Charting new waters

Work is going better all the time. I'm learning more about operations in this smaller store than I did in the larger, busier one. This is because I have more time to explore how things like the computer system operate. I also have more time to learn some of the finer details of management.

Yesterday morning, before I had to get ready for work, I experimented on my own laptop with a form that could be used at work to get a number of secondary tasks done without any one person being burdened by too much at a time. I developed a week's chart, with certain tasks for each day. By the time a week has gone by, a lot can get done and then it rotates to start over again. These tasks can be spread out through the whole day and none of them takes any more than 10 or 15 minutes. By the end of a day, a half dozen tasks can be performed and yet no one will feel pressured because they can be assigned through all shifts.

I called my supervisor and talked to her about this plan. She was very excited about it and gave me the go-ahead to begin implementing it. She also suggested that I print off the scheduled tasks and get it laminated. Then, we can just use a dry-erase marker to initial each task as it's completed. She further suggested that I make a hole in one corner and attach it to the schedule clipboard with a ring.

So, I went to work early so I could stop by Office Depot and have it laminated. When I got to work, I punched a hole in the corner and did as the supervisor suggested. All I have to do now is go over it with the other managers so they'll understand what's expected and how the chart works. I already went over it with my general manager and he's pretty pleased with the idea, too.

I'm pretty excited that both he and my supervisor came on board with this idea in such a good way. I'm not sure this plan would work effectively in a larger, busier store but it should work great in our smaller store. I have a few other ideas, too, to help the store run more efficiently and help the "bottom line". I'll bring them up one at a time to see if my supervisor thinks they'll work alright. She's been with the company nearly 20 years now, so she really knows all the ins and outs.