Quantcast
Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Posted

I remember watching my son’s little league game, some years ago. A ball was hit into the outfield. The 10 year old centerfielder catches the ball on two bounces and attempts to throw the runner out that was heading home from third base. In the stands a father is screaming at the kid, “Second base! Second Base!”

 

Well, the runner was safe, the kid who hit the ball ended up on second base. The father unloaded a series of rants at the young ball player. The coach, being a smart man, walked over to the father and said, “Sir, the kid made a mistake, he’s young. He thought he was doing the right thing. He doesn’t yet know to throw it to second base to stop the runner from advancing.”

 

Essentially, when people are young and in training, they will make mistakes. And, they really cannot be responsible for things that they do not know. Making a mistake does not always mean someone is wrong.

 

Be patient with young employees. They will make mistakes. The way to minimize the mistakes is training. Lots of training. The company has the obligation to provide continuous training for all employees, especially entry level.

 

Your thoughts?

 

 

  • Like 1
Posted

We recently added another mechanic to a veteran team, and as it's been more than a year since we needed to hire anyone, I forgot about the patience it takes to get a new employee acclimated to our processes. New team members who are experienced are sometimes more difficult to train than those without that experience, as they bring bad habits with them

 

The process is taxing to say the least, and it's ben a stark reminder to all the rest of us that we've been working together so long, we've begun to take for granted that everyone uses the same language, and applies the steps of our process the same. The new guy (who's personable, and knows quite a bit about cars) has been a real sport, as it seems like we've had to stop him in his tracks pretty often to course-correct.

 

Pop Quiz: How many times should you have to tell someone something before you can expect them to perform their task the way it's supposed to be done?

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Available Subscriptions

  • Have you checked out Joe's Latest Blog?

         0 comments
      It always amazes me when I hear about a technician who quits one repair shop to go work at another shop for less money. I know you have heard of this too, and you’ve probably asked yourself, “Can this be true? And Why?” The answer rests within the culture of the company. More specifically, the boss, manager, or a toxic work environment literally pushed the technician out the door.
      While money and benefits tend to attract people to a company, it won’t keep them there. When a technician begins to look over the fence for greener grass, that is usually a sign that something is wrong within the workplace. It also means that his or her heart is probably already gone. If the issue is not resolved, no amount of money will keep that technician for the long term. The heart is always the first to leave. The last thing that leaves is the technician’s toolbox.
      Shop owners: Focus more on employee retention than acquisition. This is not to say that you should not be constantly recruiting. You should. What it does means is that once you hire someone, your job isn’t over, that’s when it begins. Get to know your technicians. Build strong relationships. Have frequent one-on-ones. Engage in meaningful conversation. Find what truly motivates your technicians. You may be surprised that while money is a motivator, it’s usually not the prime motivator.
      One last thing; the cost of technician turnover can be financially devastating. It also affects shop morale. Do all you can to create a workplace where technicians feel they are respected, recognized, and know that their work contributes to the overall success of the company. This will lead to improved morale and team spirit. Remember, when you see a technician’s toolbox rolling out of the bay on its way to another shop, the heart was most likely gone long before that.
  • Similar Topics

    • By carmcapriotto
      Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Autotech
      Matt Fanslow and Margaret Light, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Sex Therapist in the state of Minnesota, discuss a recent murder-suicide within the automotive community. They discuss the alarming statistics surrounding such events, emphasizing the significant role of domestic violence as a predictor. The conversation explores risk factors, including untreated mental illness, access to firearms, and the dynamics of control within relationships. Finally, they offer practical advice and resources for identifying warning signs and seeking help for individuals at risk.
      Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Autotech
      NAPA Autotech’s team of ASE Master Certified Instructors are conducting over 1,200 classes covering 28 automotive topics. To see a selection, go to napaautotech.com for more details.
      Contact Information
      Email Matt: [email protected] Diagnosing the Aftermarket A - Z YouTube Channel
      The Aftermarket Radio Network: https://aftermarketradionetwork.com/
      Remarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto: Advancing the Aftermarket by Facilitating Wisdom Through Story Telling and Open Discussion. https://remarkableresults.biz/
      Diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z with Matt Fanslow: From Diagnostics to Metallica and Mental Health, Matt Fanslow is Lifting the Hood on Life. https://mattfanslow.captivate.fm/
      Business by the Numbers with Hunt Demarest: Understand the Numbers of Your Business with CPA Hunt Demarest. https://huntdemarest.captivate.fm/
      The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast with Kim and Brian Walker: Marketing Experts Brian & Kim Walker Work with Shop Owners to Take it to the Next Level. https://autorepairmarketing.captivate.fm/
      The Weekly Blitz with Chris Cotton: Weekly Inspiration with Business Coach Chris Cotton from AutoFix - Auto Shop Coaching. https://chriscotton.captivate.fm/
      Speak Up! Effective Communication with Craig O'Neill: Develop Interpersonal and Professional Communication Skills when Speaking to Audiences of Any Size. https://craigoneill.captivate.fm/
      Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio
    • By Jay Huh
      Long story short, been in business about 2 years and started mobile. Current location for about a year, just opened up a second location about 3 weeks ago- HUGE step for me.
      In my area, auto shop locations are REALLY REALLY RARE. There'll be months before a single shop will pop up for lease.
      Well.. I was looking for auto equipment on craigslist and stumbled upon a listing of a shop moving and selling all his lifts. Found the location on loopnet- 5 bays, previous business extremely successful, great location, great price too....
      1st location hit record sales this past week, 2nd new location held its own (divided by week, came out on top after expenses). I got both stores running self sufficiently. I am pretty much maxed out and I hate taking out loans but I have a line of credit available. 
      Am I crazy to want to do this? 
    • By Joe Marconi
      I want wish everyone the very best this holiday Season, and a prosperous and healthy 2025 and beyond! 

