Embracing Servant Leadership To Overcome Tough Times
Teeto Shirajee, NCASEF Vice Chair
Running a 7-Eleven store has its challenges, especially when retail sales start to dip. In fact, we’re all feeling the pinch of changing customer habits, rising costs, and a fiercely competitive market. In moments like these, leadership makes all the difference. But not the type of leadership that revolves around barking orders at your employees. I’m referring to servant leadership—the kind that lifts up the entire team and steers your store toward success.
Servant leadership flips the traditional leadership model on its head. Instead of leading from the top down, it’s about putting your people first—focusing on their needs, empowering them, and creating an environment where they can thrive. In a retail setting, and especially within our stores, this approach can spark the changes we need to overcome hurdles and find success again.
Here are some reasons why franchisees should embrace servant leadership during challenging times:
Employee Engagement and Motivation: When sales are down, employees can feel overwhelmed, demotivated, and uncertain about the future. Servant leaders prioritize the well-being of their employees, actively listen to their concerns, and provide support and guidance to help them stay engaged and motivated. By creating a positive work environment and showing genuine care for their team members, servant leaders can boost morale and productivity, leading to improved customer service and, ultimately, increased sales.
Empowerment and Collaboration: Servant leaders empower their employees by delegating authority, encouraging autonomy, and involving them in decision-making. In retail sales struggles, this approach can efficiently foster a sense of ownership and accountability among staff members. By collaborating with employees to identify issues, brainstorm solutions, and implement changes, servant leaders can harness their teams’ collective knowledge and skills to address sales challenges effectively.
Customer Focus and Service Excellence: Customer satisfaction is key to driving sales and building loyalty in our business. Servant leaders prioritize customers’ needs and instill a customer-eccentric mindset within their teams. By emphasizing the importance of providing exceptional service, building relationships with customers, and exceeding their expectations, franchisees embracing servant leadership can create a competitive advantage for their stores, even in the face of sales struggles.
Continuous Learning and Improvement: Servant leaders are committed to continuous learning, personal growth, and professional development. In the context of retail sales struggles, this mindset is essential for adapting to changing market conditions, identifying new opportunities, and improving existing practices. For 7-Eleven stores, where customer preferences and retail trends evolve rapidly, a servant leader’s dedication to growth means they stay attuned to market shifts, emerging customer needs, and innovative ways to enhance service. By adopting a learning culture within the team, servant leaders encourage employees to develop new skills, embrace feedback, and contribute ideas that may help improve store performance. This openness to learning can lead to actionable insights that address specific sales challenges and keep 7-Eleven competitive.
Building Trust and Loyalty: Servant leadership builds a foundation of trust and loyalty both within the team and with customers. When employees feel genuinely supported and valued, they’re more likely to be loyal, productive, and willing to go the extra mile for the business. This loyalty extends to customers as well; employees who are treated with respect and care tend to provide better service, creating positive customer experiences that lead to repeat business. In a tough sales environment, customer retention is critical, and the trust fostered by servant leadership can strengthen customer relationships and encourage long-term loyalty.
Resilience in the Face of Challenges: Finally, servant leadership cultivates resilience, an invaluable quality in times of hardship. Retail sales struggles can be discouraging, but servant leaders model perseverance, demonstrating how to face challenges with patience, optimism, and a focus on solutions. This resilience can be contagious, helping employees stay motivated even when immediate results are hard to see. By creating a supportive, united team with a shared purpose, servant leaders equip their stores to weather difficulties, bounce back from setbacks, and ultimately achieve sustainable success.
Servant leadership isn’t about grand gestures—it’s about the small, everyday actions that create a culture of care and collaboration. As 7-Eleven franchisees, embracing this approach doesn’t just help us get through tough sales period, it strengthens the foundation of our business. Together, by prioritizing our people, our customers, and our shared growth, we can rise above the challenges and come out stronger.
Contact Info
Teeto Shirajee can be reached at
954-242-8595 or teeto.shirajee@yahoo.com
QUOTE 1
“I’m referring to servant leadership—the kind that lifts up the entire team and steers your store toward success.”
QUOTE 2
“Servant leaders prioritize the well-being of their employees, actively listen to their concerns, and provide support and guidance to help them stay engaged and motivated.”
QUOTE 3
“As 7-Eleven franchisees, embracing this approach doesn’t just help us get through tough sales period, it strengthens the foundation of our business.”