#685 gouda or badda?

Our local grocery store has recently added a new section of specialty cheeses.  These are pricey brands that are perishable and require refrigeration, so the company has made a substantial investment in the area.

As a result, they have assigned one of the workers a monthly quota to sell these new cheeses.  They have directed her to provide samples and to come from behind the deli counter into the cheese section to encourage customers to learn about (and then buy!) these upscale items.  From corporate's standpoint, it is a reasonable expectation of this employee.

The problem is that this employee was productive and busy in the deli before the cheese responsibilities were added on.  It makes no sense to have someone handing out cubes of cheeses when there is a line of customers waiting for deli sandwiches to be made.  There was no replacement assigned to the deli and so from the employee and shoppers' perspectives, the specialty quota is a dumb idea.

Conflicting expectations only serve to frustrate and confuse people.  Have you inadvertently placed your employees in a similar situation?  Do you know?  Asking about implications before making assignment changes often yields feedback that can only come from those with intimate insight.  The cheese stands alone; don't you fall into that trap.

-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com