Disappointed at Dollar Tree

“Oh look, there’s a new Dollar Tree, let’s see if it’s open.” My wife and I were out running errands on a Saturday and she spotted a new Dollar Tree. Dollar Trees are fun places for me to go, it brings back memories of when I worked at a store called Dollar Bills in high school. Dollar Bills, where everything cost a dollar. It was a fun job. I knew deep down that the customer service at Dollar Tree would be suspect, but with a grand opening, maybe it would be okay.

It was terrible. There was only one person working the checkout, and they had four checkout lanes. Why build four checkout lanes if only one is open? The line stretched down the aisle as one employee checked everyone out, even going to get balloons and having to blow them up himself. We waited, and as we waited my anger was growing, but not at this cashier — at the structure that put him there. Why do this to people?

My point was proven when the person in front of me told the cashier he needed a raise. The cashier’s answer: it’s okay, I found a better job somewhere else.

That is a lesson for leaders. Recognize the talented people you have and make sure they are supported, and care for the customer. To me it seems obvious that Dollar Tree isn’t concerned about the people who work there or the people who shop there. If they were, someone would be helping.

This past week at work we had a cyber attack that knocked out our wifi. At one point I was one of the only people who could print. I made sure to tell my staff to send me whatever they needed printed. Did I have other things to do? Yes. Was it inconvenient? Yes. But I did what I believed was right. Support the people you work with.

Leadership is service, and support.

What have you blamed on a person that belonged to the structure?

Here, I made this. My gift to you, for taking the time to read.

Images are from my imagination, generated by AI. Writing is all me.