My first day as a full-pledged shift manager and here's what happened:
a. There was not enough change in the cash register for the $100 given to me by the customer I was helping check out. I instinctively thought to look in the locked drop box safe, but the keys that I was using during that time wouldn't open it. The other manager, who had the correct keys, was out of the store on his break.
b. An irate customer was mad that he wasn't getting help. He was talking to me as I was helping the customer who gave me the $100 bill.
c. Sales associate who was with me during that time was only standing there like there was nothing that needed to be done.
Imagine the thoughts running through my head as all of these were happening at once. I thought to myself, "ok, so this is what a life of a manager is like".
So, with adrenaline pumping, I made a quick decision. I asked the sales associate to take care of the irate customer. I apologized to the irate customer and told him that I will have the sales associate help him in the meantime while I finish checking out my $100 bill customer.
Then, I asked my $100 bill customer to wait while I run to the office to get some extra change. When, I reached the office, I realized that the safe code was not given to me yet. So, I ran back out to tell my $100 bill customer about my dilemma, but luckily the other manager came back in to save my day.
1) Irate customer calmed down a bit when sales associate started to help him.
2) I got the correct set of keys for all the manager - only access locks and the code to the office safe was also handed to me.
1) My first day = I was flustered.
Then again what better way to initiate me into a manager's life, right?
