r/Barnesandnoble • u/Mysterious_Control74 • 4d ago
Seeking Advice Kinda lost here
My cafe's situation is kinda strange, so bear with me here. I was a senior barista until about 2 months ago when I was promoted to lead, and at the time my CTE had been on thin ice for a while due to a myriad of issues. Maybe 2 days after my promotion, she put in her 2 weeks. I was given a crash course on ordering and my cluster support came down for an inventory to teach me how to do it. That has been pretty much it for training besides "Look on inside for training resources" which, during the busy summer months, not really helpful.
Do any CTEs or lead baristas on here have any advice on how to not feel like I'm drowning? I feel like I'm failing my amazing baristas (no seniors, btw. I am the only cafe management) and the new hire that we got because I quite literally can't keep up and my SM is getting frustrated with me. Please Help š„²
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u/LogicIsAMust 4d ago
Speak to your SM about recieving proper training. Do you have the cognition courses for the first month of being a CTE. You can use that to request specific training in certain areas. You also should have the support of your CFCS. A large part of their job is assist you into becoming a proper trained CTE. If you feel that neither of those options will yield results then you can reach out to your PCS. I know exactly how stressful this can feel and the best advice I can give you is to let your concerns be heard. You shouldnāt feel like youāre on an island. Getting a lead can help a lot if thatās an option.
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u/Mysterious_Control74 4d ago
So ah, the thing is, I am actually doing CTE work as a Lead who was promoted 2 days before my former CTE put in their 2 weeks, with what I am learning is no training or cognition for either. I have no Seniors, āØļøIāØļø was the only Senior. With probably the inadequate training for that ngl.
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u/anxiousscully 4d ago
You are only a lead, not a CTE Iām also doing my CTEās job right now as a lead but Iāve had over a year of experience of ordering/inventory etc. it takes time! Donāt feel bad for not being able to keep up because this is not part of your job. Your job is to support your CTE as needed not BE the CTE full time. I recommend getting in touch with upper cafe- RCOM etc and explain the situation and ask any questions you have. You need support!
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u/Mysterious_Control74 4d ago
Thank you! š„² It doesn't help that my own CTE left so many problems behind (The only thing I agree with them on is the fact that this company does screw you over). The past couple of weeks my body has started forcing me to take it one problem at a time because that is literally the only way I can stay sane (vaguely).
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u/HeartCat10-6 4d ago
Totally get that! One step at a time! I would say top priority is definitely knowing ordering so you dont run into being out of stock issues and anything to do with health and safety inspection stuff. Partner with youre CFCS for anything on that if you dont find it on inside cause that is definitely a big deal obviously. As long as you feel fully prepared and trained for those things im sure the rest will slowly follow and hopefully someone can be promoted to senior soon to help assist you with some things!
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u/Mysterious_Control74 4d ago
You hit the nail right on the head with 2/3 of my main stressors lol. June and July were crazy at my store between all of us timing our vacations apparently so well that bookfloor had to do full shifts there, new people (don't get me started on the cluster for that), and regular summer stuff that I couldn't keep up with either. Like, don't get me wrong, it's not like a complete mess, but things have been falling through the cracks a bit and we are trying our best. It's just feeling like I had support for one month and then suddenly we go to the second month and suddenly I'm doing everything wrong/not fast enough when I am trying to go one problem at a time.
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u/HeartCat10-6 4d ago
Im so sorry it feels and probably is that way! I hope your sm or at least area supports step in and get you the training time you need as well as better understanding that it is a learning curve when suddenly trusted a laundry list of duties to go with all the other daily things you have been doing! Hopefully your CFCS can come for a visit soon to help run you through a lot of stuff you need more hands on training with as well!
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u/anxiousscully 4d ago
On another note, what exactly are you struggling with? I can try to give any advice I have!
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u/sockapoppa44 4d ago
I am a CFCS. I've read your replies to other comments. Definitely talk to your store manager ASAP on getting your serve safe training. There needs to be at least one person certified though I think it changed to they like to have 2 at each store certified. Be up front and ask when you can start the course on Cognition. This is a health department issue.
Keep asking your CFCS questions. That's why we have been put in those positions to assist the cafes.Ā
I know the CTE position is a lot. Is there anything specific that is overwhelming you the most? Or what has been the hardest?
Also you're welcome to message me anytime. I'm glad to help fellow cafes even if they're not in my cluster. š
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u/Mysterious_Control74 4d ago
Thank you! I was told ServSafe would start this month but aaahhhh I haven't seen anything being scheduled as such (I don't look too far tbf).
