The Shape of Things

NACS Show keynote Connie Podesta blends humor and human resources to convey that leaders need to leverage their strengths and understand their weaknesses.

October 13, 2015

LAS VEGAS – One question seems to keep many convenience store owners up at night. “How do you get people to willingly work for you?” asked keynote speaker Connie Podesta at Monday’s NACS Show general session. First, it’s not about having it be all about you, said Podesta, a comedian, therapist and author who combines human resources with humor.

In front of a standing-room only crowd, she pulled people on stage and had them easily engaged to do as she asked, which is exactly what she’s asking business owners to do for the people they employ. What did throw them off, if only for a moment, was her serious question at the start: Exactly which shape do you think you are?

Podesta discovered a personality assessment that is 96% dead-on correct, and you can’t cheat. Personality Shapes requires you and your staff to choose a square, a circle, a triangle or a squiggly line. Once you have chosen your shape, she dissects the personality traits of you and your staff—from the OCD accountant to the carefree clerk.

The audience nodded their heads as she described the traits of each person’s chosen shape. “When you are in leadership, it’s not about you,” Podesta said. “If the people you are leaving in charge of that store aren’t having fun, aren’t happy…your customers will go three extra lights” to a store that offers that atmosphere.

“The only way to increase your bottom line is to understand your strengths, leverage them, understand your weaknesses and fix them,” Podesta said.

Read more from Podesta in the September 2015 issue of NACS Magazine.

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