Photo: Lowe’s
Marvin Ellison advises aspiring execs to ‘take tough assignments’
Marvin Ellison, CEO at Lowe’s, speaking at the NRF Big Show, said he learned early on that, to get ahead in his career, his best approach was to “just take tough assignments.” True to his focus, every job he’s taken over the last 25 years — including his current role — has involved succeeding someone who was fired or pushed out.
He joked, “That means you’re on nobody’s succession plan.”
Oftentimes, the opportunities were ones that others felt were too risky for the potential rewards. He said, “But I would raise my hand because it was my way to make a contribution to the company. It’s my way to demonstrate my ability to lead, my ability to build teams.”
Mr. Ellison, who is Black, also noted that “not too many people that look like me” have been able to lead two Fortune 500 companies, also including JCPenney. He also lacked “an elite education from a prestigious education institution” and early access to executive sponsors.
His parents were “incredibly influential” in providing lessons around perseverance that helped guide his career development. Mr. Ellison said, “Put God first, focus on education and work hard — those were the pillars of success that our parents gave us.”
He also admitted he struggled to “fit in” as the “only Black person” in the corporate office, but came to realize “my greatest attribute was to be the best, most authentic version of myself.”
He further encourages his staff to lean into their “unique diverse abilities to solve problems.”
At Lowe’s, one of his goals is “trying to create a company I wish I could have worked for when I was coming up the ranks.” Long curious about the criteria that leads to major promotions, Lowe’s publishes a list of core behaviors looked for in leaders for every associate to view.
Mr. Ellison said, “Deliver consistent results, continue to learn, take care of the customers, take action and be courageous. These are not extraordinary things but there are things you have to do consistently.”
Discussion Questions
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Do you agree with Marvin Ellison that “just taking tough assignments” is good advice for individuals trying to advance their retail careers? What other advice would you have for individuals aspiring to break into retail’s upper ranks?
Poll
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I totally agree with Marvin. If it was easy then anyone could do it. It takes a special person to take on the hard jobs. Those that others avoid are the jobs that make a career. So buckle up, it’s going to be a rough ride, but it will be rewarding.
Growth and learning often come more from toughness and struggle than it does from easy success. As the saying goes, “if it was easy, everyone would be doing it.”
Mr. Ellison shares what all the best and most successful executives have done on their track to success. Risk, discomfort, uncertainty are all part of this journey. I’ve never heard of a top executive reaching or staying long in an exec position without conflict. The tough assignments enable experience with difficult decision making. Surely it is not the only factor. Support, mentorship and other factors can help, but it is the one factor that only the aspiring executive truly can decide to embrace or decide to leave. Leadership requires perseverance through good times and bad.
These days, just about any role in retail is inherently a “tough assignment”! Even so, Mr. Ellison’s story is inspiring and he is no doubt impacting many retail careers by sharing it. In my experience, taking on jobs and projects that others fear to attempt builds confidence, and working in the trenches builds credibility. It all adds up to leadership.
I agree entirely with Mr. Ellison. There is no better way to prove one’s mettle. It increases profile and sets them away from the pack. Maybe more important, however, is what one proves to themselves. The experience of a tough assignment is a learning experience and a foundational experience for future growth.
Absolutely agree with Mr. Ellison on this one. From experience, you learn so much about yourself and that definitely makes you a better leader in the long run.
This article reminds me of the book “FAST START TO CAREER SUCCESS” and chapter 5 (Be Proactive About Career Advancement) tip #23, that starts “Be prepared to take reasonable risks in your work; for example accepting an assignment that stretches your experience and abilities. Even with failure, you can learn and improve your skills.”
I like this — it especially aligns with something I heard James Clear say recently: basically that your path to success isn’t paved by following what you “love,” but rather what hard things you can tolerate better than most other people around you. Taking hard assignments lets you discover that. If you are doing something that everyone else hates, but you’re finding it’s really not that bad … you’re probably on to something.
I believe that not just taking “difficult” assignments is good advice, but “diverse” assignments as well. In other words, assignments in different but related areas of the business.
I am so very pleased that I did assignments in Walmart’s International Division, as well as assignments in both legacy physical and digital retailing roles. These assignments grew my perspective and knowledge base as a leader, just as taking on larger revenue volume businesses and assignments with a large number of direct reports. Challenge yourself with difficulty AND diversity of assignments during your career!
Marvin Ellison exudes leadership. He’s an incredible example of doing what it takes if you want to increase responsibilities.
It’s not enough to graduate and stay in the corporate tower or be an expert on the sidelines. Taking tough assignments includes being in the field and front lines to be given new roles. Tough assignments also provide experiences and understanding to lead with confidence in later career years.
All about risk and return. Taking the tough assignments and risking failure is part of the process. Sometimes taking assignments that are “set up to fail” is part of the career path, it helps build your network and your reputation as part of the journey.
If one is taking a tough assignment in order to grow in the current company, it depends on the culture. If the culture respects potential failure and “degrees of difficulty” then absolutely do this. If not, quit, and find a company that DOES respect it.