Joshua Ralston’s Post

Let’s talk perspective and #teamwork! Did you know Winston Retail also does pop ups AND retail stores? The number one question I am always asked is what do you do?! My 10 year old smiled as I walked out of the house today in something other than my work from home uniform. From hospital stays, costco trips, school events and leadership I enjoy every.single.moment. In reality I do it all! ☺️ Chaos is my daily, but perspective and perseverance trump all. When you land a role at a company that trusts you to soar anything is possible! Throwing on my retail managment hat and heading to a store threw things back into perspective today. I am simply thankful. I wake up everyday and connect with humans on my team. I am trusted to make an impact as a people leader not a manager. At Winston there are no boundaries. We show up, work dang hard and never look back. Think about how you precive something… why was your day hard, and what could you have done differently? Someone struggling on your team, pick up a shift or find solution. Share your struggles because I assure you 3 other people have a similar story. At the end of the day, choose your hard. You have the power to change your future and the trajectory of your career! I empower everyone to do something kind and see what response you get. ✨ #wearewinston #crossfunctional #perspective #teamwork #filaretail #winstonretail #chooseyourhard #wearehiring #joinmyteam #leadership #regionalmanagement

I recently finished listening to Frank Slootman's book Amp It Up. Not sure how I missed it before, but it is worth a listen. For context, I'm good for a business / leadership book about 1 out of every 4 books I read/listen to. Most have a few nuggets I take away but they don't have much impact on how I think about leading companies, managing people, and the things I do every day. For me Amp It Up hit home. Not because it was a new concept that changed my point of view, but because Mr. Slootman lays out a framework of leadership and management that I also seem to have stumbled into over my 25-year career. Please don't confuse me for him, but it was validating to hear him share so many concepts that I've built into my personal framework. Now I can cross-off "write leadership book" when I retire because he wrote the one I would write. He doesn't talk much about having fun and being passionate about what you do- which I also think are important, but put it on your list and let me know what you think. Key concepts I discovered we share: Importance of clear vision and strategic focus - you and your teams can only really do 2 or maybe 3 important things at once. The TJX Companies, Inc. peeps - will know these as Big Rocks! Accountability - your people have to be empowered to make decisions and be willing to be accountable for results. You need people who can handle things and be measured by outcomes- especially as you scale. Sense of urgency - I once promoted someone because she always walked quickly across the store. I still remember her - always going somewhere, to get something done. Look for that in people and create that in your teams. The belief that execution is more important than strategy - I'll never be a high-minded strategist for better or worse. Hearing Mr. Slootman share this philosophy made me feel better about my position.

“Leadership Begins Before the Store Opens” As a store manager, I believe leadership isn’t just about decision-making—it’s about setting the tone for the entire day. That’s why my mornings start early, well before the first customer walks in. Here’s what my routine looks like: • Team Huddles: I take time to connect with the team, discuss priorities, and share encouragement. These moments foster alignment and motivation. • Leading by Example: Whether it’s preparing the store floor or reviewing the day’s targets, I strive to show that no task is too small for a leader. • Customer-Centric Mindset: I remind the team that every decision we make should reflect our commitment to customer satisfaction. Managing one of the top AB stores in Jordan is a rewarding challenge, and I’m proud to guide such a dedicated team. Together, we focus on exceeding customer expectations, even during peak hours. Leadership isn’t confined to office spaces; it happens in real-time, where customers and teams come first. I’d love to hear—what’s your approach to starting your day as a leader? #Leadership #RetailManagement #CustomerExperience #Teamwork

