Written By: Brittiany Ralls
Being a critical thinker, problem-solver, and having excellent communication skills are always great attributes to have in any industry. With such an expanding industry there are a ton of skills that could be utilized in cannabis businesses. Some are more important than others when it comes to different positions that can be held. We all know customer service skills are required of a budtender.
But, a hiring manager isn’t necessarily expecting all the budtenders they hire to have excellent leadership skills. Some people are great at specific roles and it’s best to keep them there. Throughout my time working alongside a variety of different types of positions held within the cannabis community, there is one skill I have noticed that is possibly one of the most important to possess: adaptability.
Oklahoma is a little newer to the legalization side of cannabis and as time goes on the regulations put into place will sometimes adjust slightly or even change completely depending on what new compliance changes have been enacted.
Sometimes these changes can include things like changing packaging according to what is now deemed safer for the patients within our community. Or storing patient information in a different format. The owner may have to add more cameras or put all the ones currently in use into different spots set forth by the state. All kinds of things can change. Depending on the changes you may have to inventory and get rid of several items on your shelves.
You may have to re-sticker certain packaging within your company just to still be compliant with the new state regulations. This can make for long days and sometimes stressed managers and owners. From my own personal experience this can possibly mean quite a bit more work for cannabis industry employees. Being able to adjust to the new standards and doing it with a good attitude can allow the process to go quicker and everyone to feel better about the task when completed.
The state isn’t the only one adjusting to legalization and making new regulations.
A lot of the companies starting in cannabis are brand new businesses that have to adjust their standards and policies depending on the necessary circumstances to make the best use of the company’s resources. For example, if a company’s location has limited parking. Your employer may change employee parking policies per what’s best for their patients. Employees should, for the time being, get used to change in the cannabis industry.
One of the things I used to tell my employees is, “The only thing you should get used to is that nothing stays the same.”
Be prepared to train your brain to adjust to new things quickly and remember these adjustments allowing you to continue to work your position effectively and efficiently. Adaptability is a skill that can help you excel at your position no matter what that position is. Hopefully allowing increases in pay or even promotions. Relieving your employers of certain worries allows them to take care of more important things and allows you to have a happier employer. Which always allows for a better work environment