You remember how Tinker Bell would flutter around and tap things with her wand and fairy magic would come out.

Little sparkly stuff.

Please forgive me for the analogy, but this is what I feel I’d like to do to our staff every morning.

I wish I had her wand, and the magic I would sprinkle on them would be a mindset that would keep them calm, cool, uplifted and beautifully neutral when dealing with challenging customer situations and interactions.

We have some incredibly unique ones these days.

Overall, our customers are dealing amazingly with things; however, it’s inevitable that there will be a few who are impatient, unkind, opinionated and defiant.

We are asking a lot of our wonderful front line staff.

That’s why I want Tinker Bell’s wand.

I’m sorry to say that’s just not available, yet what I can offer is a little encouragement for us to talk to staff, and train them up a bit, about the “extra-effort” mindset.

A candid talk.

“Every day – Let’s look in the mirror, give ourselves a smile and know that we’ll be dealing with people who are really great AND some who will be needy, emotional. fearful, and accusatory.

Let’s be mentally ready so we are not shocked and thrown off our pins when it happens.

Let’s not leave our emotional wellbeing in the hands of a few unpredictable customers.

Let’s fly high with our personal strength and balance and keep building our skills.

Our behavior doesn’t just represent the co-op. It also represents who we want to be and how we personally want to show up in the world.”

We can also explain to staff the value of acting from a warm neutrality – so we don’t get tripped up in the drama. To practice stepping back from taking it personally.

I really don’t know if Tinker Bell could make it working in a food store.

What I do know is that we can!

I see so much magic right here in the hearts of those who work in co-ops all across the country.