I have been in retail industry for almost more than 17 years, one thing that is always keep me on the toe is how to motivate my subordinate especially the one in the front line facing the customers.
I started to believe that talking, sharing ,coaching and training are the key ingredients in motivating frontline retail staff .. at least it works for the first 10 years of my retailing career but lately I start to doubt it.
Is it the training and development aspect more effective than money aspect in motivating the staff?
Why I ask. it is because today I met one of my old staff whom she worked with me before. She indeed a very intelligent girl and possess the a good customer service personality. however it was quite a challenge for my supervisor to ask her to put up make up (at least lipsstick)
But to my surprise ...today she actually in full make up and lipstick with no qualms about it (in new company) I asked why ...
Later on .. after much probing i found out that she indeed earning 3 times more than her previous job although function remain as customer service assistant (in her this new job titled as Retail consultant).
So the conclusions is that Money does play a lot of influence in the motivational aspect at least in Kuala Lumpur
