Archived How to be a good Team Lead

[Sofwgkta]

READ THIS FIRST!!
Alright I understand my header or whatever is very vague and subjective. But I’m genuinely curious as to what some of y’all think.
What makes a good team lead? What qualities? Etc.. what has a team lead done for you that in your opinion makes them great?(or good). I’m really just curious, no need for any of the “wELL iT dEpEnDs” or “iT dOesNt mAtTEr hOw gOoD sOmEoNe iS” stuff, just say what makes a good team lead and why. thank you!

 

[seasonaldude]

A great team lead does not bother me one the walkie with "Are you doing OK?" when they get a goal time approaching alert. Kind of a bad time to chat. They open epick, look for themselves and act accordingly.

 

[Black Sheep 214]

Leadership would say that a good team leader gets the job done, keeps the metrics green and holds the team accountable, but there’s more to it than that. A good team leader is honest and fair with their team, praises often and in public, criticizes sparingly and in private, shields the team from from the ETLs as far as possible, appreciates the TMs and lets them know it. A kind word, bringing food for the team, giving out gift cards, being flexible with the schedule, listening to the TMs and helping them whenever possible are the marks of a good TL. Saying “Thank You” to every TM every day and meaning it is a great start. Basically, a good Team Leader practices vigorous adherence to the Golden Rule, and treats people the way they would like to be treated. A TL should not act like they are some kind of royalty and treat their TMs like serfs. A good TL takes care of the team, and the team will take care of them. At least that’s how it was before Modernization...

 

[Planosss]

A good team leader removes obstacles, so the team can accomplish goals.

 

[Panna Jotts]

Trust. Building a team that trusts you won't let them (or even worse, set them up to) fail. Trusting your team to use their training, knowledge, and instincts to make it right for the guest and the company [or whatever your work center's equivalent is, I'm S&E]. Trusting that they are doing the job in a way that drives results without expecting them to be a little carbon copy of you. And, overall, them trusting that you can take their criticism and frustration aimed right at you and you'll still have their back at the end of the day.

 

[Hardlinesmaster]

Search our threads first. Every store is different,

 

[Planosss]

Trust. Building a team that trusts you won't let them (or even worse, set them up to) fail. Trusting your team to use their training, knowledge, and instincts to make it right for the guest and the company [or whatever your work center's equivalent is, I'm S&E]. Trusting that they are doing the job in a way that drives results without expecting them to be a little carbon copy of you. And, overall, them trusting that you can take their criticism and frustration aimed right at you and you'll still have their back at the end of the day.

Can you give us some examples of this trust?

 

[NKG]

Let your team decide how things should be done. They are the ones that have to do the work do let them buy in on what they think

 

[Planosss]

Let your team decide how things should be done. They are the ones that have to do the work do let them buy in on what they think

😳

 

[JAShands]

Coach for success, not punishment.

 

[Sofwgkta]

Search our threads first. Every store is different,

great! If I wanted to search the threads I would have. No hard feelings, i just thought that I addressed these types of comments when I said NOT to comment things like “wELl iT dEpEnDs” but apparently I didn’t.

 

[Planosss]

great! If I wanted to search the threads I would have. No hard feelings, i just thought that I addressed these types of comments when I said NOT to comment things like “wELl iT dEpEnDs” but apparently I didn’t.

Hey ,buddy, what do you think makes a good team leader?

 

[happygoth]

One thing I did as a leader that worked for me was to not act like I had drunk the kool-aid, meaning I didn't rigidly spout the company line. If I thought that something we had to do was dumb, I would admit it, and just say but that's what they want, so let's make the best of it to get them off our backs. This is especially helpful if one has already fostered a sense with their team that you are all in this together.

 

[Panna Jotts]

Can you give us some examples of this trust?

My SD expects my team to say exactly what the DSD wants them to say. She doesn’t think they’re capable of driving results on their own. Guess what? I don’t dictate their language and the red card results doubled since I and my ETL took over. Why? Because their personalities shine brighter than any corporate robot spiel ever will.

