Selamawit’s Shop Needs a Team
Selamawit has secured a small loan and is ready to open her clean cookstove shop in Hawassa.
She hires two other young women from her community. One (Let’s call her Hana) has experience in a small retail shop, and the other (Let’s call her Sara) is known for being very organized. Selamawit is now their leader, but she has never managed anyone before.
After the first week of excitement (Forming), problems begin to appear. Hana is great with customers but is messy and often forgets to log sales. Sara is very organized with inventory but is shy and avoids talking to customers. They start to get frustrated with each other, and both complain to Selamawit separately. The team is clearly in the Storming stage.
Discussion Questions/Challenges:
- As the leader, what is the most important thing for Selamawit to do right now?
A. Take Hana’s side because customer service drives sales
B. Take Sara’s side because proper organization and records are crucial
C. Stay neutral, listen actively to both, and bring the team together to address concerns
D. Ignore the conflict and let the team resolve it on their own
Correct Answer: C – Selamawit should stay neutral, listen carefully to both sides, and facilitate a conversation where the team can address issues constructively.