The Indispensable Lessons I Learned from Working in Retail
Shaina Tranquilino
February 4, 2024
Transitioning from full-time retail work to a career as an educational assistant at a school was undoubtedly a significant change for me. However, even with my reduced hours in retail, I quickly realized that the valuable lessons learned during my years of working in customer service continue to shape and enhance my professional growth. In this blog post, I will delve into how my background in retail has proven to be an invaluable asset in my current role and beyond.
1. Effective Communication Skills:
One of the key takeaways from my retail experience is the ability to communicate effectively. Whether it's interacting with customers or collaborating with colleagues, strong communication skills are crucial. My time in retail taught me how to listen actively, empathize with others' concerns, and express myself clearly and concisely – all traits that have been invaluable when assisting students with their unique needs and facilitating effective teamwork among educators.
2. Adaptability and Resilience:
Working in retail often meant dealing with unpredictable situations and challenging customers. This environment forced me to learn how to adapt swiftly while maintaining composure under pressure. These skills have proved essential when faced with unexpected situations within the school setting, such as handling emergencies or adapting lesson plans on short notice. The resilience developed through countless encounters with demanding customers has helped me remain calm and focused during high-stress moments.
3. Customer Service Excellence:
Customer service lies at the heart of any successful business, including schools, where parents and students are our valued "customers." My previous retail experience ingrained in me the importance of providing exceptional service by going above and beyond expectations. This mindset now translates into ensuring that every interaction I have within the school community is characterized by attentiveness, understanding, and dedication.
4. Problem-solving Abilities:
Retail work constantly presents challenges that require creative problem-solving skills. From resolving conflicts between customers to finding alternative solutions when faced with product shortages, I honed my ability to think on my feet and find practical resolutions. These problem-solving skills are transferable to my role as an educational assistant and other areas of my life, where I encounter various obstacles daily, such as addressing behavioral issues or adapting teaching approaches to accommodate diverse learners.
5. Time Management:
One of the most valuable lessons from working in retail is understanding how vital efficient time management is. Balancing multiple responsibilities simultaneously while adhering to strict deadlines is a skill developed through years of organizing inventory, handling customer requests promptly, and managing shifts effectively. This proficiency has proven invaluable in juggling the demands of both my school job and part-time retail position without compromising quality or effectiveness in either.
While transitioning from full-time retail work to a career in education was a significant shift for me, it's clear that the experiences gained during my time in retail continue to shape and enhance my professional growth today. From effective communication skills to adaptability, resilience, and problem-solving abilities, the lessons learned have seamlessly integrated into my educational assistant role, providing me with a unique perspective and a well-rounded skill set. Embracing these learnings has not only enriched my interactions with students but also empowered me to excel in various aspects of life beyond the workplace.
3 notes
·
View notes
Enhancing Employee Performance with Microlearning: A Deep Dive into the 70:20:10 Model
In today's fast-paced work environment, traditional training methods often fall short in equipping employees with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in their roles. Microlearning has emerged as an effective strategy to bridge this gap, offering on-the-job support and significantly enhancing employee performance. By delivering bite-sized, focused learning modules, microlearning aligns perfectly with the principles of the 70:20:10 model of learning and development. This model asserts that 70% of learning occurs through workplace experiences, 20% through social learning, and 10% via formal structured learning. Let’s explore how microlearning integrates with this model to optimize employee development.
The 70:20:10 Model: A Brief Overview
The 70:20:10 model, developed by Morgan McCall, Michael M. Lombardo, and Robert A. Eichinger at the Center for Creative Leadership, provides a robust framework for understanding how adults learn in professional settings. The model suggests that:
70% of learning comes from on-the-job experiences: This involves solving real-life problems, taking on challenging tasks, and gaining practical insights through daily activities.
20% of learning is derived from social interactions: This encompasses mentoring, coaching, collaboration, and learning through observation and feedback from peers and leaders.
10% of learning is from formal education: This includes structured courses, workshops, and training programs designed to impart specific knowledge and skills.
Microlearning and On-the-Job Experiences (70%)
Microlearning is inherently practical, making it an ideal tool for facilitating on-the-job learning. Here’s how it aligns with the 70% component of the model:
Immediate Application: Microlearning modules are typically concise and focused on specific skills or knowledge areas, allowing employees to quickly apply what they’ve learned to their work. This immediacy reinforces learning through real-world application, which is critical for retention and mastery.
