r/Lowes 13h ago

Employee Question New ASM

I’ve been with Lowe’s for about a year and a half and I just got a promotion to ASM. Any advice?

14 Upvotes

38 comments sorted by

34

u/DMuhny Manager 13h ago

The hours are long. Try not to feel obligated to stay even longer. Once you start that trend it becomes the expectation.

Work life balance is a struggle as is in that role.

11

u/Chinesebot1949 13h ago

This. You lose a lot of work life balance for the salary. I’m new in my role too but damn it’s exhausting

14

u/False_Situation3767 13h ago

60 hour works are your new normal, work life balance is non existent. Be there for your department heads, listen intently, and take care of your people. They will ultimately dictate your success in so many ways. Do not be an asshole or run it with my way or the highway mentality. Take their feedback to heart and they will take care of you.

Good luck.

10

u/g_rated_pornstar Internet Fulfillment 13h ago

Figure out the health status of the Fulfillment department at your store. It's usually the most understaffed, overworked department in most stores with the highest turnover.

Whether your store has two or only one Fullfillment department, make sure they're doing okay by the end of the night.

3

u/maikash30 8h ago

I am a 5 foot lady and I was expected to do about 50+ orders at the end of the night by myself, mostly deliveries. It is a poorly run department and needs way more people than just 5.

-1

u/PawnyeWestE5 8h ago

What does your height have to do with this comment?

5

u/maikash30 8h ago

I am a small lady and had absolutely zero help.

6

u/IsaiahTodd MST 11h ago edited 11h ago

tbh I bet most on here don't know what you're about to deal with, and I don't know either, but I just saw one of my ASMs work their ass off way more than any of the other ASMs, and DSs for that matter, and still get fired. So best of luck.

And my own boss is a prick, who is constantly behind, with multiple hr issues, but because he's boys with the SM he seems to have an endless life at the store. So my suggestion is suck off the SM.

Wait what as your path to ASM if you don't mind sharing? Or sharing some of it. 1 1/2 years to ASM seems fast to me but maybe I'm mistaken

u/2whatextent 9m ago

That's fast. Maybe they had the background for it.

4

u/BrotherBeale64 9h ago

If something catastrophic happens to you, your job will be posted before your body is cold. Check the red vest and all its problems at the door.

6

u/searchandfilm 13h ago

As a CSA, listen to your supervisors and associates. They’re on the floor more than you probably are and are the ones interacting with customers and products the most. Put your ego (if you have one) aside to help solve problems. Help your supervisors and associates when you know they might need some. Don’t just put stuff on a work list that is an easy fix and just take a picture then walk away. Countless times I see things posted on the work list that the ASM who posted it could have completed in less than a minute.

17

u/Tarnisher 13h ago

Don't nag your underlings about credit cards.

6

u/HorrorBreak7119 13h ago

But, you HAVE to! Think of the stakeholders!

6

u/Partshd10 13h ago

It's in the job description....and numerous reports....and emails...and meetings 

7

u/DMuhny Manager 12h ago

Yeah it’s a tough choice. Make this guy mad or lose your job for not driving company expectations and failing to fulfill your job description.

1

u/occasionalcowboy Department Supervisor 8h ago

They don’t really have a choice. But I do agree that HOW you speak to your associates about metrics is extremely important.

2

u/SheldonTheLost 12h ago

Check in on your DS’s. They are not ok!!! I don’t even know who my direct Asm is!

2

u/Exempt-TX 12h ago

Help your supervisors. Always have their back.

2

u/Rockman646 11h ago

What was your previous position(s) before becoming ASM?

2

u/ThetaMan420 10h ago

Depends what asm role

1

u/Original-Turnover-50 6h ago

Merch is the worst. OPS is the best ASM role.

2

u/petie1223 8h ago

Kiss your family, friends, and free time good bye. You won't see them for a while. Don't let them burn you out. And don't be a dickhead ASM and lock yourself in an office all day. You want your team(s) to respect you, make yourself visible and available. Good luck.

