Learning To Listen To Customers
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By Joe Marconi in Joe's Blog5 commentsI recently spoke with a friend of mine who owns a large general repair shop in the Midwest. His father founded the business in 1975. He was telling me that although he’s busy, he’s also very frustrated. When I probed him more about his frustrations, he said that it’s hard to find qualified technicians. My friend employs four technicians and is looking to hire two more. I then asked him, “How long does a technician last working for you.” He looked puzzled and replied, “I never really thought about that, but I can tell that except for one tech, most technicians don’t last working for me longer than a few years.”
Judging from personal experience as a shop owner and from what I know about the auto repair industry, I can tell you that other than a few exceptions, the turnover rate for technicians in our industry is too high. This makes me think, do we have a technician shortage or a retention problem? Have we done the best we can over the decades to provide great pay plans, benefits packages, great work environments, and the right culture to ensure that the techs we have stay with us?
Finding and hiring qualified automotive technicians is not a new phenomenon. This problem has been around for as long as I can remember. While we do need to attract people to our industry and provide the necessary training and mentorship, we also need to focus on retention. Having a revolving door and needing to hire techs every few years or so costs your company money. Big money! And that revolving door may be a sign of an even bigger issue: poor leadership, and poor employee management skills.
Here’s one more thing to consider, for the most part, technicians don’t leave one job to start a new career, they leave one shop as a technician to become a technician at another shop. The reasons why they leave can be debated, but there is one fact that we cannot deny, people don’t quit the company they work for, they usually leave because of the boss or manager they work for.
Put yourselves in the shoes of your employees. Do you have a workplace that communicates, “We appreciate you and want you to stay!”
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By carmcapriotto
Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Auto Care Dr. John Passante and Dr. Thomas Litzinger, titans of the automotive aftermarket industry, steer through the intricacies of professional development and organizational strategies. Some key takeaways: Innovation is non-negotiable, education is critical, and leadership makes the difference. Dr. John Passante is a legacy automotive aftermarket Human Resource professional and the President and CEO of The Organizational Development Group. John’s other episodes HERE. Dr. Thomas Litzinger, Chair of the University of the Aftermarket at Northwood University. Show Notes
Leadership 2.0 (00:02:48) Discussion about the educational programs offered by the University of the Aftermarket at Northwood University. The importance of being a lifelong learner (00:04:14) The significance of being a lifelong learner in the automotive aftermarket industry and personal experiences related to learning. Right to Repair Legislation (00:11:01) The fight to secure data access for vehicle owners and independent repair shops, and the introduction of the right to repair legislation. Leadership development and scholarships for service professionals and technicians (00:16:09) The University's efforts to provide leadership development opportunities and scholarships for service professionals and technicians in the industry. The human spirit (00:18:46) The boundless human potential and the importance of collective effort and positive attitude. Legacy and teamwork (00:19:42) The impact of the human spirit, legacy, and teamwork in achieving common goals. Leadership and culture (00:21:42) The conversation shifts to the importance of culture and leadership in the workplace, emphasizing the value of nurturing and developing employees. Professional development (00:22:17) The need for professional technicians to receive training in financial acumen and leadership for their success. Retirement and personal growth (00:23:26) Speaker 2 shares his post-retirement activities, including executive coaching and writing children's books, emphasizing the importance of continuous personal growth. Leadership 2.0 program (00:24:33) Employee satisfaction and development (00:28:20) The importance of contributing to the life satisfaction of team members through organizational culture and training and development programs. Industry storytelling and leadership (00:31:13) The conversation ends with a focus on industry storytelling, leadership, and the significance of the automotive aftermarket.
Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Auto Care Learn more about NAPA Auto Care and the benefits of being part of the NAPA family by visiting https://www.napaonline.com/en/auto-care Connect with the Podcast: -Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RemarkableResultsRadioPodcast/ -Join Our Private Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1734687266778976 -Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/carmcapriotto -Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmcapriotto/ -Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/remarkableresultsradiopodcast/ -Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RResultsBiz -Visit the Website: https://remarkableresults.biz/ -Join our Insider List: https://remarkableresults.biz/insider -All books mentioned on our podcasts: https://remarkableresults.biz/books -Our Classroom page for personal or team learning: https://remarkableresults.biz/classroom -Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/carm -The Aftermarket Radio Network: https://aftermarketradionetwork.com -Special episode collections: https://remarkableresults.biz/collections
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By carmcapriotto
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Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Auto Care Learn more about NAPA Auto Care and the benefits of being part of the NAPA family by visiting https://www.napaonline.com/en/auto-care Connect with the Podcast: -Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RemarkableResultsRadioPodcast/ -Join Our Private Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1734687266778976 -Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/carmcapriotto -Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmcapriotto/ -Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/remarkableresultsradiopodcast/ -Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RResultsBiz -Visit the Website: https://remarkableresults.biz/ -Join our Insider List: https://remarkableresults.biz/insider -All books mentioned on our podcasts: https://remarkableresults.biz/books -Our Classroom page for personal or team learning: https://remarkableresults.biz/classroom -Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/carm -The Aftermarket Radio Network: https://aftermarketradionetwork.com -Special episode collections: https://remarkableresults.biz/collections
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By carmcapriotto
Our panel of industry coaches highlight the importance of humility, self-awareness, and emotional intelligence in effective leadership. They share personal stories and insights on the transformative power of coaching, emphasizing the need for leaders to be approachable, own their mistakes, and foster a safe environment for growth. The conversation also touches on the significance of mentorship, asking questions, and guiding team members to find their own solutions. The panelists encourage embracing personal growth journeys and the role of coaching in unlocking individual potential, driving home the message that leadership is about empowering oneself and others to succeed. Rick White, President and Lead Coach for 180BIZ, Listen to Rick’s previous episodes HERE. Dan Taylor, Senior Business Advisor, Transformers Institute. Dan’s previous episodes HERE Dave Schedin, CompuTrek Automotive Management Systems. Dave’s previous episodes HERE
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By carmcapriotto
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By carmcapriotto
"The art of asking the right questions: this approach, inspired by the Socratic method, helps uncover valuable insights and ensures a thorough understanding of situations. Authenticity is key in every interaction."
Carm Capriotto introduces a panel to discuss the importance of listening to service advisor calls. Rena Rennebohm and Clint White are service advisor coaches, while Collin Ashin and Tyler Nichols are their clients. They discuss the benefits of reviewing recorded calls, such as identifying areas for improvement, enhancing problem-solving skills, creating a safe environment for feedback, the value of coaching, and the need for continuous improvement. Remember, the journey to self-improvement begins with a single step.
Rena Rennebohm, CEO Empowered Advisor. Listen to Rena’s previous episodes HERE.
Collin Ashin, European Auto Garage, Knoxville, TN Clint White, Service Advisor Coach & Shop Consultant with CWI and currently holds multiple ASE certifications. Clint’s previous episodes HERE Tyler Nichols, X-tra Mile Auto Care, Stillwater, OK Show Notes:
Listening to service advisor calls (00:00:28) Discussion on the impact of listening to service advisor calls and how it improves their performance. Coaching style and empowerment (00:03:56) Exploration of the coaching style that focuses on empowerment and positive experiences for service advisors. Enhanced problem solving (00:09:20) Discussion on the benefits of reviewing recorded calls for service advisors to improve their ability to respond effectively and professionally. Drawing attention to extended silences and lazy language (00:10:25) Conversation about the importance of avoiding extended silences while speaking and the impact it has on customer confidence. Trust building and providing lessons before listening to calls (00:14:27) Explanation of the approach to establish trust and provide education and tools before giving critique on recorded calls. The Importance of Coaching and Training (00:16:41) Discussion on the value of coaching and training in various industries, using examples like Tiger Woods and football players. Working with Top Advisors (00:17:37) Exploring the concept of working with top advisors and keeping them at the top of their game. Using Scripts as a Guide (00:18:51) The benefits and challenges of using scripts in client interactions, emphasizing the need for authenticity and personalization. Improving Call Structure and Clarity (00:24:32) Discussion on the importance of having a structured call and how it helps in assessing improvement. Seeking Feedback from Spouse (00:25:15) Sharing phone calls with a spouse to get their input on how the calls sound and if they seem forced. Building the Clock Analogy (00:32:56) Explains the analogy of building a clock to illustrate the importance of not overcomplicating things in the automotive industry. Realizing You're Still a Good Advisor (00:34:17) Discusses the realization that having a coach doesn't mean you're a bad advisor, but rather an opportunity to improve and fine-tune skills. Pain Points in Listening to Calls (00:35:24) Explores the discomfort and growth that comes from listening to difficult phone calls and the benefits of having a coach to provide objective feedback. The value of consistency in customer interactions (00:48:01) Emphasizes the importance of maintaining consistent service across multiple locations for customer satisfaction. Thanks to our Partners Shop-Ware and Delphi Technologies
Shop-Ware: More Time. More Profit. Shop-Ware Shop Management https://getshopware.com/
Delphi Technologies: Keeping current on the latest vehicle systems and how to repair them is a must for today’s technicians. http://DelphiAftermarket.com
Connect with the Podcast
-Join our Insider List: https://remarkableresults.biz/insider
-All books mentioned on our podcasts: https://remarkableresults.biz/books
-Our Classroom page for personal or team learning: https://remarkableresults.biz/classroom
-Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/carm
-The Aftermarket Radio Network: https://aftermarketradionetwork.com
-Special episode collections: https://remarkableresults.biz/collections
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