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By Joe Marconi in Joe's Blog0 commentsIt 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.
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By carmcapriotto
Rick White discusses the challenges of maintaining focus and avoiding distractions. He explores the negative effects of distractions on productivity and share insights on how to improve focus. Rick White, a business coach, provides tips on creating bubbles of focus, scheduling tasks, and setting boundaries with distractions. He emphasizes the importance of having a clear destination and purpose, as well as the need to overcome obstacles and challenges.
Rick White, President and Lead Coach for 180BIZ, Listen to Rick’s previous episodes HERE.
Show Notes
The importance of focus and distractions (00:00:01) Discussion on distractions in daily life and the negative effects on productivity. Distractions in today's world (00:02:07) Exploration of the various distractions in modern life, including social media and psychological behaviors. Tips for improving focus (00:05:00) Rick White provides insights on improving focus, including creating bubbles of focus, scheduling tasks, and avoiding distractions. Discussion on the importance of staying focused on the goal and not comparing oneself to others.i se Overcoming obstacles and finding success through adversity (00:15:04) Rick White shares examples of successful individuals who faced challenges and overcame them, highlighting the importance of perseverance and resilience. The importance of having a destination (00:19:33) Discussion on the significance of having a clear goal or destination to create focus and avoid distractions. The power of the "why" (00:21:02) Exploration of the emotional aspect of setting goals and understanding the purpose behind them to stay motivated and focused. Creating a distraction-free workplace (00:26:16) Tips on minimizing distractions in the workplace, including setting boundaries. The importance of removing distractions (00:26:20) Discussion on the dangers of distractions in the auto service industry and the need to remove distractions for safety and productivity. Tips for maintaining focus (00:27:49) Insights on how to improve focus and avoid distractions, including writing down tasks and avoiding interruptions. The impact of social media on attention (00:32:18) Discussion on the attention-grabbing tactics used by social media platforms and the importance of using social media intelligently. The importance of focus and avoiding comparisons (00:34:40) The mistake of thinking that life and business are finite games, the negative effects of comparing oneself to others, and the importance of comparing oneself to their potential. The role of comfort zones and downtime (00:36:25) The benefits of the comfort zone as a place to recharge and recover, the importance of having downtime, and enjoying activities that provide comfort and relaxation. Maintaining focus and avoiding self-imposed stress (00:39:38) The importance of finding joy and fun in work, avoiding self-imposed stress, and creating a positive culture in the workplace. The importance of focus (00:43:03) Discussion on the impact of focus using the example of Michael Phelps gold medal. Getting a coach for more focus (00:43:50) The benefits of having a coach to improve focus and accountability. Expecting ups and downs in performance (00:44:30) Understanding that performance will fluctuate but as long as it trends upward, it's considered progress. Thanks to our Partners, AAPEX and NAPA TRACS.
Set your sights on Las Vegas in 2023. Mark your calendar now … October 31 - Nov 2, 2023, AAPEX - Now more than ever. And don’t miss the next free AAPEX webinar. Register now at http://AAPEXSHOW.COM/WEBINAR
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Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio
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By Joe Marconi
Featured in Ratchet and Wrench Magazine - June 2023
Steve Jobs may have been best known as the co-founder of Apple Computer and a great entrepreneur, but his style of leadership and management was highly controversial. Jobs would schedule meetings with his team, then randomly point to someone and ask, “Tell me what’s not working at this company?” After that person gave their opinion, he would then turn to the group and ask for everyone’s feedback. Then he would point to another person, and say, “Tell me what is working?” While his technique may appear divisive, Jobs placed a high value on getting valuable feedback. Which meant that he had to know the truth, no matter how ugly it might be.
For most people, it’s difficult to receive critical feedback. No one enjoys learning that we dropped the ball, or that something isn’t going right. And how often does an employee walk up to you, and pull you aside to inform you of bad news? Not very often, right? While receiving praise and recognition does motivate us, growth opportunities also exist when things go wrong. How we deal with adversity and bounce back from failure tells us a lot about our mental toughness. Great success is never dependent on everything going right all the time. That’s not reality.
Look at it this way: getting only good news all the time is mostly useless. On the contrary, bad news can be good news. And we should accept and welcome it. If employees are reluctant to bring you bad news, it’s an indication that they may fear confronting you. As the shop owner, you need to do a little self-reflection to ensure that you are a leader that is approachable, and not on the defensive when an employee wants to sit down and discuss things. Be mindful of how you interact with others too. Your body language and the tone of your voice will either draw people to you or push them away.
If you truly want to grow as a business owner and as a leader, you need to allow others to voice their opinions and let you know that your company, at times, may not be the paradise you believe it is. The question is how do you create an environment that gives people the confidence and willingness to confront you with critical issues?
Make it known that you want to create a work environment where feedback, especially when things go wrong, is accepted and welcomed. Remember, if people fear bringing you bad news or only tell you the good things, you may not have an open environment where people feel they can discuss all issues, good and bad. It’s also important to realize that to give critical feedback to others, you must be open and willing to receive critical feedback.
At the start of any team meeting, let your employees know that you will be asking for everyone’s opinions on ways to improve. Emphasize that you want to hear not only what’s going right, but also where the company is failing. People’s opinions may not be shared by everyone, but one’s perspective is their reality. We need to listen to all voices. Be transparent and let everyone know that you will listen to everyone and do your best to act on everyone’s feedback. Another thing to be aware of; don’t allow an atmosphere that encourages gossip or venting. This will promote negativity and bring down morale. You need honest, healthy feedback that everyone can accept and learn from.
The bottom line? The next time someone brings you bad news, look them straight in the eye, smile, and say, “Thank you!”
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By autorepairuniversity
I feel the need to say thank you! After reviewing the financials for this past year I was quite depressed. I did $100,000 more business than the year before, but hardly any more profit to show for it. I had personally been stressed out, buisy beyond belief, and just plain beat up this past year, and for what... a small profit??? Yes I did profit more than the year before, but put it this way - not impressive. One night I tuned to Auto Shop Owners for a little help and guidence. Threre was a TON of helpfull posts, and some real eye openers. The one post that was burned into my brain was a post about running a business vs. running a repair shop. I told myself it was time to run a BUSINESS not just a AUTO REPAIR SHOP. I had a BIG meeting with my guys, telling them its time they stepped up there game and helped me "bear" some of weight I was carrying around with this business. I raised prices $5 per hour. I started charging for diagnosis. I started tracking the techs billed hours (I pay hourly) and created a bonus program for them. I actually started "watching and analyzing the numbers" rather just going off of feel.
The results.... Utterly amazing. This year (Jan and Feb) I have profited almost twice as much as last year. I know!!! that is crazy. Just goes to show what a little "thinking" can do. I remind myself everyday to treat my shop as a business, not a "repair shop". I hope this helps others, it sure helped me. Hopefully this trend continues for me, but again THANK YOU to my fellow shop owners for posting your knowlegde and advise!!!
Sent from my Chromebook 11 Model 3180 using Tapatalk
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