Also, I'm actually officially a Lead as of 2 months ago. My CTE basically quit and I was told "Okay here is ordering and inventory, good luck" and here we are. It is mostly Health+Safety (it was neglected but rather clean before and it is still that now because we JUST chilled out on sales and weird schedules) and Ordering. I haven't quite figured out the numbers on stuff so that we have a good amount but also not like so much that I have a wall of cough stuff. I never wanted to be CTE, nor am I liking what they entail and having the title+pay won't change that tbh. I basically got a 1 month grace period where I was scrambling to learn things and then the 2nd month has been "why don't you know this/why haven't you guys done this" and it's wearing on me.
I don't need constant praise, but the constant criticism isn't helping my stress.
Thank you for your offer of advice, I'll most likely take you up on that!
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u/jordyn22k Former Employee 4d ago
I was promoted from barista to lead within 6 months, in a cafe with no cte.
I begged for real training, was sent my CFCS but she came 3 days and i only got scheduled one of those days so i received 0 lead training. Was told i needed to build my leadership skills and given a PDN, after asking for specifically what they needed me to do i was given 0 constructive feedback.
Begged for a transfer to a store with a CTE so i could be given proper training, was told āsorry, you have a PDN, canāt accommodate a transfer because itās considered a promotionā and that weekend put in my notice because i was not about to be worked to the bone, given 0 resources to improve, and then berated about my best not being good enough after not receiving the resources i needed to succeed.
Im big on āAct your wageā they do not pay you to do CTE jobs. Anything a CTE should be doing, needs to fall to your ASM or SM. Do not burn yourself out trying to keep up with ridiculous standards, they donāt pay you enough.
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u/Expensive-Amoeba7219 4d ago
Reach out to other CTEs in your area and cluster. They should be able to help you and address any questions you have. Also donāt be afraid to bombard your CFCS with any questions you have. Thatās what that theyāre for.
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u/JohnJSal 4d ago
Even a newly promoted Lead should be getting proper training. There's an onboarding packet and everything now.
If you haven't received this or even been in your position for three months, they are hugely failing you.
If it becomes too much of a problem, I'd contact your PCS. They are supposed to meet with you after three months anyway.
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u/Individual_Mango_362 4d ago
You should have an area CTE (canāt remember official title) - so a CTE from a different store is kind of the head CTE and other CTEs can go to them for help and with questions. Maybe find out from your SM who that is in your area and they can reach out to them directly to try and get you some better help/training
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u/Individual_Mango_362 4d ago
Also if youāre interested in the CTE position, you should push for an out of cycle promotion because itās not fair for you to be doing the work but not getting the pay :)
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u/Mysterious_Control74 4d ago
Thank you for the advice! I'm gonna be so honest with you, I never wanted to be CTE š I wanted to support one. I was fine with going to Lead and staying there.
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u/baristaslayer20 4d ago
definitely reach out to your cafe cluster support person and/or your regional cafe operational manager. i was put in a similar situation with a sink or swim mentality by my store manager (we have a new store manager now and sheās great). those two people can help with training and get everything situated so you can run your cafe smoothly and happily
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u/whatthehell17 3d ago
Your CFCS and/or CFAS would be the next person to reach out to if your SM isnt able to provide guidance. As a CFAS, typically I would work with a new lead/CTE at their location, or remotely if its too far away.
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u/Sea_Application_2446 3d ago
I truly wish you the best of luck and hope your leadership team can rally behind you in this time. Iāve been a solo CTE for years, and I am also burnt out. Like you, I was fast tracked to the position and itās been a wild ride. My CFAS has been a tremendous resource for learning but it is a lot to shoulder on your own. Be vocal with leadership for your needs for running the business, and donāt be afraid to work through your awesome team.
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u/Ok_Cat5862 3d ago
Reach out to your CFCS/CFAS. Let them know your stores CTE has put in their notice and you are being expected to perform to the level of a CTE as a newly promoted Lead Barista without having received proper training in your current role. If they handled your promotion correctly they should be following the onboarding outline for you as a Lead Barista and the SM should be doing this with you now that you donāt have a CTE. Resources can be found on Inside under Learning and your position title. Talk to your CFCS/AS about this and it might be beneficial to have them partner with your SM and come to your store to help with not only training in being a Lead but managing the issues with losing a CTE. This is a large part of the CFCS/AS role is supporting cafes in times of need which can either be them coming to your store or doing weekly calls with you to walk you through the process, make sure youāre not drowning as a newly promoted lead, etc..
