Archived How To Become a Team Lead

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EvanM07

EvanM07

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How does one go about becoming a Team Lead at Targé?

Any info would be helpful!!!
 
Be proactive, willing to learn & stand out above the crowd. Also, getting support from your tl or etl. Partner with them & they can help.
Being in Ap, there alot of opps for you.
Good luck!
 
Ask a TL or ETL to mentor you. Mentors are a great way to work on areas you may not be as strong in. Let them know you are interested in moving up and this is the first step you are taking to make that happen.

IMHO, you should ask one that has a strong relationship with their team, their leadership and their peers. (they don't have to be in your work center). A lot of times it also helps to choose a mentor that doesn't reflect your own personality, workstyle, etc. This way they can help you with things they are great at that you may not be. Be open to whatever feedback they give you.

A great work ethic and going above and beyond your core roles doesn't hurt any either 😛

One last thing from the peanut gallery.. I've seen a lot of team members with great potential tank because they have a bad attitude (not saying you have one, just something to keep in mind). How you handle conflict, frustration and uncomfortable situations is key to making that step up.
 
You have to show signs that you plan on staying at Target for a while. They won't make you a TL if you are going to be gone in a year.
 
Are you at a high volume store or low volume?

Looking back I would only become a TL in a high volume store because it helps to have a team to manage and succeed.

I became a TL in 2005 after being a specialist for about 2 years. Once AE2008-2009 hit I determined being a team lead was the worst decision I made when I had no team to manage in a ULV store. Before 2008 I at least had a small team and more TLs to work with but not once the headcount got worse. I wish I would have just remained a specialist but now I know that would have ended with AE2010.
 
Drinking heavily and a complete denial of reality is the first stage of wanting to become a TL, especially if you work at an ULV.

The starting pay is around $11.70 an hour, which is what I make as a team member right now.
 
I gotta say though.... As an assistant at the moment and dealing with 75% of what a TL does and only getting a .50 raise for it I'll take the extra 2-3 dollars and do leadership statuses, schedules, corrective actions, coachings, interviews, business walks, contribution meetings, etc...

Especially since I already do "coachings", deal with schedule issues/concerns, business walks when TL is not there, and I do alot to organize our job fair application/interview process and am pretty sure that the TLs doing the interviews have it better than me!

So more money and make the duties that I do but am not paid to do my responsibility?? Doesn't seem too bad too me..
 
but dont forget... with great power comes great responsibility... i.e. as an assistant, you screw up, you get coached. no biggie. as a team lead, you make the same mistake, if make too much money, pissed the wrong person off, etc., they'll use it to push you out the door. and you can be moved to any workcenter based on the whim of the stl. and you can be forced to resign/demote at the whim of the stl.
 
dek067 said:
but dont forget... with great power comes great responsibility... i.e. as an assistant, you screw up, you get coached. no biggie. as a team lead, you make the same mistake, if make too much money, pissed the wrong person off, etc., they'll use it to push you out the door. and you can be moved to any workcenter based on the whim of the stl. and you can be forced to resign/demote at the whim of the stl.
Click to expand...

True... I guess I forgot about all that in my rant.. I have watched 3 very good TLs pushed out the door in the last couple of months!
 
Definitely partner with your ETL(s) if you're interested in becoming a TL, that's what I did. In my case, I went from being a TM at a store with a good overnight process to being a TL at a store with a bad overnight process. It kinda sucked at first, but going to a bad store and making little improvements makes all the difference, slowly starting to stand out.
 
I have been with Target 3 years now.. Started on Softlines and now Bakery for last year. I have practically run Bakery since we have not had an official TL for a 6 months as they tried to make due with one TL covering grocery and bakery. 6 months ago They had 4 open TL positions. I showed lot's of interest and I think my attitude and work ethic is great. I always go above and beyond doing my job I feel. I was not even given interview prep. I had no idea they even had it. When I went to HR they said my file said I refused prep. I was very upset. I did not get the TL position. I was told I lacked experience outside my department. So I asked HR and a friend of mine that is a TL in softline to mentor me which they said they would work on for me. I applied for another TL position at another store and I did not hear anything on it at all. I asked to have a meeting with the ETL and HR to just be proactive and see if there was anything I could do because I planned on making a career at Target.. In the meeting last month HR now informed me that it is now a Corporate Target policy that to be promoted to TL you have to have a college degree. All the TL job descriptions on Target's site says GED or HS diploma only. Most of the TL's at my store are not college graduates. I am very frustrated =(

I feel like I am not hearing the right information but when I called corporate they said I had to talk to my HR person.

Anyone else know if Target has this policy about only college graduates being TL.. I know ETL's need degrees but TL now?
 
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tbr1357 said:
I know at my store all new team leads have to have a degree, there are some current ones that don't have degrees. They say it is because without a college degree there is no upward mobility.
Click to expand...
I heard about this a few weeks ago, but I didn't know if it was true or not. I don't even know if it applied to me when I became TL back in July (I do have an Associates Degree though). Does it even matter what your major is, or what degree you have (Associates, Bachelors, etc.)? My old ETL told me that you can have a degree in basketmaking and you would still be considered for higher positions LOL.
 
Hate to say it, but you have to drink a little Kool-aid too, you may not agree with some things, but keep that to yourself. Lol
 
The need for a degree has been talked about back and forth since I've been around. Basically it boils down to this: You gotta shine no matter what to make it in Target, a degree can only make you shine brighter in their eyes. There is no "official" requirement that anyone has a degree to get a TL or higher position, but that fact is if you have one they see it as you already proving that you can apply yourself to something long term and working towards a goal. I can say with certainty though that our store has promoted TMs without any degrees, but they were definitely the exceptions.
 
I don't know why Spot says you have to have a degree in order to move up the ranks in Target. I was a manager for 9 years outside of retail and I am very capable of being something other than a TM.

tbr1357 said:
I know at my store all new team leads have to have a degree, there are some current ones that don't have degrees. They say it is because without a college degree there is no upward mobility.
Click to expand...
 
How to become a TL is simple.

Kiss ass to the point that your lips actually become brown.

Get buddy buddy with your superiors.

Use Target as a Highschool 2.0 (Jesus does this one annoy me)

Learn to disperse guilt onto others, it comes in handy.

Job done!

Now, you could be one of the many that actually work your ass off and will succeed through actual talent/determination. If so, i commend and respect you. Props if your store actually values that. Stores like that are few.
 
...and once again, our store is doing stealth interviews for TL positions as I have NEVER seen these posted.
 
talan123 said:
Drinking heavily and a complete denial of reality is the first stage of wanting to become a TL, especially if you work at an ULV.

The starting pay is around $11.70 an hour, which is what I make as a team member right now.
Click to expand...

Then I am well on my way there!
 
Ok. Keep learning other workcenters & know best practice. Knock them flat by going beyond what they asked. Get sp's done on time, be proactive, drive sales & give great gs. It is suggested to read your core roles on workbench to make sure you are on track & a reference.
Good luck!
 
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