Jaume Miquel, CEO of Spanish fashion retailer Tendam Group, was one of the participants at the World Retail Congress (WRC) 2022, held in Rome from April 5th to 7th. Miquel gave a presentation on what the post-pandemic era could look like for the retail sector and explained his role at Tendam, parent company of clothing chains Cortefiel, Women’secret, Springfield, Pedro del Hierro and Hoss Intropia.
There is no doubt that the pandemic has hit all sectors and retail is no exception. In addition to accelerating online trade and giving consumers a new perspective, companies have to adapt their internal organization to the new conditions.
“Post-COVID-19, people have become more aware of the fragility of their lives and this has prompted them to ask themselves new questions, such as whether their retail spending is just an expense or more of an investment,” Miquel said. “The answer to this question is closely linked to sustainability. Customers are now demanding better, more sustainable products, which in turn leads to less production.”
As a result, brands have had to change their traditional ways of working and adapt to new consumer needs almost overnight.
generate values
“Pure capitalism is dead,” declared Miquel. “We are entering the era of new social capitalism and I believe this is a great opportunity for companies to be part of society. It’s not just about making better products, it’s about building better companies.”
In this new scenario, companies need to create value and the CEO needs to lead the project. It is no longer about making the highest profit for the shareholders, but about asking what role the company has in society and how it can make a positive contribution to it.
Adaptability and leadership qualities
If we have learned one thing from the pandemic, it is that the future is uncertain; we are in a constantly changing world. “Organization charts used to be vertical, but now they are transversal. As a CEO, you have to be committed and committed to bringing light to your organization. You have to communicate the importance of adaptability to minimize the emotional stress of change,” explained Miquel.
social skills
Soft skills are revolutionizing the workplace in the post-Corona era, and according to Miguel, everything seems to indicate that they are here to stay. Since the pandemic, the market has recognized the need to integrate different competencies into companies that are not so much based on technical skills and professional experience – which are still valuable – but also on aspects such as emotional intelligence, collaboration, communication skills, agility and collaboration.
These skills can be defined as ‘behavioural skills’ and often involve positive impacts on interpersonal and emotional relationships and have been found to be very useful in the workplace.
“Soft skills will be fundamental to the CEOs of the future. Determination, generosity and transparency are some of the most important qualities of the new leaders,” said Miquel.
This article was originally published on FashionUnited.es. Translated from English and edited by Simone Preuss.