Contextual Relevance: By delivering content that is directly relevant to an employee's daily tasks, microlearning ensures that the training is pertinent and immediately useful. For instance, a sales associate might receive a quick lesson on handling customer objections just before a client meeting.
Flexibility: Microlearning can be accessed anytime, anywhere, enabling employees to learn at the point of need. This flexibility ensures that learning doesn’t disrupt work but rather complements it, fitting seamlessly into the flow of the workday.
Microlearning and Social Learning (20%)
Microlearning also plays a significant role in facilitating social learning, the 20% aspect of the 70:20:10 model. Here’s how:
Collaborative Learning: Microlearning platforms often include features that encourage interaction, such as discussion forums, social media integration, and peer reviews. These features foster a collaborative learning environment where employees can share insights and best practices.
Mentorship and Coaching: Short, targeted learning modules can be used by mentors and coaches to support their guidance. For example, a mentor might assign a specific microlearning module to address a mentee’s area of improvement and then discuss the content in a follow-up session.
Feedback Mechanisms: Microlearning tools often incorporate feedback systems where learners can receive immediate input on their performance. This continuous feedback loop helps learners refine their skills and knowledge through social interaction.
Microlearning and Formal Education (10%)
While microlearning shines in practical and social contexts, it also complements formal structured learning, the 10% of the 70:20:10 model:
Reinforcement of Formal Training: Microlearning can be used to reinforce and supplement formal training sessions. After attending a workshop or a course, employees can engage with microlearning modules that reinforce key concepts and provide additional practice opportunities.
Pre-Training Preparation: Short modules can be used to prepare employees for formal training sessions, ensuring they have the foundational knowledge needed to maximize the benefits of the course.
Post-Training Follow-Up: Following formal training, microlearning can offer follow-up modules that help solidify the learning, address any lingering questions, and provide ongoing support.
Benefits of Microlearning in the 70:20:10 Framework
Increased Engagement: Microlearning’s bite-sized format is more engaging than traditional lengthy courses. Employees are more likely to complete and retain the information presented in short, focused bursts.
Higher Retention Rates: Research shows that spaced repetition and short learning sessions significantly improve information retention. Microlearning leverages these principles, helping employees remember and apply what they’ve learned.
Personalized Learning Paths: Microlearning allows for the creation of personalized learning experiences. Employees can choose modules that address their specific needs and learning preferences, fostering a more tailored and effective learning experience.
Cost-Effective: Microlearning is typically more cost-effective than traditional training programs. It requires fewer resources to develop and deliver and can be scaled easily across the organization.
Implementing Microlearning: Best Practices
To maximize the benefits of microlearning within the 70:20:10 framework, organizations should consider the following best practices:
Identify Key Learning Objectives: Start by identifying the specific skills and knowledge areas that need to be addressed. This ensures that each microlearning module is purposeful and aligned with organizational goals.
Leverage Technology: Utilize modern learning management systems (LMS) and mobile learning platforms to deliver microlearning content. These tools provide easy access, track progress, and offer analytics to measure effectiveness.
Integrate with Workflows: Ensure that microlearning is seamlessly integrated into the daily workflows of employees. This can be achieved by making content accessible through mobile devices, enabling learning at the point of need.
Encourage Social Learning: Foster a culture of collaboration and knowledge sharing. Encourage employees to discuss and share microlearning content, participate in forums, and provide peer feedback.
Continuous Improvement: Regularly review and update microlearning content to ensure it remains relevant and effective. Gather feedback from employees to identify areas for improvement and to keep the learning experience fresh and engaging.
Conclusion
Microlearning, with its focus on delivering concise and relevant content, fits seamlessly within the 70:20:10 learning and development model. By supporting on-the-job learning, facilitating social interactions, and complementing formal education, microlearning not only enhances employee performance but also fosters a culture of continuous improvement. As organizations continue to navigate the complexities of the modern workplace, microlearning offers a dynamic and effective solution to meet their evolving learning needs.
0 notes
Workplace Learning Guide: 2022’s Wrap-up And 2023’s Learning Trends
As per CNBC’s research, 94% of employees say that they would stay at a company longer if it simply invested in helping them learn. The statistics clearly convey how critical workplace learning is for employee retention. It is the most powerful tool to keep your best talents and upskill them to deliver high-quality performance for driving business growth.
