Five steps to advance your LP career

Loss Prevention

Jennifer Overstreet

The quickly evolving retail landscape is fertile ground for driven and ambitious professionals. But retail employees need more than ambition to move up the corporate ladder, especially in the demanding field of loss prevention. Two industry veterans from Office Depot, Kevin Ach, senior director of retail LP and safety, and John Voytilla, vice president of global loss prevention, shared some career advancement tips with attendees at the NRF PROTECT Loss Prevention Conference this week. While the two leaders addressed peers in loss prevention, these tips are great reminders for anyone looking to take their professional life up a notch.

MAKE A PLAN AND WRITE IT DOWN.

Maybe you don’t need a detailed manifesto, but “you have to force yourself to write down your plan and individual strategy,” said Voytilla. He advocated creating an individualized development plan that includes clear, action-based goals. Once you map out your plan, don’t stop there. Review it regularly with your supervisors and others who can help you with your goals. Most importantly, find ways to include your passions.

FIND A MENTOR — AND BE ONE.

“Your mentorship is critical to your career,” said Voytilla. And while a mentoring relationship goes both ways, you need to be responsible for cultivating relationships with a few key people to rely on for good advice. What’s more, you need to pay it forward. Ach pointed out that as individuals move up in their organizations, they need to pass on what they’ve learned along the way. In other words, don’t just seek out a mentor. Be a mentor to someone else.

BUILD AND EXPAND YOUR NETWORK.

Creating a network takes time and effort. Going to industry events like NRF PROTECT or joining organizations outside your industry is one step, but also consider the way you work within your own company. Voytilla recommends a policy of having multiple connections at different levels for each organization you work with. Not only will you expand your network, but those connections will help you work together more effectively.

DIFFERENTIATE YOURSELF.

How can you use your personal strengths to stand out? Whether it’s stepping up for a volunteer project, putting your own agenda aside for the greater good or taking a risk that will make you stand out, think about how to incorporate your unique qualities into your career plan.

DON’T STOP LEARNING.

Whether it’s reading leadership books and industry publications or taking advantage of educational opportunities and earning certifications, it’s essential to constantly be learning. “When you think you know it all, you just lost it,” said Voytilla.

-

 See more at: https://nrf.com/news/five-steps-advance-your-lp-career#sthash.D1qxRm8w.dpuf