In the last issue of "Minding the Store" we asked you to ask some thought provoking questions of yourself in your role as a leader in your store(s). And we asked you to be honest with yourself regarding your vulnerable spots in your leading role in your bookstore. This week we would like to "drill down" and look at what additional skills would add to your role as a leader!
First of all consider what additional skills that you may need. If you could add any skill to your portfolio of skills, what would it be? This could be additional computer literacy. It might be managerial awareness. Anything that you believe would enhance your success:
- What difference do you think that skill would have on your role as a bookseller and or your life?
- How difficult would it be to acquire that skill?
- What is standing in the way of you attaining it?
- How vital would it be to your success as a bookseller?
Why don't you write down that skill and indicate why you would really like to attain it. Keep it in a place where you would have to look at it every day. Consider its relative worth in improving yourself.
Now let's look at your strengths more in depth:
- When are you at your best and feel the most secure in what you are doing?
- Why do people look up to you as a leader?
- What personal quality do you believe adds the most to your leadership role in your bookstore(s)?
- Write down what you believe is your greatest strength?
Now take a look at your responses. Do they accurately evaluate you as you have seen yourself as a leader in bookselling? Would you want this person as your employer? Would you want this person as an employee? How about as a co-worker? Is this person (you) happy and successful? In what way do you need to grow, in order to see your business operate at its optimum level? How comfortable do you feel betting on yourself as a leader in your organization?
Now that you have asked these questions of yourself mentally, please write them down on a piece of paper. In our next column, we will cover how some very successful people answer similar questions. In the meanwhile really think through your answers and the consequences these answers bring to your company. Please be honest with yourself!
