I don’t know about you, but I’ve been pumped about Black Friday since Halloween. The adrenaline rush you feel as you surge through the store doors at 4 a.m. or earlier with a hundred other shoppers. The junk food that keeps you going until the final store closes at midnight. The spoils of victorious shopping that fill up your trunk as the day goes on. I love it all.
But today I realized something. There is more to be learned from this frantic shopping day than just how to find the closest parking spot and grab that last $3 blender. The five principles of successful Black Friday shopping can be applied to leadership as well.
1. Start early.
Whether you want the latest hot ticket item or want to get a jumpstart on the competitors in your market, the early bird catches the worm. With the new year just around the corner, it’s imperative that you plan now so when Monday, Jan. 3, arrives you walk into your office with a plan in place. If you haven’t already, hold a 2011 goal setting and planning meeting (link to goals post) with your team. Your preparation will pay off in the end.
2. Have a game plan.
Just like strategic shoppers map out their plans of attack for Black Friday, you also need to know what it will take to make your goals a reality. Studies show that putting your goals, strategies, and tactics in writing substantially increases the likelihood for success. So, grab your pen or your laptop, and get everything in writing.
3. Keep your eyes on the prize.
Just like shoppers can get distracted by all the gadgets, gizmos, and bustling crowds, it’s easy to get distracted by everything the day throws at you. So, after getting your plan on paper, post it somewhere in your office where everyone can see. This will keep you and your team focused, and it will act as a compass as the unexpected tries to throw you off track. After all, there’s nothing worse than ending up with a cheap sweatshirt when your goal was a cashmere sweater.
4. Make it a team effort.
Good shoppers know they can’t be in two, or three, or five, places at once, so they rely on teamwork to maximize their shopping impact. Along those same lines, unless you truly are a one-person department, you must involve your team if you want to be successful. Everyone has different skills, experiences, and abilities, and the more you tap into your teammates, the more you’ll achieve. Even in the planning process, you should involve your team as much as possible. Not only are two heads better than one, it’s also going to be much easier to get their buy-in if they contributed to the plan.
5. Don’t be afraid to throw a few elbows.
Now, let’s be clear, I’m not condoning violence in the workplace, or the store aisles. But, sometimes it’s necessary to fight for your team or your proposed plan. Whether that means logically arguing for the budget you need to reach your goals or standing up for your employees, a passionate leader isn’t afraid to battle for what they believe in. Also, your team’s loyalty will increase when they see you fighting for them.
So, the next time someone scoffs at your Black Friday plan of attack, make sure you tell them that you’re in it for more than just the bragging rights and the latest gaming console. At the end of the day, you can prop up your sore, aching feet and know you spent the day improving your leadership skills too.
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