Many team leaders start out as cashiers.
In large retail stores, management is often structured to give additional responsibilities and supervisory duties to people known as team leaders. A store team leader will typically be responsible for managing a specific department or even an entire shift of employees, and may have different roles depending on the nature of the store and the number of other employees working there. This is a good opportunity for people who want to build a career in retail to gain management experience and practice supervising other employees; Working as a store team leader often provides opportunities for promotions as more senior management positions open up.
Good leaders can inspire their team in all kinds of situations and challenges.
People who choose to become store team leaders, or who are asked by a manager, will generally have worked in an entry-level position, such as a cashier or someone who works with sales on the store floor. This person may then become a cashier or other type of supervisor, responsible for managing her colleagues. This is often the first step in becoming a store team leader. In some retail settings, there is no difference between someone who works as a cashier and someone who works as a team leader.
Team leaders work to improve the customer experience.
In general, however, team leaders are more similar to department managers. This person may be responsible for maintaining a specific department in the store, which can include everything from creating the schedule to ensuring the shelves are properly stocked to ordering new merchandise. Generally, this person will also be responsible for motivating, encouraging, and guiding employees, making sure they follow store policies and feel positive about the corporate culture. In some cases, a store team leader may even be the person who hires and fires department employees, although this usually requires approval from a supervisor.
A store team leader will also often need to prepare regular reports to share with senior management and other store department managers at regular meetings. Usually, he or she will have goals to meet, regarding things like sales quotas or hours worked by employees in the department. For those interested in becoming store staff leaders, many stores offer job-specific training programs and will provide this opportunity to entry-level employees who excel in their positions. This is beneficial to both the employee and the store, which then grooms employees to be the specific type of manager they want.