How’s Your Shop Morale? Not Good? Look in the Mirror!

[Joe Marconi]

Premium Member Content 

This content is hidden to guests, one of the benefits of a paid membership. Please login or register to view this content.

[autoguy]

You can learn a lot about a shop’s spirit from a simple phone call. As chairman of a local automotive shop-owners business council, I call members to remind them about future meetings. This one call in particular, to a local shop, really got me thinking. I decided to write about it because it relates to our role as leaders and how our actions trickle down to every member of our company.

 

So, here’s a replay of the phone call to XYZ Auto…

 

In a flat, monotone voice the service advisor picked up the phone and said, “XYZ Auto, this is Tom”. I responded by saying, “Good Morning Tom, this is Joe from Osceola Garage, how are things going today?” He replied by saying, “Going today? How do you think things are going? I’m stuck working in this place.” To avoid any further confrontation I quickly asked if I could speak to Jim, the owner. After 5 minutes on hold and with a huff as he picked up the phone, I hear, “This is Jim”. I said, “Jim, good morning, this is Joe from Osceola Garage, how are things today?” Jim replied, Ok, I guess. I’m alive. If you call being stuck in this place, alive”. In an instant it hit me, the service writer’s emotions and actions mimicked the emotions and actions of the owner.

 

Jim went on to tell me that business stinks, his employees don’t care, the customers don’t want to spend any money, his overhead is too high, he works too hard, he can’t take any time off, the weather is lousy, and his kids and wife are driving him crazy. I was tempted to drive over to his shop to take away his shoe laces and belt, in fear he might hang himself.

 

After listening to his depressing statements, I couldn’t help thinking that his negative attitude IS the reason why his life stinks. His focus on everything negative is not only killing his life, but also killing his business. And, every person in his company probably has a negative attitude because of Jim. In fact, I have no doubt that the air of negativity is also affecting his customer’s actions.

 

Remember, you are the leader of your company. How you act and feel will trickle down to every member of your team. If you are upbeat and positive, your people will follow the same. If you walk around with your head down, drowning yourself in sorrow over all the things that can go wrong, things will go wrong. Your people will follow you as you head down that slippery slope to depression. People don’t like to work in a place that’s depressing. Productivity will suffer as a result.

 

We all know the state of the economy and that this may not be the best of times. But trust me, things will get better. History has proven that this recession will not last. Plus, shop owners are among the most resilient business people. Our ability to solve complex problems puts us in a class of our own. There may be some casualties along the way, as some people will give up. But the majority of you will make it through, and you’ll be stronger because of what you endured. So keep your head up and give your people a reason to go on. Shop owners that maintain a positive attitude and find ways to stay alive will thrive when the economy bounces back. The next time someone asks you, “How are things going?” You respond by saying, “Great! I can’t wait for what the future has to offer me!”

 

Employee perception is very important. If you let out a negative vibe, others will pick it up.