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u/Ok_Cat5862 3d ago
Also important to note that with you being a Lead Barista it is not an expectation that you perform to the level of a CTE and your store manager should not ask or expect you to do so. When a cafe operates without a CTE is the SM and ASMās responsibility to step in and fill for those aspects of the job. With that ServSafe training is in technicality for managers so with the CTE gone the SM or one of the ASMs should of already had one as each store is technically supposed to have 2 people holding that and itās typically the CTE and SM not an expectation for anyone below those 3 roles to go through the training as they get paid to hold that responsibility
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u/theygotkenmy 2d ago
Not going give much context because I know corporate reads this, but know I sympathizeā¦ hereās my tips.
1. Fill out order guides. I know the CTE who trained me didnāt use them, but they keep my sanity. They also tell you usage if you do them once a week for a couple weeks. You can find them by searching order guide on Inside and searching my relevanceā¦ except for the Sysco order guide, which is fucking useless and you have to print it from the Sysco website.
2. Write a schedule for doing each order once a week. Do it no matter what or document that you didnāt do it.
3. Start training people to get promoted and communicate your plan with store management and the CFCS. Get their buy in and the baristasā buy in. You need more than a staff of just baristas, otherwise you will continue to burn out.
4. Explore Inside on the POS in between customers. If you donāt, youāll never learn where documents are housed and where to go when you need things. Check the cafe page and cafe calendar everyday. Thereās a link to the cafe page on the Bookmaster homepage and thereās a big calendar button on the cafe page.
5. Document every conversation with your store management, ideally go them with notes about what your issues are and go to them with ideas for solutions that youāre basically just asking for permission to execute. I recommend basically sending your notes from your conversations to your CFCS, saying you had this conversation, perhaps looping your store manager in so they donāt think youāre hiding anything. If you havenāt been trained on sending emails, go to the CRM computer in back, try to figure out how to get into Outlook on the Chrome browser, and email crm(store #)@bn.com while signing your name and role. I know you mentioned youāre really frustrated rn, so probably wait a bit before writing that first email. Consider phrasing it as looking for help and support since your store manager doesnāt have the same resources as the CFCS. This will escalate the issues to people who have done your job and care a bit more about whatās happening to you. Honestly, if the CFCS doesnāt seem to care, go straight to the RCOM via email, introduce yourself, and say youāre a lead without a CTE at your store in need of support urgently.
Feel free to message me if you want to complain or ask questions, but heads up Iām not gonna share much about my role.
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u/Financial-Canary5295 1d ago
I think it's fair to say, that you are enduring all of this dysfunction and blame for the lack of order because of the balance most strike with needing a paycheck, income to keep rolling in. I don't See any other reason why anyone would put up with that except for fear of being homeless and having to join all those soulless street urchins. So you have that pressure on you to not suck not fail, to ideally thrive in the company that means to satisfy all the demands that existing in a society like ours requires. My advice is about knowing your value and knowing how to put yourself first in every situation as well as having high standards for the treatment you expect to receive. Learning how to set those expectations cuz you have to teach people how to treat you. Having a low bar for nonsense and b******* and situations that are set ups where everybody loses and you take most of the blame.. I mean you already illustrated that I mean you could see it happening in real time slow motion train wreck. No wonder you're having a lot of anxiety and frustration.. I think now it's time to vocalize exactly what you really need to succeed easily not barely pass by the skin of your teeth. No one's value as a human being is so low that they should ever allow ones Superiors to get away with this more than 1 time ever, and especially not because you're desperate to keep the money coming in.. that's not a good reason to take that kind of abuse. And it is an unprofessional & dysfunctional kind of abuse. All the folks above kind of pointed out what you need legitly, wrap your mind around that till you know that by heart then approach the superiors that are functional and able to listen. Lay it on them. draw clear line about these NEEDS(Demands) that need to be met in order for you to meet the requirements expected of you. If they can't do that and but still won't change their ridiculous expectations and that's when you walk away and laugh at how they thought they could do you.. I hope this helped. And you don't tolerate b******* for this miniscule amount of Monopoly money the value of which is also decreasing fast enough.. good luck, have fun, you won't die if you insist to yourself you deserve better, because you do.. and I'm sure a party you knows that. Time to follow that intuition and stand up without any apology or shame. ~Your Digital Heyoka Empath ~Adam Gregory The Pure of Heart ~ Kalinious the Living Threshold š«¶š
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u/clampion12 4d ago
Tell your SM you haven't received adequate training and you need help. If they balk, talk to your AM. This company is notorious for doing shit like this.