Quick q: why would somebody promote a barista to supervisor if they handle stress badly? Shifts are expected to use the ACT model to de-escalate situations and create a good partner/customer experience. If somebody doesn’t handle stress well, it would probably be hard for them to create a good experience and manage time effectively.

The best bet is to have open communication with your SM and create a PDC. Ask your manager where your lacking and what you can do to learn and grow in those aspects. In my year and a half as a shift (and 4 years under the siren) I learned that it is a lot more than just having a key and giving people breaks and managing the floor. Especially with COVID, I have had to step up on my problem solving, and communication. I not only had to run breaks, but I had to read both customer and partner body language and be able to react quickly. I saw a partner talking to a woman at the register for 5 minutes with a line out the door, I need to do whatever I can to make things pleasant for the other customers. I might say thanks for waiting and open up a second register to help out the line, but then there is a person staring at my person on bar so I might go over there. So it is small things but it can be overwhelming to some. Think about how you can make teachable moments. How would you coach someone who thinks they know what is right? How do you handle customers when they have a complaint? Also can you handle challenging things, like having to call the police? Waking up a homeless person? Also a big thing for me (in a Cafe store) was what my partners did in their down time. If you are going to sit on your phone instead of restocking then maybe you aren't ready to grow into a SSV. If you restock and help out your partners and communicate then that is a good step.