After hundreds of conversations with retail leaders on NRF's Retail Gets Real podcast I've learned the people who get the most out of these discussions aren't the ones with all the answers. They're the ones who know how to listen, ask thoughtful questions and stay curious.
As you prepare for NRF NXT, here are three ways to make every conversation count.
It's easy to see a CEO, founder or senior executive and focus only on where they are today. Instead, pay attention to how they got there.
Every retail leader has a career story filled with unexpected opportunities, challenges and lessons learned. Listen for the decisions and pieces of the journey that shaped their career. You’ll discover that the path you're on won't follow a straight line either, and that's often where the most exciting opportunities are found.
The best questions don't have simple yes-or-no answers. Whether you're meeting a speaker, recruiter or mentor, think about what you genuinely want to learn.
Ask what skills they believe matter most right now. Ask what they're paying attention to in the industry. Ask what they wish they had known when they were starting their careers. Great questions lead to memorable conversations, and memorable conversations can open doors long after the event ends.
You'll hear a lot of ideas over the course of NRF NXT. Rather than trying to capture everything, challenge yourself to identify one takeaway from each session that you can put into practice.
Maybe it's a leadership lesson. Maybe it's a new technology trend. Maybe it's a different way of thinking about customers or your career. Small insights often have the biggest impact.
NRF NXT brings together some of the brightest minds in the industry, but what makes the experience special is the opportunity to learn directly from them.
I’m looking forward to my conversation with Steve Peters, Senior Vice President and Head of Stores and Operations at Old Navy during our live recording of NRF's Retail Gets Real podcast at NRF NXT.
And I’m looking forward to speaking with you there too.