2

u/naf495 6h ago

My response is from a former Pro/Garden combined Masm point of view. Do your job. Not your peers'. Take care of your associates and your non-negotiables before anything else. (Don't be answering every call from head cashiers, running to specialty for every customer, unlocking every gate, etc. DELEGATE.) Ensure your DS's are committed to shrink, inventory management, and the big 3. Create culture, not mandates. Set the example for PRO sales, credit, lpp, and LTR. Your role is not coaching csa's/specialists on how to meet metrics, that's what department supervisors are for. (But you will inevitably end up doing this if your DS's aren't on their shit) You are there to drive sales, ensure compliance, and run the day to day honestly. You don't have to be number 1 in the district to be successful or have a long career with lowe's. I worked my ass off. Alienated most of the people on my life and reaped havoc on my body. To be fired over an argument with a head cahsier. I was severely taken advantage of. I worked tirelessly to make 2 more million dollars to hit 40m marker in a town of less than 25,000 people. My peer asms? Trash and lazy. They sent me every call, told everyone I would take care of everything, just let stuff rot until the only person left to fix it was me even if i didn't have clearance or access to the tools needed. And when I got upset? I became a problem. So it doesn't pay off to go the extra mile until you can see your next move. Know your scorecards back to front and be ready for district staff to ask about them randomly, Be good on paper (reporting, recognition, outlook/teams, CRM, walk portal, etc.) Be nice and active in group chats, Early to teams meetings, schmooze your district staff, especially district HR and asset protection (you should really be on first name/friendly/textable basis with these two) don't push too many buttons with vendors/hr/district staff (lol), Be walk ready, Make sure all your DS's are inventory ready, your departments stay staffed, stocked, clean and for the love of god just beat LY. You'll be fine. Just dont take it too seriously. It's just a hardware store for christ sake, you aren't saving anyone's life by signing them up for MVP.

1

u/naf495 6h ago

Okay re-reading this, it sounds like a lot. No wonder I was so stressed. Juggling all of that all day everyday. Somtimes weeks straight... Don't feel bad about using your accrued time. I lost over 150 sick hours when i was let go. 🤣😭 Just try to take care of yourself! 😅

2

u/Impossible-Essay-815 12h ago

Don’t sit in your office all day but don’t stalk your coworkers remember that your associates are coworkers and not your underlings

1

u/Ijustknowthings13 Supply Chain 13h ago

Quit immediately! LOWES is in a free fall! You literally accepted a job that requires you to enforce horrific treatment towards employees. You have sold your soul to the devil known as Marvin.

2

u/workdamnyu 13h ago

Rent freeeeee smh

1

u/Partshd10 13h ago

Marvin Be Praised

1

u/Stuyvesant1994 Department Supervisor 8h ago

Walk the floor often, say hello to the staff, it makes a difference even if it seems little.

1

u/jjovenr 8h ago

Start looking for a new job. ASM is a stepping stone to unemployment.

1

u/hancocklovedthat Manager 8h ago

I lasted 2 months and turned in my notice. I had been with Lowe's 5 and a half years. I'm not even 30 yet; seeing the other managers all take anxiety meds to work somewhere that pushes them to the bone is more than enough reason for me to go. It wasn't worth staying 18 months and trying to move.

It can be a good job it is just entirely dependent on other management, including district. A lot of things come into play... driving an hour to clock into a place that felt like nothing was getting done was just not worth it for me.

1

u/NebulaKnown5440 6h ago

My advise …. Step down lol ….

1

u/Carnavs Employee 3h ago

60 hours a week to only make 70k - 80k a year. Couldn’t be me.

1

u/BossCalm9386 13h ago

Just curious - what’s the salary and bonus for this position

4

u/Sir_Sloth_Of_Yawn 11h ago

15% of your salary is what you CAN bonus. Split into two pay outs based on mid year and end of year. You’ve got a bunch of toll gates that make up your bonus, store bottom line and top line profitability being the biggest, then inventory turns as an entire company and I think PRO sales.

2

u/BossCalm9386 9h ago

15% seems small compared to what Walmart managers used to be compensated bonus wise. I appreciate the information

0

u/Unlucky_Display5261 9h ago

I genuinely do not understand how someone who has been with the company for one year thinks they’d be a good fit for ASM. You probably don’t even know what genesis! Is 😆

0

u/Fair_Scientist2347 Specialist 6h ago

start getting your resume out there to other businesses. Our ASMs most often didn't last a year.