    • By nptrb
      There’s less than one month left in 2024. Is the bookkeeping for your automotive business up to date? 
      If you’re anything like us, you feel like this year flew by in the blink of an eye. It’s time to ensure that your books and reports are squared away as this year comes to an end. 
      In this blog post, we share important steps to start the new year on a healthy financial footing.
       
      Reconcile bank and credit card statements.
      Reconciling your automotive business’s credit card and bank statements at year-end is crucial for accurate financial reporting and tax preparation.
      By reconciling, you ensure all transactions are accounted for, identify discrepancies, and prevent errors that could lead to costly penalties.
       
      Review your yearly income statement. 
      Close out the year with a clear understanding of your income by reviewing your yearly income statement. 
      Throughout your review, confirm that all of your transactions are properly categorized. Identify if there are any transactions in the miscellaneous/uncategorized account or “Ask My Accountant”. 
      Compare this year’s statement to the previous year’s statement for growth patterns and revenue increases. And don’t forget to calculate the gross profit percentage of net revenue.
       
      Review your yearly balance sheet. 
      Analyzing and adjusting your yearly balance sheet can help you identify trends and assess your automotive business’s current financial position.
      A thorough review helps you understand your business’s liquidity, solvency, and overall financial performance so you can make informed decisions in the upcoming year.
      Evaluate the following three categories on your yearly balance sheet to confirm prime accuracy.
      Your assets Your liabilities Your equity When reviewing each of these categories, ensure that all transactions are accurate and correctly recorded in the appropriate accounts. 
      Additionally, ensure that all adjusting entries are accounted for and all account balances make sense. Reconcile any discrepancies found.
       
      Download our free end-of-year checklist. 
      Now that you’re ready to tackle your year-end review, we’d love to offer a free resource to support you. 
      When you download our free end-of-year checklist, you’ll have peace of mind that all of your bases are covered for a healthy and bright 2025! 
    • By nptrb
      At Three Rivers Bookkeeping, our auto repair shop clients have experienced significant financial improvements this year – and we’re raising a toast to them in this post! 
      It is our mission to provide five-star bookkeeping services to every client we work with, and it certainly shows through the growth and success of these businesses! 
      Here’s a look at what we’re thankful for in 2024.
       
      Client Revenue Increases
      Many people think the sole purpose of hiring a bookkeeper is to keep financial documents and records on track. However, that’s just a sliver of what we do. 
      Aside from keeping your finances neat and tidy, we also offer business consulting to help you boost revenue.
      We’re particularly proud to share that our clients who have been with us for at least a year have seen an average revenue increase of 10.7%. 
      We are patting our clients on the back for this amazing achievement. This is what happens when you have the power of strategic financial management and an experienced bookkeeping team in your corner.
       
      Client Success Strategies
      The success of our clients didn’t occur overnight. It took intentional planning and strategizing to build their income. 
      This is how we’ve helped our clients scale this year: 
      Parts Matrices: We encourage our clients to analyze parts costs and pricing. This helps optimize their inventory management and improve their profitability.
      Tracking Labor Efficiencies: Our clients began to monitor their labor hours. The result? Reduced overhead costs and greater productivity across their shops.
      Adjusting Pay Structures: Our clients adjusted their employee compensation structures. They analyzed whether salary or hourly was more beneficial and made decisions based on the needs of their businesses and their employees. This boosted shop morale and employee performance!
      Training Investments: Clients invested in regular training programs for technicians, service advisors, and office staff. On-going education helps improve customer service, therefore boosting revenue. 
      Auto-Industry Business Coaching: Several of our clients reached out for expert help from business coaches that specialize in the auto industry. This equipped them with sales, marketing, and financial strategies to help their businesses grow.
      Key Performance Indicator (KPI) Tracking: Several of our clients began tracking their KPIs. This gave them an accurate picture of their financial metrics and progress so they could make empowered and intentional decisions moving forward.
       
      A Thank You From Three Rivers
      We want to take a moment to express our sincere thanks to all of the auto repair shops we have had the honor of working with this year. 
      Our primary goal is to see our clients thrive, and we’re so grateful to be a part of your business’s success. We can’t wait to see what unfolds for you in 2025! 
       
      Cheers to your success,
      The Three Rivers Bookkeeping Team
       


  • Similar Tagged Content

  • Our Sponsors

×
×
  • Create New...