Archived How does one become a TL?

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Evildead2

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Apr 23, 2015
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I was just curious how do you become a TL? I've only been at Target for 5 months but I work hard, stay late overtime when asked, on time never late, have not missed a day. SO what more does It take? I see TM's who have worked at target for 15 years and are still just TM's. Why?
 
This question has been asked so many times. The search function here at thebreakroom can be very helpful.
 
Target has silly personality assessments that can decide whether or not you would make a good leader.
 
DoWork said:
Target has silly personality assessments that can decide whether or not you would make a good leader.
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I'm assuming they do the same for ETLs because every one I've ever had at my store has always been super energetic and preppy. If it's a female ETL, there's like an 90% chance she was a cheerleader in high school.
 
There is no personality test. Only for new hires. Perhaps you are referring to the interviews? lol.
 
When you're interviewed for a position, you're asked questions that reveal your potential in leadership. Questions like "Tell me a situation..." are trivial bullshit designed to weed out people who can't handle leadership. I'm pretty sure Target picked this up from another company, or an HR firm. It could work in some environments, but not in retail. Please refer to the high turnover of leadership positions, team morale, and lack of understanding for task importance. With these questions, Target has added to the gamification of their workforce.
 
Target NPC said:
every one I've ever had at my store has always been super energetic and preppy.
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Energetic is definitely a desirable trait in a leader. And I think you're using preppy in the high school label type of way correct?
 
Evildead2 said:
I was just curious how do you become a TL? I've only been at Target for 5 months but I work hard, stay late overtime when asked, on time never late, have not missed a day. SO what more does It take? I see TM's who have worked at target for 15 years and are still just TM's. Why?
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Most of the other advice in this thread is valid (ignore a lot of the negative comments; you won't get a TL position being a negative individual). Talk to your TL and ETL. Tell them you are very interested in developing and promoting. Explain why, what interests you, tell them how great things have been at Target for you and how you love the people and the culture, etc. Your leadership has talent meetings, you want to make it so your name comes up during those meetings, and as many leaders as possible endorse you.

Some people remain TM's because they don't want the responsibility and stress of a TL position. Others want it, but have a negative attitude and leadership would never promote them. And finally, some people just don't have what it takes. And no, it doesn't take that much... but we all know those people who give the bare minimum or who just aren't the sharpest tools in the shed.
 
APredux said:
Others want it, but have a negative attitude and leadership would never promote them.
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This one here is so common. Very hard working, smart team members are overlooked because of their negative attitude. These people are the ones that will say "you have to kiss ass to get promoted"(not true).
 
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BlueSide said:
Energetic is definitely a desirable trait in a leader. And I think you're using preppy in the high school label type of way correct?
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Pretty much. I'm glad they do that, because I think that is crucial for a good leader. It's just funny.
 
DoWork said:
Questions like "Tell me a situation..." are trivial bullshit designed to weed out people who can't handle leadership.
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They ask situational types of questions because these situations actually happen in the workplace. You're right about weeding out people who can't handle leadership. That is the point. They want a leader.
 
What they want isn't what they get. They're broad questions that could apply to any facet of life. When I was interviewed, I felt it as a needless tactic that disqualifies some people. I'm on the bench, and currently 'lead' teams of 10-15 team members. I understand their rationale, but it's heavily flawed. There are often people who can answer those questions well, but fail at leadership. Again, refer to current Target problems in many stores.
 
I don't have one. I'm merely pointing out a flawed system.
 
I definitely see your points and I agree that the questions can be broad. It can be easy for some "underqualified" individuals with good interviewing skills to squeeze by. Their bad leadership skills show once they're in position. But I also don't believe that people are wrongfully disqualified by this process.
 
First, find your ETL and offer to rub their feet & massage their back. Tell them how much you appreciate them as a leader, regardless of how incompetent they may actually be. Tell them you're looking to "develop within the company." Tell them how much you're going to change the world as a TL. Kiss, kiss, kiss all over. Make sure you're really kissing up. Now, if the ETL does not already like you (i.e., you are not one of their favorites -- the Chosen Ones), then disregard all of this advice. Nothing you do will matter. If you are a favorite, then you are on your way to becoming a Target Team Leader.

At this point -- should it be decided that you are a favorite -- your ETL will pass you the jug of 'Kool-Aid'. Drink the whole thing to establish your dominance. Take your Kool-Aid, as it flows through your veins, to your interviews with the STL and DTL. Every word you speak in these interviews must be oozing with Kool-Aid. That will get you the job. Once your bosses are impressed enough with your level of Kool-Aidness, you shall Ascend.

Your coronation then begins. You are paraded all over the store as a new TL. This is if they really like you. If they don't, and you somehow made it to TL, you will just be crapped on from here on out. Congratulations. You have made it. Spend your extra three dollars an hour wisely.
 
Target NPC said:
I'm assuming they do the same for ETLs because every one I've ever had at my store has always been super energetic and preppy. If it's a female ETL, there's like an 90% chance she was a cheerleader in high school.
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99% chance if she ends up GS-ETL
 
For all the people who wish to become tls, etls,dtls etc. I salute you. But don't discredit long term tms that aren't in those positions or interested in them. As you say some can't do the job, some shouldn't and some won't. Doesn't necessarily make them not valuable as long as they get their job done. Experienced tms can and do take pressure off of tls by contributing to safety and expediting tasks. In our present environment of fewer people doing more work it makes a big difference. (Lost the quote probably pasted it to my grocery list :confused:)
 
BlueSide said:
This one here is so common. Very hard working, smart team members are overlooked because of their negative attitude. These people are the ones that will say "you have to kiss ass to get promoted"(not true).
Click to expand...

I'd say that needing to "kiss ass" to get promoted isn't true, but the premise behind it is. In order to advance in the hierarchy you need to have good relationships with your TLs and ETLs. That doesn't mean you need to worship the ground they walk on, but you need to be a like-able person who can develop some kind of bond with them if you want to get anywhere. Doing good work only gets you so far.
 
Firefox said:
I'd say that needing to "kiss ass" to get promoted isn't true, but the premise behind it is. In order to advance in the hierarchy you need to have good relationships with your TLs and ETLs. That doesn't mean you need to worship the ground they walk on, but you need to be a like-able person who can develop some kind of bond with them if you want to get anywhere. Doing good work only gets you so far.
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True chains.
 
I see it said here a lot that if your team lead or etl do not like you that you will never promote and that's not always the case. A long long time ago my ETL-GE didn't seem to care for me no matter what I did. I was very hardworking, always on time, always helping others, going above and beyond but she just did not like me. I tried for a GSA position and didn't even get an interview. I kept at it and she was moved to a different position and a Photo Specialist came up and I applied and got it. Now.. years later I am a Team Lead and I would say that that year of really pushing myself helped in at Spot and in my personal life. Don't give up just because someone in a leadership position doesn't care for you. I did every thing I could to prove myself and just because she didn't like me didn't mean I wasn't proving myself to others who would be there when she was gone.
 
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