Promoting Professionalism
The best motivating way to promote employees is both an art and a science.
Most retail store employers realize the importance of properly handling terminations, if for no other reason than the possible legal implications. But it's very important to accept that promoting an employee requires just as much skill and expertise for motivational reasons as well.
Promotions should, by their very nature, be a positive event for the individual and for the rest of the store in general. But if not handled correctly, a promotion can "backfire" and produce some pretty nasty results -- Promotions should not be made impulsively. Like terminations, they should be the result of a planned process, not of a single act. Here are the points to consider when getting ready to promote an employee:
- Define the position with a carefully considered job description.
This is especially important if the position is a new one in the company or the store. The description should define not only the major job duties, but the major requirements for the position such as necessary job skills, education accomplishments, past work experience etc.
- Notify other employees of the open position. This can be done through posting a notice on the store bulletin board, and/or by inserting a notice in the envelope with each employee's paycheck. Include in the notice the proper application procedures. You don't want an employee to feel he wasn't given fair consideration because of an application "technicality" he didn't do properly. Keeping employees notified of pending promotions is good for several reasons:
• The general practice of keeping your associates informed of major store events or job openings (such as an opening for a new store manager position) gives the employees the feeling you consider them important enough to take the time to "let them in on" what's happening.
• The notice, by its stated qualifications requirements, will have the effect of sifting out those who are not yet ready for the job. This will show that management has solid business considerations in mind and that promotions are not handled on a whim. The last situation you want is for your employees to feel that getting promoted in your company or store is "not by what you know, but who you know."
• Notifications can have the very positive effect of associates spending more time talking with their supervisors about where they stand relative to the new position requirements and their current level of performance. Certainly, this should be good for the associate and supervisor, regardless of what happens. All interested employees should be given some consideration by retail store management.