CEO Corner: "Blind spots"

 

I recently had a conversation with a friend who is a store manager at a large national clothing retail chain. 

One of the things we talked about was the challenges faced when managing staff.

 

He used a term which I found quite funny. He mentioned one of the great things he loves about new staff is that they don't have "store blindness".

When I asked what store blindness is, he explained that "it's when existing staff cannot see the tasks that need to be done".

For example, when customers browse or try on clothes in the store they may leave the clothes dishevelled or in the wrong place. New staff will see that this has occurred and will tidy up, whereas existing staff no longer see that there is work to be done. They have become blind to it.

 

I cracked up laughing, but soon after, I realised that this is a common occurrence.

 

I know I personally have left stuff in my gym bag, which I only discover when I clean the bag out. Empty drink bottles are a good example.

 

I also know some female friends who carry stuff in their hand bags that they have totally forgotten about - usually lipstick, earrings, or expired transport tickets.

 

Sometimes we have blind spots which we cannot see or recognise until we actually take the time to investigate further.

 

I am not really just talking about forgotten items in gym bags and hand bags. 

 

What are you carrying around? What could you clean out so that you could live your life the way you really want to?