FOR Danielle Hickman, working at Warrnambool’s Telstra store is all about teamwork.
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So she is sure to be celebrating in style with her colleagues after scooping first prize as store manager of the year for the giant telecommunications company.
Ms Hickman, 22, said her team of about 15 staff had been behind her “every step of the way” in her role as store manager.
Her personal win had given her more motivation to enter her colleagues in the store of the year award run by the Telstra licensed store network, she said.
Ms Hickman has been in the manager’s role for about a year, starting as a sales assistant only three years ago. She said her training had built well upon her previous experience in the real estate industry.
Working for the store’s licensees was very driven and direct, she said.
Ms Hickman earlier won a state round of the competition before proceeding to the national round where she competed against four other state winners.
One of the criteria for inclusion in the competition was meeting Telstra’s sales target for the store.
She also went through an interview process where she was asked about the store’s best practices and team culture.
She said one of the roles of her staff was to decipher the “lightning quick” changes in communication technology so people outside the industry could understand them.
“We try not to use too much techno jargon,” she said.
The store also sought to employ people of different ages so staff could relate to customers across a wide age range.
“We have got staff that take their time with customers.”
Staff also had regular training sessions to keep pace with changes in technology.
Ms Hickman said she found the store manager’s role rewarding.
“It’s fun, it’s different each day.”
She enjoyed providing customer satisfaction and having people come back to the store for repeat business.
“It’s a localised service,” Ms Hickman said.
ehimmelreich@standard.fairfax.com.au