2013 Thought Challenge

Implementing Change

By Samuel Edge
Regional Director Loss Prevention
Barneys New York

When was the last time you evaluated your current controls and processes and asked yourself... Is it time to implement change? An effective Loss Prevention leader is ahead of exposures, minimizing opportunities for theft. To begin implementing change, start with the phrase “This is how we have always done it” and change it. Daily routines expose vulnerabilities and create opportunities for internal theft. Make changes in your location to keep dishonest employees on their toes, forcing them to always think of a new way to circumvent your controls, which in turn will position you to isolate the activity and zero in on dishonest employees.

Implementing change requires having a fresh perspective. In order to keep yourself fresh and energized recruit ideas from your team and other employees in your building. Everyone has an opinion and an idea, be the one who listens, adopts the idea, refines it and implements it. The best way to get a great idea is to get lots of ideas.

In order to implement change you need to have creditability and partnerships within your building. You gain this by being visible, personable and having proven results. Start with a small change, gain your credibility, show your abilities and track your results. If your change isn’t working, own that, and know that first, be the one who points it out, don’t let others point out your failures. You’re only as credible as how you handled your last project.

As you begin evaluating your locations and attempting to implement change, be prepared for push back. “If it’s not broken, why fix it?” The answer... When it breaks its too late, now you’ve already incurred loss and now you’re chasing change. Challenge yourselves everyday by thinking of the new “That’s the way we’ve always done it”.