A key component to leadership is relationship building. In this Working On It Tuesday session, we discussed best practices to build good relationships.
leadership
Focus on one of the driving gears, “Empowerment”
Benefits
- Way to get some freedom
- Prevents micro management
- Relief of stress
- Takes the burden off
- Can focus more on the business and less in the business
- Staff feels important and takes ownership
- Less hours at the shop
Methods
- Ask staff members where they see opportunities, and get buy in. Ask for ideas and input to improve processes
- Provide parameters and allow decision making at different levels depending on position
- In-depth team huddles
- Teach staff that a presented problem should accompany ideas for solutions
How to follow up so that you don’t get burned by empowering associates
- Audit tickets
- Set parameters
- Listen to phone calls
- Inspect what you expect
- Monitor the scorecard
- Hold accountable
- Show by example
- Ongoing training
- Own the mistakes we make
- Be present / audit / checklist
Defining Leadership
What are your BIG 3 driving gears? The following was shared :
- Empowerment
- Inspire / motivate
- Casting a vision
- Getting “buy in”
- Inspect what you expect / follow up
- Praising, showing gratitude, and accountability
Question asked and discussed :
Can confidence be learned?
Here is a clip from one of our weekly Working On It Tuesday training webinars. This week, the topic in question is our leadership process. Brian details the six steps to auto shop leadership mastery, also known as The Lotus Code.
The Lotus Code in Action for Auto Repair Shop Leaders
When automotive industry owners want to up their leadership game, it’s great to have an ordered list which they can refer to. Our Auto Repair Leadership Process is based on the Lotus Code, which is an ancient six step method for success. In order, the six steps are:
- Thinking
- Words
- Action
- Habits
- Perseverance
- Attainment
The other owners on the call recalled Gary Gunn teaching this age old concept to them many years ago. Brian then goes over the history of the Lotus Code, which is over 2500 years old. Mastering your goals always involves these six steps, in this order. Whether it’s a simple task such as cleaning your house, or a more complex one like managing your auto repair shop’s daily operations, this is how it comes together.
When the Lotus Code is applied correctly, we think through our task. Then, we verbalize our plan. We take action, and with repetition, those actions grow into habits. Although obstacles can (and will) arise, we take step five, which is Perseverance, to conquer them. Finally, through that perseverance, we reach step six, Attainment. Only then can we call ourselves masters. As any shop owner knows from experience, mastery will only come through hard work and focus.
Learn More – Schedule Your FREE Strategy Session
Does your auto repair shop lack direction? Perhaps your business plan has stalled out, and you need an experienced automotive industry coach to help you. Then why not schedule a FREE business strategy session with Brian? You’ve got nothing to lose, so sign up today!
Gary Gunn quizzes YNR Members on how they define auto repair leadership. Repair Shop Owners need to learn key skills in order to be effective leaders in their automotive businesses.
Auto Repair Leadership Defined
Gary opens by asking the group how they define auto repair leadership. Each of our YNR members contribute valuable takes in this clip.
Joe says a true leader knows the direction that automotive business is going. Pam adds that that leaders set the tone and pace of the business. The owner leads by making sure everyone focuses on the main goals and the team doesn’t go off on tangents. Brian Gillis has mentioned before that every auto shop has a “speed up / slow down” rhythm. The owner must ensure that everyone keeps that pace.
Fred reminds us that leaders must set month to month goals for staff. Owners lead by creating processes. They also have to continually seek ways to improve those processes.
Jerry adds that auto repair leadership means defining a repair shop’s vision. Then it is up to the owner to lead by example.
Gary Recommends Leadership Resources
All of these definitions included aspects of leadership. However, Gary has more to add. Since he is a certified eMyth coach, Gary Gunn has learned leadership methods inside and out from Michael Gerber. John Maxwell also has great leadership training resources, which dig much deeper. Remember, core tenets of the job may never change. However, changing times could mean new problems to solve.
Learn More – Book Your FREE Strategy Session
Does your independent auto repair shop lack direction? Perhaps your business plan has stalled out. So you need an experienced automotive industry coach to help you. Then why not schedule a FREE business strategy session with Brian Gillis? You’ve got nothing to lose, so sign up today!
Mastering Your Results as a LWOBAS
Wouldn’t it be great if Your Leadership was a process? Wouldn’t it be great if it were that simple?
It is. You can do this. It’s proven to work.
Show and Tell – Mastering Your Results Rotational Process
- Discussion: How Leadership can be a Systemic Process
- Six Steps Review
- Five Tool Player Review
- The Four Leadership Level Test Review
- Mastery Module 1 Leadership Review
Downloads
Auto repair shop management doesn’t have to be a mystery. Long time automotive business coach Gary Gunn shares his decades of automotive industry experience running multiple shops with you! When you take Gary’s and head coach Brian Gillis’ advice to heart, you will put your business systems in place and see results in no time!
Defining Auto Repair Shop Management – How Is It Different From Leadership?
Gary opens the clip, polling the group on the difference between auto repair shop management and leadership.
