myRetailer.ca

One of the most effective training tools is make it easy for people to learn by example through mentoring.

For our business, it is hiring season. This is the time of year when we go from a staff of 12 in one store to 45. To do this, we are very fortunate to have the majority of our team return year after year. However,  we inevitably find ourselves hiring  8-12 new recruits every season.

One trick that we adopted a few years ago is mentoring. Every new recruit, when they join our team,  spend their first two shifts paired with a mentor, a veteran with our company. By mirroring and working closely with a senior person, several things happen. They can learn the technical tasks associated with the position. They actually do gain a mentor, someone they can go to in order to ask questions, like; “Where do I hang my jacket?” But most importantly, they can see a veteran customer service associate in action. (more…)

Peer Advisory groups are a great way to discuss business issues confidentially with other owners, CEO’s and like minded business people. They offer the opportunity to get new ideas outside your regular circle of people, and can be useful to test ideas and receive some ‘constructive’ criticism.  There’s likely a group for every type, and several across the country.  We are looking to create a list of these groups across Canada.

I’ll add to this list as we find more sources, but here are some of the larger Canadian Peer Advisory Groups:

Innovators Alliance
www.innovators.org
Coverage: Southern and Eastern Ontario

Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO)
www.eonetwork.org
Coverage: .B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec

Presidents of Entrepreneurial Organizations (PEO)
www.peo.net
Coverage: Southwestern Ontario

Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO)
www.womenpresidentsorg.com
Coverage: B.C., Ontario, Quebec

TEC The Executive Committee
www.tec-canada.com
Coverage: B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick

Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO)
www.ypo.org
Coverage: B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia

Virtus Inc.
www.virtusinc.com
Coverage: Greater Vancouver

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