As you walk up the aisle, you notice a fellow associate struggling to assist a customer. What is the best course of action?

• A. Stop, greet your teammate, and ask if you can be of service.
• B. Continue what you were doing.
• C. Let your fellow associate know that you will get a manager.
• D. Ask the customer if you can help.

Answer: (A)

When a teammate is already helping a customer but seems to be struggling, the best move is to pause what you’re doing, greet your teammate, and offer to help. This shows you’re a team player who puts the customer first, and it helps keep the service flow smooth. By stepping in, you reduce the customer’s wait time and demonstrate to the customer that the store supports them with immediate, collaborative help.

Continuing with your own task misses a chance to accelerate service and can come across as unsupportive. Telling a manager is a fine backup if the teammate needs additional backup or if policies require escalation, but offering to assist directly is typically quicker and strengthens teamwork. Asking the customer if you can help is polite, but in this moment, coordinating with your teammate first ensures you’re providing the right assistance without interrupting an ongoing interaction.