Creating exceptional store managers is essential for retail success. From my 25+ years of experience of providing coaching training to well over a thousand store managers, I've learned that a store's performance relies heavily on its manager. They represent the business and drive team performance, making a significant impact on outcomes. A client with over 50 stores confirmed this. My client faced performance issues in some store, with these managers citing excuses like demographics and poor promotions for low KPIs. Replacing underperforming managers with high performers led to meeting and exceeding these KPIs, proving effective leadership's importance. Based on these experiences, here are my 7 key characteristics of successful store managers: 1. Lead by Example: Exceptional managers excel in customer service and sales, showing passion and energy in their roles. 2. Excellent Communicators: They use various methods to ensure messages are understood, with daily huddles being crucial for sharing results and setting goals. 3. Set Clear Expectations: They emphasise standards and processes, ensuring the team knows how to meet these expectations. They are KPI-focused and support both struggling and high-achieving team members. 4. Consistent Follow-up: They reinforce expectations daily, leading by example, evaluating performance, and providing feedback. 5. Resilient: They quickly find solutions when things go wrong, maintaining passion and energy despite challenges. 6. Cultivate a Positive In-Store Culture: They maintain a fair and supportive environment, helping staff achieve goals and grow. 7. Effective Time Management: They are highly organised, with excellent time management and prioritisation skills. What other skills would you add to my list? #retailreset #retail #leadership

Creating exceptional store managers is essential for retail success. From my 25+ years of experience of providing coaching training to well over a thousand store managers, I've learned that a store's performance relies heavily on its manager. They represent the business and drive team performance, making a significant impact on outcomes. A client with over 50 stores confirmed this. My client faced performance issues in some store, with these managers citing excuses like demographics and poor promotions for low KPIs. Replacing underperforming managers with high performers led to meeting and exceeding these KPIs, proving effective leadership's importance. Based on these experiences, here are my 7 key characteristics of successful store managers: 1. Lead by Example: Exceptional managers excel in customer service and sales, showing passion and energy in their roles. 2. Excellent Communicators: They use various methods to ensure messages are understood, with daily huddles being crucial for sharing results and setting goals. 3. Set Clear Expectations: They emphasise standards and processes, ensuring the team knows how to meet these expectations. They are KPI-focused and support both struggling and high-achieving team members. 4. Consistent Follow-up: They reinforce expectations daily, leading by example, evaluating performance, and providing feedback. 5. Resilient: They quickly find solutions when things go wrong, maintaining passion and energy despite challenges. 6. Cultivate a Positive In-Store Culture: They maintain a fair and supportive environment, helping staff achieve goals and grow. 7. Effective Time Management: They are highly organised, with excellent time management and prioritisation skills. What other skills would you add to my list? #retailreset #retail #leadership

Leaders who have made a lasting impact on my life and career, Day 5. Shannon O'Brien. When you were Macy's Rosedale's Operations/Asset Protection manager, you were my manager as I went into a new area for myself. Having always been on the customer facing side of retail, going into my new position as Fulfillment OMNI Lead I was little out of my comfort zone. Something I learned about you right away is how strong of a leader you are. You tell someone to do something and they do it. You gain the respect of everyone working with you through strong command, but by also getting in there and doing the work yourself. You are not afraid to get your hands dirty and work right there with us. You would be out picking customer orders to ship, packing with us, and then running out to catch a shoplifter. After COVID you and I were some of the first people back into the store while the store stayed closed and we were only fulfilling orders to ship out. You made everyday great to be back at work. You have a great understanding of people. You keep a tight ship, but a friendly open door environment where everyone feels comfortable and confident in going to you for anything. There is no one I have worked with who has such a perfect balance of having a stern hard hitting conversation and displaying empathy, respect, and a safe place for colleagues as you. I'll always remember when mine and the receiving managers titles were changing from "Lead" to "Captain" and you ordered us each a captain hat to wear with our new titles 😂 You helped lead the store through so much change and you did it without it ever missing a beat. I admire you as a leader and as a human. Thank you, Shannon, for displaying strong integrity in everything you do. Thank you for leading through change. Thank you for being an amazing leader! #leadership #growth #career #motivation #inspiration

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑱𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒚 𝒊𝒔 𝑯𝒂𝒓𝒅... When I wanted to be a District Manager of a multi-million dollar market, I was told it would never happen. Female, in an HR role for a market, never in a sales role, not competitive enough, and other reasons-I'm sure you can fill in the blanks. Fighting against the status quo is tedious, risky, hard. It's also worth it. I became only the 6th female District Manager in Best Buy company history. Finished #1 in the company the first year and stayed in the top 5%. When you become a business owner...everything is stacked agains you. The assumption is you won't make it...many don't. Figuring it out as you go, learning to think, lead and engage differently. Doing it yourself in the beginning with no team and no resources. It's tedious, frustrating, it's hard. But it you're willing to be constantly learning, pivoting and finding the right people to surround yourself with...it will be worth it. #focus #leadership #loyalty #business #motivation

