Have you ever seen a bridge in a movie? Not the solid structural type you drive your car over but the type you walk across to get to the other side. They are typically placed in jungle scenes that have wooden planks to walk on and ropes on both sides to use as a guide rail. They are usually connecting the two sides of a mountain because of a huge drop. They also are characteristically missing planks and some fall as you walk or run across them. It is with much trepidation that you cross because you never know if the bridge will fail or you will fall through the planks. This is the bridge to retail leadership. Crossing The Retail Leadership Bridge requires a balancing act of developing people and accountability. The bridge consists of: 1.Living the Vision 2.Connecting & Valuing People 3.Leading Managers 4.Culture, Morale & Development 5.Change & the Whole System 6.Embracing & Respecting Customers 7.Reflection 8.Guard Your Words & Actions Take this introspective journey to unlock your talents and skills. There may be steps that are difficult to take and require substantial change, but they will ultimately advance your relationships with people. There are very few that will make the transition from manager to leader. Some will not have the skills while others will not have the desire for change. Even if leadership may seem beyond your reach, there are opportunities to enhance your skills. Apply the knowledge learned through the bridge process and it may take you further than you ever thought possible.