As I flipped through some posts recently on a LinkedIn forum, (specifically a post showing another manufacturer going consumer direct), I saw the following comment regarding bicycle retail staff and their wages:
I agree with the sentiment of the wages comment. I’ve never met a retail employee or owner who felt like they didn’t deserve more money for the job they did. However, I fundamentally disagree with the inability to attract high-quality employees and creating a high-quality buying/service experience.
I would argue that the reason retailers are still competitive today is that they’ve found ways to inspire their staff to create a great buying and service experience DESPITE their limitations. As Simon Sinek famously said: “People don’t buy what you do, they buy WHY you do it.” Or looking at it another way, think about nuns. Well-paid nuns aren’t higher quality nuns. Like those who devote their lives to bicycles, those who devote their lives to God don’t take the vow of poverty for the money.
Minutes later, I happened to find this article on Inc. that inspired this post. Check it out and let me know your thoughts.
Leadership, motivation and the psychology within are hugely complex and our understanding of them is always evolving. Take some time at the end of the day today to think about how you are inspiring and influencing those around you. Then go make tomorrow a great day!