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| Author: |
Eric White |
Created: |
11/13/2008 1:09 PM |
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| Retail Blog |
By Eric White on
3/9/2010 7:46 AM
Last week’s discussion on Human Resources’ evaluation of the Loss Prevention professionals generated a fair amount of conversation. For some, the real-life experience of being passed over has been frustrating. For others, the perspective was one-sided and just short of unfair to HR. No matter where you fall on that scale, facts are facts.
I can agree that not every Loss Prevention professional is prepared for every position for which they apply. Further, the candidate does not always do everything within their power to accurately tell their story. However, a stereotype exists and is pervasive about the retail LP professional and must be challenged.
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By Eric White on
3/2/2010 10:05 AM
To my friends in the HR profession, this is not intended to disparage your talent evaluation processes. Conversely, I can’t apologize for stating the facts. All too often Loss Prevention professionals are incorrectly evaluated when applying for a job.
Several years ago, I was the hiring manager looking to fill a key security manager position in a very large corporation. I connected with a candidate that was, in my opinion, an outstanding prospect. This individual came to me with no experience in the field, but with all of the skills and characteristics I was seeking. The role, by the way, did not require practical experience and offered on-the-job training.&a ...
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By Eric White on
2/23/2010 9:21 AM
Recent events have highlighted the need for security precautions unlike anything we have experienced in America. Attempted terrorist attacks, bomb threats, workplace homicide, and violent crimes have peppered the headlines for the past several weeks. The Retail industry is not untouched. Violent encounters at retail stores have left may Loss Prevention programs in difficult situations, testing skills that many leaders have never before needed to call on. Following are three critical concepts for you to consider. If you are not comfortable in the role of crisis preparedness leader or crisis management consultant, today’s retail Loss Prevention programs may not be right for you. Face it, times have changed, your leadership skills must adapt to meet the challenge.
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By Eric White on
2/16/2010 9:59 AM
When was the last time an encounter with someone at your store truly left you inspired? A few retailers who focus on exceptional customer service may have examples of inspiring customer interactions, but I am talking about the people that work with you and around you. When was the last time that a corporate leader visited your store and when they left, you really felt better because of the encounter? I bet not many of you are wildly waiving your hands saying, “It happened to me”!
The industry is still feeling the effects of the sagging economy, and as a nation we are developing a keen sense of suspicion about leaders in general. So where have all the retail leaders gone? If you are looking around, you are missing my point. Yo ...
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By Eric White on
2/9/2010 7:30 AM
As we have discussed, people are arguably hard-wired to avoid getting involved. The drivers in creating this reality range from psychological to situational, but wherever you pin the “cause,” the “effect” is consistent, measurable and predictable. Fortunately, knowing this gives you an advantage in program design in your retail stores. Following are three guiding principles that will short-circuit the natural avoidance tendency of your store employees, helping them to take initiative and producing a happier work-life for everyone.
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By Eric White on
1/26/2010 8:05 AM
Why people don’t get involved is almost a cliché’. From the rotund Sergeant Shultz in Hogan’s Heroes who famously repeated, “I see Nothing” to myriad cinematic portrayals of the inner city citizen that “minds their own business,” people seem to default to inaction and avoidance. Social scientists support this idea with theory. Symbolic Interactionismis a core theoretical perspective that postulates that we make sense of our daily situations through our interactions with others. Especially when we’re in an ambiguous situation, we look to others to figure out how we should understand the situation and what we should do (and they’re looking to us to figure out the same thing). Numerous interesting studies have been done to d ...
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By Eric White on
1/19/2010 8:00 AM
If you think you have never experienced the bystander effect, ask yourself if you have ever heard someone say: “That’s not my job.” From cleaning up a spill on the floor of your store to reporting the suspicious behavior of a fellow employee, the people that work for your company have opportunities every day to either contribute to your cause or turn a blind eye. You will never be fully successful unless you can get almost everyone engaged but remember you are working against human nature and the temptation that we all have to take the path of least resistance.
There are two major factors that contribute to the bystander effect:
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By Eric White on
1/12/2010 8:28 AM
At 6:00 am, the temperature was in the teens. It was dark, cold and the last thing I wanted to be doing was changing a tire, but that is exactly what I was doing. A few minutes earlier I was pulling into the parking lot of my gym, preparing to scurry quickly inside when I noticed the lady shivering and staring at her jack assembly and her flat to the rim tire. It took relatively little time to change her tire, even though her jack handle had broken during the change and I had to go retrieve my own from my jeep. She was grateful and thanked me for the help and I smiled feeling my cheeks tingling in the bitter cold. As I entered the gym, I saw 20 to 30 people going about their business and wondered how many had walked right past the lady in distress, I was certain at least several had. It was then that one of the foundational areas of study from my time as an undergrad in Sociology came rushing back. T ...
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By Eric White on
1/5/2010 7:51 AM
January offers me at least two annual annoyances. My gym is full of new faces and the industry publications are equally packed with expert predictions. The former goes away on its own in about 6 weeks, the latter makes little difference in the about the same time period. So maybe it is best to just hibernate for the next few weeks until the “new year resolutions” fade away into reality.
Better yet, I think I will knock over the bandwagon and offer some of my own insight into what 2010 holds for the Loss Prevention industry, but will try to keep it real enough to outlast the six-week benchmark.
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By Eric White on
12/22/2009 8:00 AM
I believe congratulations to retailers are in order. For most retailers, 2009 has not been a stellar year, and yet many have fought and survived.
Last week in the NRF SmartBrief Special Report, NRF President, Tracy Mullin, shared her thoughts on the biggest takeaways from 2009 in retail. I believe her assessment is accurate: that retailers have learned to do more with less and have achieved tremendous efficiency in their processes. While Ms. Mullins was addressing the retail industry at large, I'd like to offer a particular note of congratulations and "job well done" to loss prevention professionals. They have been faced with - simultaneously - higher shrink AND increasi ...
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