Ever had a boss who gave you wings? Years ago, as I ventured into the dynamic world of real estate and shopping centers, I was learning the ropes, making mistakes, and growing quickly. Promotions came rapidly, but one particular memory remains etched in my mind. It was during a high-profile gathering of executives—CEOs, general managers, and country leaders. My boss was effortlessly moving through the room, networking as one does in such settings. Each time he introduced me, he didn’t just offer a simple acknowledgment. Instead, he consistently said: “Do you know her? She’s brilliant. As long as I have a good team, I can afford to be a bad manager.” He didn’t need to say that. He could have easily claimed all the credit for the success of our newly opened mall. Yet, he made a deliberate choice to highlight and uplift his team. Later that same evening, during the inauguration of the mall, he took the stage and once again echoed the same sentiment: "Don't praise me, praise my team." That public recognition wasn’t just a gesture—it was empowering. It taught me that a true leader’s role is not to overshadow their team, but to help them shine. Years have passed, yet that moment remains vivid, as if it happened yesterday. It still gives me chills to this day—reminding me of the power of belief and recognition. And every time I think of it, I feel a renewed sense of strength. That memory continues to push me forward, fueling my drive to take on new challenges, to grow, and to pay it forward. To that boss —thank you. You set a powerful example, not only in leadership but in your belief in people and their ability to rise. To leaders everywhere: sometimes the greatest gift you can offer your team is not just guidance or opportunity, but the confidence to soar—and to keep soaring, long after the moment has passed. Joakim Hogsander 🙏 #Leadership #Empowerment #TeamSuccess #RealEstate #InspiringLeadership

This afternoon I was in a well known cycle store paying up at the till just a couple of moments before closing. Guy who was serving at the till just walked off. His colleague (could have been his supervisor) asked him to serve me and he said he had stuff to do then off he went. They had a bit of a stand off and it all got a bit awkward. The colleague/supervisor then reluctantly served me. Trying make light of the situation I said “I’ve never felt so wanted” to which he ignored then wished me a good evening. It’s been on my mind all afternoon because it was such a poor experience. I really felt embarrassed, awkward and aghast all at the same time. But most of all I keep thinking about what might be behind that guy wanting to clock off so badly and the pair of colleagues openly arguing on the shop floor. My guess is that a lack of strong leadership is behind poor team engagement, low motivation and no accountability. It made me sad for the team, the leader and their customers. I was quite excited about buying my bike tent and now feel all flat! People who work in retail have such a tough job and a leader has such an impact on the way their team view and treat customers. It has to start with great communication, connecting the team to feeling like they make a difference. Happy team = happy customers. #Leadership #teamengagement #customerexperience

This is why I love what I do. This was written by one of the attendees in our retailer leader development program. "You have 365 days. 365 chances to decide the kind of leader you want to be. I was really excited when my manager asked if I would be interested in doing this class. My first thought was "Hey, he sees something in me. This company wants to invest in me. In my future." I've been with the company for 10yrs and for a long time I thought my goal was to get out of here. Who wanted to work grocery? Well as it turns out...Me. I have come to realize that I really love the grocery business. I've loved being in the learning zone for the past 7 weeks and learning more about people and how I, as a future leader, can coach them. I feel like the learning zone does get lost sometimes in the workplace. So, if I only took away one thing from this class... it's to let my team have a space to keep learning and making mistakes when possible. I have already implemented so many of the things I have learned into leading and coaching my team and creating a culture of kindness. I feel like some of the skills I have learned in this module of the class are action items that I will definitely be intentionally practicing to be a better worker, coach, leader and team mate. My goal in life is to be the kind of person I want to meet. And this class is driving me, showing me how to be the kind of leader I want to meet. I definitely want to be a leader that people want to follow and not one they want to push into a burning building. I am excited for the next module so that I can dive deeper into the logistics of making money and sales. I really appreciate this opportunity to learn." When you develop your people, they are loyal to you! #retailcareers #retailleaders