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The Toolbox is Last to Leave, First is the Heart

By Joe Marconi in Joe's Blog
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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.

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Thanks to our partners, NAPA TRACS and Promotive
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It all starts when a local representative meets with you to learn about your business and how you run it. After all, it's your shop, so it's your choice.
Let us prove to you that Tracs is the single best shop management system in the business. Find NAPA TRACS on the Web at NAPATRACS.com
It’s time to hire a superstar for your business; what a grind you have in front of you. Great news, you don’t have to go it alone. Introducing Promotive, a full-service staffing solution for your shop. Promotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit www.gopromotive.com.
Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive Repair
Visit us Online: www.paarmelis.com
Email Hunt: [email protected]
Get a copy of my Book: Download Here
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Barry Barrett Contact info HERE
Key Talking Points
EOS Life- Getting time back and living the life you want to live. Do what you love, with the people you love, make an impact on the world, be appropriately compensated, and have time for other passions. “Get stuff done system with a cohesive leadership team that executes.” Being involved in every aspect of the business to getting systems in place and building a team- what are your strengths to move your business forward? Having an Integrator to help free the Visionary to cast the vision and grow the business- unload some of the duties and questions that filter to you as an owner, the Integrator holds the other employees accountable Your leadership team trumps your ideas as an owner- they often have a bigger vision than you Expanding seats- growing to a second location The leadership team solves its own issues without input from owners Building a cohesive leadership team changes the game for scalability Self-implementing at first- start with traction first instead of vision, have buy-in with your leadership team at the beginning. Then bring in a certified implementer Do your employees know where they stand in the business and how their actions affect the big picture. Being more efficient, not adding more cars- a small investment for a huge internal return 20 Groups is an industry-specific software, EOS runs that software. You should have 20 groups/coaches for a long time and be able to graduate from the EOS process within 2 years. Favorite EOS tools- structured format of L10 Meeting, right people right seat, VTO (vision, traction, organizer), to-do lists Connect with the show:
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This episode is brought to you by AAPEX, the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo. AAPEX represents the $740 billion global automotive aftermarket industry and has everything you need to stay ahead of the curve. The Virtual AAPEX Experience 2020 is in the record books. Virtual AAPEX lived up to presenting leading-technical and business management training from some of the industry’s best and brightest. Now set your sights on the homecoming in Las Vegas in 2021. Mark your calendar now … November 2-4, 2021, AAPEX // Now more than ever.

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multi-point check list someone could share?
By sparkerauto

Hello, I am looking for a printable multi-point check list that i could give to my techs to fill out on every car. Does anyone have one that the would be willing to share with me ? Thank you very much !