, or a family member who sees us heading in the wrong direction. Yep.

The Walmart managers in the video understood: the best ideas don’t always come from management. From you and me.

Let’s all memorize:

“Sometimes, the best ideas come from wwaayy beyond my desk.”

Believe it.
Communicate it.
Repeat as needed.

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Join the Conversation

It’s your turn! Please select one of these discussion topics, or bring your own.

Tell us about a

• Way you reward employees for offering suggestions.

• Boss who mentored you and incorporated your idea(s).

• Unique method you use to communicate with your team.

Please share this post, subscribe so you won’t miss next month’s offering, and scroll down to join the conversation in the comments section.

Let’s all learn from each other

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Contact me if you have questions about this post, or need help non-overwhelming a project. I’m here for ya! 😎

Kathie
kyork@kathieyork.com

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Find other project management posts here   My “Welcome to Non-Overwhelm!” book

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