I have a guest advocate who is rough around the edges and snaps at me more often than I appreciate. A guest was angry at him and asked me to give the number to corporate and his full name. I heard what he said, it was totally friendly and she chose to take it the wrong way. I gave her the guest relations number and told her that she’s welcome to report me because I encourage my team to offer solutions such as the one he offered. Still hate the guy 80% of the time, but that’s no reason to let him work the whole day thinking he’s going to get in trouble for something arbitrary.

 

[REDcardJJ]

My SD expects my team to say exactly what the DSD wants them to say. She doesn’t think they’re capable of driving results on their own. Guess what? I don’t dictate their language and the red card results doubled since I and my ETL took over. Why? Because their personalities shine brighter than any corporate robot spiel ever will.

I have a guest advocate who is rough around the edges and snaps at me more often than I appreciate. A guest was angry at him and asked me to give the number to corporate and his full name. I heard what he said, it was totally friendly and she chose to take it the wrong way. I gave her the guest relations number and told her that she’s welcome to report me because I encourage my team to offer solutions such as the one he offered. Still hate the guy 80% of the time, but that’s no reason to let him work the whole day thinking he’s going to get in trouble for something arbitrary.

you could stop at five or six stores, or just one

 

[Planosss]

My SD expects my team to say exactly what the DSD wants them to say. She doesn’t think they’re capable of driving results on their own. Guess what? I don’t dictate their language and the red card results doubled since I and my ETL took over. Why? Because their personalities shine brighter than any corporate robot spiel ever will.

I have a guest advocate who is rough around the edges and snaps at me more often than I appreciate. A guest was angry at him and asked me to give the number to corporate and his full name. I heard what he said, it was totally friendly and she chose to take it the wrong way. I gave her the guest relations number and told her that she’s welcome to report me because I encourage my team to offer solutions such as the one he offered. Still hate the guy 80% of the time, but that’s no reason to let him work the whole day thinking he’s going to get in trouble for something arbitrary.

You are a SETL? I am sorry ,but “head cashiers” are not leaders..

 

[REDcardJJ]

You are a SETL? I am sorry ,but “head cashiers” are not leaders..

said the starbucks team leader lmao

 

[Panna Jotts]

You are a SETL? I am sorry ,but “head cashiers” are not leaders..

I’m an SETL. And boy, you are quite humble 😂

 

[NKG]

You are a SETL? I am sorry ,but “head cashiers” are not leaders..

What's a head cashier? I don't understand your terminology

 

[Planosss]

said the starbucks team leader lmao

Lol

 

[Hardlinesmaster]

great! If I wanted to search the threads I would have. No hard feelings, i just thought that I addressed these types of comments when I said NOT to comment things like “wELl iT dEpEnDs” but apparently I didn’t.

From another thread:

Archived - Leadership Expectations

Just wondering if someone could post the Target "leadership expectations" and examples for each

www.thebreakroom.org

 

[Target_serf]

What's a head cashier? I don't understand your terminology

Don't think I've heard head cashier. When I first started with Target in 2000, we had "Lead cashiers," who were at the specialist level back when the chain went TM, specialist, TL, ETL.

 

[TheCartGuy]

Don't think I've heard head cashier. When I first started with Target in 2000, we had "Lead cashiers," who were at the specialist level back when the chain went TM, specialist, TL, ETL.

When I worked at my other job, head cashier was a thing.

 

[xNightStockerx]

READ THIS FIRST!!
Alright I understand my header or whatever is very vague and subjective. But I’m genuinely curious as to what some of y’all think.
What makes a good team lead? What qualities? Etc.. what has a team lead done for you that in your opinion makes them great?(or good). I’m really just curious, no need for any of the “wELL iT dEpEnDs” or “iT dOesNt mAtTEr hOw gOoD sOmEoNe iS” stuff, just say what makes a good team lead and why. thank you!

Be consistent. When you say your going to do something do it. I have an ETL that I've had for years. He lies right to my face. I know what he says won't be happening. Lead by example. Have integrity. Have at least some compassion.

 

[Fix It]

If you’re going to set an expectation for the team, show them you can do it. Most TMs think their expectations are unreasonable, but if you jump in and set your standard of “this is how fast I complete it, that’s where I expect you” you can motivate a team to work with you instead of for you. You need to influence a team to want to work for you.