What topics should I cover for my upcoming staff meeting?

Question

This is the problem: I have to fill 30 mins of a successful and encouraging meeting that will leave my staff inspired and loving this meeting. I have nothing to say.

This is the story: I'll be holding a staff meeting for the first time in my life and Head office didn't gave me anything specific they wanted me to cover. I work at a retail store with about 8 other girls. I'm actually the newest member to the store because I was transferred so they don't know me that well. The weird thing is that some of the girls are older than I am, I don't know if they'll like taking orders from me.

Answer 1

Well sorry to tell you but staff will hate the meeting, everyone hates meetings, unless you give some kind of intellectual advice and then give out candy. Candy or days off is the only way that people enjoy having to sit through a meeting...

Answer 2

May I ask how did you get chosen for a mangement position? In retail you should have enough to talk about for an hour or more, 30 mintues should not be a problem for you at all, that is if you are prepared for the job you accepted. Is there any question on the job application that asks if they will like taking orders from so- and- so? I dont think so. But what I do think is that they will run you over and you wont be in this job very long. If you dont know how to handle this situation in the slightest, you have no business being in management if you have " nothing to say".

Answer 3

Well, since you’re in retail I am sure you can give a meeting about Customer Intimacy and why Customer Service is so important. Explain that if there were no customers, you guys would not have jobs. Excellent customer service increases the chances that the customer will return to the store. Most stores need regular, repeat customers in order to have a successful business.

Give a talk about how to deal with "difficult" customers and how to take a situation that starts out bad and turn it around so that the customer leaves happy. Talk about how customer liked to be listened to. Most of the time they wnat to be listened to more than they want the refund or the problem to be fixed. When they felt like they have been listend to, they are more positive that the situation will not rise again, thus keeping them coming back to your store.

Answer 4

I would suggest not giving them orders but getting to know one another as employees. If you are interested in and motivating them have them take a survey (there are a lot on the internet) that will determine their motivating factors. There is also a learning style game you could play thats a little silly but it does have a point. Stand in a circle of four (so you will need two teams), you will need five or six colored balls. Start with the first ball and them throw the ball to someon, but not the person that threw it to them. Add another ball into the mix, and see how well they do, gradually keep adding the balls until its too much to handle. Oh and no one can hold on to one for more than 2 seconds. Its basically to show how everyone needs to be on the same page and work as a team, if someone looses focus the entire team goes down. Also, just be as positive as you can and try to have fun!

Answer 5

Hi, as a German I used to work in Charleston, SC at Mobay Corp. Totally I worked for 25 years as a manager in chemical plants in the Engineering field. I will give you some advice based on moral principles and experience.

1. always be honest
2. talk about facts, not persons
3. listen
4. speak up ( don`t say "yes" when you think "no"
5. never use your position to put down ideas
6. be as short and precise as possible
7. create a climate of cooperation and team work
8. your approach should be: "Do it right the first time!"

Now for your presentation some detailed advice.

1. I think you have a lot to say. Start with 5 min talking about your life: your education, your work experience and why you think to be able to perform in this new position well, your personal situation ( married or not, kids, hobbies ). Make clear that you are willing to do the job under the guide of the 8 priciples I stated above. And make it clear that you expect from everybody to stick to the rules.
But be careful: If you yourself do not agree with those rules than be honest and tell them, what your rules for working with your coworkers will be.

2. If you follow the rules you don't give orders!
Certain procedures are well established and there is nothing to discuss. But a lot of procedures can and should be improved from time to time . Here it is nessecary to reach out for the imput of your coworkers. Doing this you will have a creative environment and the people will get interested in solving problems. Your job is to get out of the potential of your people as much as possible.
So talk for 15 to 20 min about problem solving techniques. If you are familiar with brainstorming techniques and are willing to use them- talk about it.
If you know already the work flow in this department well than you should adress specific problems you see. If this is not the case tell them that you will come up soon with recomendations for efficiency improvements. Ask them to present to you proposals for improvements and offer them to discuss it in the spirit of a team.
3. The last 5 min you should use for a summary of your important messages.

You can use 2 or 3 slides to show and explain the rules. The fact that some girls are older than you does'nt matter. What matters is that you are convincing in your statements.

Answer 6

You MUST give us more information to work with.


Talk about upcoming promotions, sales, accomplishments, how great the store is doing, how wonderful the other girls are, how happy you are to join their "team"

Great idea, person above me! Do a door prize!! get something cheap. a scented candle of some lotion, put all the names in, have someone pick. that is a excellent idea!!

Answer 7

they wil learn quickly to respect you if you let them know who is in charge! but do not be arrogant! be firm, and have others give you an opinion on how things should be run! make sure you emphasize that even though you are a manager, you are but one part of a team! they will respect that! also, tell them taht if they have a problem, then they can go to you with it!