Plans don't always work out

It still took us about two hours to close last night at the other store, even though I began some closing procedures early. The problem was that I was the only person there who had ever closed before, which meant none of the others had a clue what needed to be done. Even after I told them things to do, they mostly still didn't know how to do them. I wound up having to instruct and demonstrate almost every single procedure plus do the end-of-day paperwork before we could leave.

Two of the people there, one and aspiring manager, complained that they couldn't close all the time because there was too much to do and it takes too long. Well, it doesn't take too long when people jump in and do the job, but they can't do what they don't know how to do.

We should be able to close and get out of there in an hour at the most. I am hoping that if I am sent to that store again to close, I'll have at least one or two experienced closers with me who can instruct the novices.

My original plan of action would have gotten us out on time, but not when no one has a clue what it all means!