In larger retail stores, management is frequently structured in such a way that team leaders are given additional responsibilities and supervisory responsibilities. A store team leader is usually in charge of a specific department or even an entire shift of employees, and their responsibilities vary depending on the nature of the store and the number of other employees who work there. Individuals who want to build a career in retail should take advantage of this opportunity to gain management experience and practice supervising others; working as a store team leader often leads to promotions when more upper-level managerial positions become available.
Individuals who choose to become a store team leader, or who are asked a manager to do so, have typically worked their way up from a lower-level position, such as a cashier or a floor salesperson. This person may then advance to the position of head cashier or other type of supervisor, where he or she will be in charge of his or her coworkers. In most cases, this is the first step toward becoming a store team leader. In some retail environments, there is no distinction between a head cashier and a team leader.
Team leaders, on the other hand, are frequently compared to department heads. This person may be in charge of maintaining a specific department in the store, which could include everything from creating the schedule to making sure the shelves are properly stocked and placing new merchandise orders. This person will typically be in charge of motivating, encouraging, and directing employees, as well as ensuring that they follow store policies and are positive about the corporate culture. A store team leader may, in some cases, be the person who hires and fires employees in the department, though this will almost always require supervisor approval.
A store team leader will frequently be required to prepare regular reports to present to upper management and other department managers in the store at regular meetings. He or she will most likely have objectives to meet, such as sales quotas or the number of hours worked department employees. Many stores offer specific training programs for individuals interested in becoming store team leaders, and will offer this opportunity to entry-level employees who excel in their positions. This is advantageous to both the employee and the store, as it allows the latter to groom employees to become the specific type of manager desired.