Retail chief delivers shop-floor lessons
Talking Point
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.When Archie Norman took over as chief executive of Asda he inherited 200 managers. After five years 10 survived. The cull left a lot of executive Jaguars idle in the car park. Norman's solution: to raffle off a month's use to employees. As he said, "If you work on the checkout, it causes a stir among the neighbours when you drive home in a Jag."
Norman was speaking at the inaugural League Managers' Association "From Touchline to Boardroom" conference at the Emirates Stadium. The event was billed as a lucrative way to pass on the lessons of football management to business leaders, but the thought occurred, while listening to Norman and other executives who joined the likes of Arsène Wenger and David Moyes on the podium, that the education was mutual.
Norman noted that in football, like politics, "a new guy brings regime change", which meant a lot of knowledge was lost. A lesson itchy chairmen might ponder. Alan Curbishley, sharing the stage, recalled such was the crisis when he took over West Ham United that he retained the coaching staff. West Ham stayed up.
Norman stressed the need to motivate everyone, from bin-men up, by finding ways such as the Jaguar raffle of giving them a stake. Asda paid less than rivals, but had better staff retention and absenteeism rates. The football parallel is the need for managers to keep the whole squad engaged, and for chairmen to do the same. Also useful was advice from John Timpson, of the eponymous chain, on dealing with a generation that no longer automatically accepts authority. Alex McLeish of Birmingham was one of the few football folk present at an event aimed at business. There should be more next year.
g.moore@independent.co.uk
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments