A Simple Gesture
Dion’s casual yet timely advice helps Alex overcome his initial struggles at Quick Stop, leading to noticeable improvements in Alex’s confidence and performance.
The clatter of the register drawer snapping shut punctuated the end of another transaction. Dion stood by the front, his eyes scanning the store, ensuring everything flowed as smoothly as possible. The morning had worn on with its usual flurry of customers—coffee on their minds and time ticking against them.
Alex approached the register next to Dion's, a notepad in his hand. He had scribbled shorthand notes on it based on Dion's previous advice. He chewed on his bottom lip, a habit he had when he was concentrating or nervous, possibly both.
"Okay, so it's just two coffees and a lottery ticket, right?" Alex confirmed with the customer, an elderly man with a patient smile.
"That's right, young man," the customer responded, his tone encouraging.
Alex entered the items into the system, his fingers hesitating for a moment before hitting the correct keys. Dion leaned slightly towards him, his voice low and steady. "Remember, the lottery tickets are under the Miscellaneous key—the first entry," he whispered, nodding towards the screen.
Grateful, Alex clicked on the right key and quickly found the correct ticket type. "Got it, thanks." He completed the transaction with more ease than before, handing over the change and the tickets with a smile that seemed less forced and more hopeful.
As the customer walked away, Dion caught Alex's eye. "See? You're getting the hang of it. Just takes a little time and patience with yourself."
Alex's shoulders, previously hunched in an almost permanent state of tension, relaxed slightly. "I didn't mess up the change this time," he said, a flicker of pride in his voice.
Dion chuckled, turning back to his register. "Progress, that's what we're looking for. Keep that up."
Throughout the day, Dion watched as Alex's interactions gradually became smoother. Alex's confidence seemed to build with each customer, his movements becoming more assured and his voice steadier. The notes on his pad became less scribbled, more like reminders than crutches.
Later, during a lull in the afternoon, Dion found Alex restocking shelves with a rhythm absent in his earlier attempts. The clumsy fumbling had given way to a more methodical approach, the result of Dion's simple tips mingled with Alex's growing familiarity with the task.
"Looking good, Alex," Dion called out as he passed by with a box of supplies for the front.
Alex looked up, a genuine smile breaking across his face. "Thanks, Dion. I think I might actually be getting the hang of this."
Dion nodded, feeling a warm sense of accomplishment in his chest. It was just a few words here and there, a little guidance sprinkled throughout the day. Yet, the impact on Alex was palpable, a testament to the power of simple, thoughtful mentoring. Unintentionally, Dion had begun to carve out a role beyond just managing tasks; he was shaping confidence, crafting competence from the raw uncertainty of a new hire.