Invest in Relationships, Embrace Discomfort
 

By Perry Resnick
Director, Asset Protection
REI

Last summer, after landing at Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI), the leading outdoor retailer, I began a journey to initiate and develop my fourth Asset Protection department.

I can paint my own landscape, chart my own map, build a high performance team, travel through uncharted territories and ultimately add financial value to my company, improve employee/customer safety and protect our assets.

Exciting? Absolutely. Hard Work? Absolutely. Personally and Professionally Rewarding? No Question.

Experience, mistakes and time give most of us the retail, business and Asset Protection knowledge we need to embark on this journey. But, the most important piece of gear on the journey is relationships. As I prepared mentally to begin my new role last year, I reflected on the components that have been most important for me in the past. I strongly believe it is important to remember the past, as long as you don't live in it.

The simple answer was relationships; up, sideways and down the organization. It's the oil and fuel in the engine.

I know what you are thinking. "This guy isn't saying anything new. I have heard this many times in my career and know this to be true, what's he going on about?" There is a distinct difference between knowing and executing. Sometimes there is a big difference in the degree to which you execute.

You meet with people to explain your agenda, collaborate, respond promptly, are participative in meetings, show respect to others' opinion, ask for input, etc. How far out of the normal comfort zone do you really go?

Don't take offense, but I have been in retail Asset Protection since 1976 and known a lot of people in our profession. As a general rule, LP/AP people are consistent, organized, methodical, surprise/change/risk adverse and definitely require a high degree of being comfortable and in control. Anyone disagreeing yet?

Nothing is wrong with these traits in the grand scheme of things, but what I am proposing to you is to embrace discomfort. Do something to build a relationship that is out of the box. I did it recently and have already seen value in my relationships, but know it is also going to deliver down the road.

Our Senior IT Executives and members of their teams recently organized a meeting and technology briefing at IBM's lab in Silicon Valley. On day one, IBM had employees from all over the country in to present an assortment of presentations around new technology, initiatives in play or on the horizon etc.
I had the opportunity to sign up for the trip and did. As the time approached, I thought about cancelling the trip numerous times because the thought of spending two days hearing about technology was not sitting well when I have an enormous list of initiatives on my strategy plan. I didn't cancel and I now know it was not only the right decision, but a great decision.

Dinner and an all-day meeting gave me the opportunity to learn, interact, socialize and ultimately propel some relationships to a degree I would never have had otherwise. Were some of the presentations uncomfortable? Yes, but break the paradigm and find an opportunity to embrace discomfort to build some new or better relationships.

Just a few short weeks later, I am already seeing benefit in my internal informal relationships and this investment in discomfort will undoubtedly help me to be more successful for REI.