Pam believes that managing is staying on top of details and keeping staff on top of their tasks. Fred believes Leaders hand down goals and processes to Managers. Then the Managers use the SOPs to guide the people.
Joe defines the Leadership role as one who sets the pace and tone for the shop’s business. Management then manipulates the Technicians and Service Advisors to execute the Leader’s vision. Joe clarifies that the staff roles are similar to that of military ranks. As the owner and leader, he recognizes the strengths of each employee in their positions.
Jerry continues by agreeing with all the previous points. He then adds that Auto Repair Shop Management means overseeing the systems and processes, so Mechanics and Service Writers can do their thing.
Gary also reminds us that people do not want to be managed. They can’t! That method of management always reduces people to robots. Effective managers should manage the systems, so the SOPs themselves can manage the people.
Learn More – Get Your FREE Strategy Session
Does your independent automotive shop lack a clear vision? Maybe your business plan has stalled out. You need an experienced automotive industry coach to help you. Then why not schedule a FREE business strategy session with Brian? You’ve got nothing to lose, so sign up today!
By Adobe Photo Stock
Lack of employee motivation, poor inventory strategies, and accounting snafus might not seem like they have much in common. However, they can all be silent thieves in your auto repair shop. By that, we mean that they can all lead to big problems when they’re not managed properly.
In this blog post, we’ll show you how to recover from these three silent thieves in your auto repair shop so that you can keep your business running smoothly.
Thieves Identified #1: Lack of Employee Motivation
One of the most common silent thieves in auto repair shops is employee motivation. When employees aren’t motivated, it can lead to all sorts of problems. Poor performance, low morale, and high turnover are all examples.
If you want to recover from this silent thief, there are a few things you can do:
First, try to get to the root of the problem. Why aren’t your employees motivated? Perhaps you have not challenged them enough. Is it because they don’t feel like their work is meaningful, or is it something else entirely? Once you know the problem, then you can start addressing it.
Second, try to create a more motivating workplace environment. This might mean providing more employee training and development opportunities, or offering incentives for meeting certain goals. Whatever you do, make sure you’re proactive about addressing employee motivation; otherwise, it will continue to be a silent thief in your shop.
Thief #2: Poor Inventory Strategies
Another common silent thief in auto repair shops is loss due to poor inventory strategies. You may have a bad handle on your inventory. If you’re overstocking certain items, or understocking others, it can eventually lead to big financial losses.
Start your recovery by closely examining your inventory strategies. Are there any areas where you could improve? Are there any changes you could make to reduce losses? Once you’ve identified some potential improvements, implement them as soon as possible.
#3: Simple Accounting Issues
The third and final silent thief we’ll discuss is simple accounting issues. Believe it or not, even a small error in your monthly financial statements can lead to big problems for your business.
To recover from this thief, review your financial statements carefully each month and correct any errors immediately. You should also consider automation tools that can help reduce errors and save time (and money) in the long run.
These are just a few of the most common silent thieves in auto repair shops, but they’re certainly not the only ones out there. To protect your business from these thieves (and many others), it’s important to be aware of them and take steps to prevent them from causing damage.
You Net Results Can Help!
Contact You Net Results and we will guide you through the process of identifying, itemizing, and neutralizing your silent thieves today! Book a complimentary consultation. Brian Gillis & team will help you build your leadership foundation and plug you into a vast network of auto repair shops, working together to strengthen the industry! Let’s make January the best month of your business life!
Why Celebrating Your Business Wins is Important
As an auto repair shop owner, it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day and forget to take time to celebrate your successes. But it’s important to take time to reflect on and celebrate your wins, both big and small. Here’s why celebrating business wins is important.
4 Reasons To Highlight Your Wins
- It keeps you motivated. When you constantly see the results of your hard work, it’ll help motivate you to keep working hard, striving for even more success. The little business wins deserve celebration, because it helps build a head of momentum. It will protect you against the little losses over time.
- It helps you attract and retain top talent. If your employees feel like their successes are being recognized and celebrated, they’re more likely to stick around. Furthermore, high-quality applicants will see your business wins on social media. Then, they will look to you as the type of shop they would want to work for. Let people see what you do so well, and let them come to check it out for themselves.
- It makes your customers happy. When your customers see that you’re celebrating your business wins, they’ll be happy for you. They’ll also be more likely to continue doing business with you. Furthermore, customers want to know their money goes to the best of the best. Showing your wins is a great way to signal that.
- It strengthens your brand identity. By taking the time to celebrate your successes, you’re reinforcing what your brand stands for. This will help it to become even more recognizable and iconic.
Celebrate Win-After-Win With Business Coaching Through You Net Results
So go ahead and take the time to celebrate your next business wins. You deserve it! Not only will it make you feel good, but it’ll also help keep you motivated, attract and retain top talent, and make your customers happy. All the while, it will strengthen your brand identity. All of these are good things that will help take your business to the next level!
Book a complimentary consultation today! Brian Gillis and team will help build your leadership foundation and plug you into a vast network of auto repair shops. We’re here working together to strengthen the industry! Let’s make December the best month of your business life!
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