Hence big names in the Industry are investing in workplace learning to upskill the employees.
Do you know workplace learning can do much more than just strengthen employee skill sets? It can prevent employee burnout, improve employee engagement, attract top talent and ultimately boost your business’s bottom line. However, to achieve workplace learning success, it is crucial to implement it correctly. Without much ado, let’s look at all aspects of workplace learning to find out what didn’t work in 2022 and which L&D strategies can be improved to make learning in the workplace more effective in 2023.
Read more :- https://disprz.com/blog/workplace-learning-guide/
0 notes
listen i am obsessed with this single line of dialogue. it's a Final Fantasy game full of people named crazy shit like GENESIS RHAPSODOS and WEISS THE IMMACULATE and then there's this dude. some random ass guy from the in-game lore equivalent of rural Louisiana whose name may as well be Jim.
And Jim Has Seen It All. he fell 300 meters and crashed through the roof of a church and he walked it off like it was nothing. he's seen his mentor grow one single wing and take to the skies majestically like an albatross. he survived when an alien brain fungus consumed his coworker's consciousness spurring the guy to commit arson and a small genocide. fresh outta high school he's abducted by scientists and trapped in a large petri dish for four years. he escapes and then singlehandedly mows down an entire goddamn army of hundreds of troopers and gets shot like at least twenty times. he tears a metal tree out of the ground and chucks it at a helicopter like a toy shovel, acting cool about it. "ugh mondays am i right? haha"
the rapture is coming. the sky has ripped open like a wrestler's t-shirt and everyone is mourning their impending doom and Jim is just like "it'll be fine lol" but then SEPHIROTH arrives and shoves him into a wormhole. he wanders the empty backstage of reality, and only then does he start to slightly freak out just a tiny bit. no problem. hop in hop out, quick boss battle against the brain fungus coworker, easy peasy. he gets savewarped to another universe, kinda annoying but he can deal, he thinks.
But now there's a fucking meteor crashing down on top of him. And finally, finally— Jim cracks. He can't handle this. What the actual fuck is my life, he finally wonders. "What the hell is going on!?" he finally asks.
736 notes
·
View notes
apparently it's way easier to plan scenes and plotpoints for a fanfic if i draw them first, so here we are <3 featuring me rambling abt this scene under the cut!!
i was specifically thinking about Haym and Rikki's entire relationship?
especially very early on, right when Rikki is properly assigned as Neon J's apprentice and whatnot. this was meant to be the moment Rikki realizes they're not coping very well with leaving Ban behind in Beachside Archipelago, and how they're actually gravitating towards Haym because of how similar he feels to Ban - yknow. being the same model and all
cause Rikki has some serious issues with needing absolute control over every aspect of their life. and right now, they're stuck with a job they don't exactly care for, trying desperately to suck up to Neon J so he'll actually promote Rikki to a DECENT job designing security bots for Vinyl City, not BABYSITTING 1010
(which isn't even babysitting, moreso than being monitored 24/7 in a localized space where they can't be shady since Neon J doesnt. trust them. at all. for various valid reasons)
so witnessing Haym pull some stupid but well-meaning stunt to force Rikki show off how good they are at fixing and repairing shit makes Rikki go????
A LITTLE FERAL????
BECAUSE THEY UNCONSCIOUSLY PROJECT ALL THEIR UNRESOLVED FEELINGS ABOUT BAN ONTO HAYM
but they only realize this when their body shuts down and cannot act the way they would've wanted, seeing Haym entirely fucking wrecked being very similar to how they found Ban when they first met makes them spiral a little
Haym doesn't even KNOW he's not the original Yellow model, he has his suspicions but is overall kept in the dark. befriending Rikki is something he does entirely out of genuine curiosity, motherfucker has no clue he's in the middle of a 4 year long unresolved break-up between two losers who are constantly pining after each other both romantically and platonically
im thinkingggg Haym might be seeking out Rikki's presence mostly because he's noticed that they treat him slightly different than the others. not necessarily better, just different enough to get him curious. so the need to build an identity away from 1010 as a group/unit and his inherent curiosity just gets him into this mess
77 notes
·
View notes