Dealing with and Learning to Manage the Changing Workforce
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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 Andy Bizub explores the influential book "Driving Force: Extraordinary Results with Ordinary People" by Peter Schultz. Dive into the pivotal role of culture in business success with personal insights on maintaining a positive work environment. This episode is packed with wisdom for business owners and leaders seeking to improve their operations and team dynamics. Andy Bizub, Midwest Performance Cars, Chicago and Northbrook, IL. Andy’s previous episodes HERE. Show Notes
Email Lori Schutz for your copy of "The Driving Force: Extraordinary Results with Ordinary People": [email protected] Leadership Book Insights (00:02:07 ) Exploring 'The Driving Force by Peter Schutz's' perspectives on leadership and empowerment. Book's Business Influence (00:03:04) The book's influence on leadership strategies and business operations. Book Discussion (00:05:35) Diving into the book's content and its effects on businesses. Cultural Preservation (00:06:34) The role of culture in maintaining successful business practices. Toxic Employees (00:10:41) Addressing the challenges of toxic employees in the workplace. Empowering Leadership (00:12:14) How leaders can empower their employees to achieve excellence. Employee Growth (00:13:27) Encouraging employees to grow and potentially outperform their leaders. Team Diversity (00:15:27) The benefits of having a diverse and skilled team. Overcoming Barriers (00:18:39) Sharing a story about overcoming barriers at Cummins Engine and its relevance to shop communication. Communication Barriers (00:20:04) The effects of cultural and physical barriers on shop communication. Slack for Shop Communication (00:22:31) Using Slack to improve communication and reduce barriers in the shop. Customer Quality (00:23:42) The impact of customer quality on business success. Customer Vetting (00:29:58) Identifying red flags and conveying service value to potential customers.
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 Joe Marconi
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By carmcapriotto
The Weekly Blitz is brought to you by our friends over at Shop Marketing Pros. If you want to take your shop to the next level, you need great marketing. Shop Marketing Pros does top-tier marketing for top-tier shops.
Click here to learn more about Top Tier Marketing by Shop Marketing Pros and schedule a demo:https://shopmarketingpros.com/chris/
Check out their podcast here: https://autorepairmarketing.captivate.fm/
If you would like to join their private Facebook group go here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autorepairmarketingmastermind
In this podcast episode, Coach Chris Cotton from Auto Fix Auto Shop Coaching talks with Josh Then of Unified Automotive about Josh's transition from working in his family's auto repair business to starting his own shop.
They discuss the difficulties of succession planning, generational differences, and the challenges of modernizing a family business. Josh shares his personal struggles with work-life balance and the toxic work environment created by his father's resistance to change. Despite good pay, Josh felt compelled to leave and set up his own garage, facing the hardships of establishing a new business and a strained relationship with his father.
He also highlights the support he received from industry groups and the importance of utilizing resources like Facebook groups and YouTube for guidance. The episode emphasizes the value of seeking help and the continuous learning necessary for success in the auto repair industry.
Introduction (00:00:00) Setting up the podcast and introducing the topic of succession planning in a family auto repair business. Background and Early Work Experience (00:02:08) Josh's early experience in the family auto repair business, starting from a young age and progressing through high school and college. Generational Differences in Work Ethic (00:09:29) Discussion about the generational differences in work ethic and work-life balance, comparing the speaker's experience with his father's dedication to work. Motivation for Succession Planning (00:12:52) Josh's motivation for pushing the succession plan, focusing on the impact of having a daughter and the desire for a better work-life balance. Challenges in Implementing Changes (00:16:25) The challenges faced by Josh in implementing changes and improvements in the family business, including resistance from his father. Lack of Formal Succession Plan (00:18:45) The absence of a formal succession plan and the difficulties faced in getting his father to agree to a plan, leading to the speaker considering other business opportunities. Succession Plan Backing Out (00:21:50) Josh discusses the shop owner backing out of their succession plan, leading to his decision to leave. Starting a Business (00:23:22) Josh explains how he started working on his own business in the background while still at his father's shop. Leaving the Father's Shop (00:26:59) Josh describes the process of leaving his father's shop and starting his own business in his garage. Father-Son Relationship (00:28:40) Josh discusses the evolving relationship with his father after leaving the shop and the tension between them. Conflict with Father (00:31:12) Josh recounts the conflict with his father after starting his own business and the subsequent fallout. Working with Family (00:33:11) Josh reflects on the challenges of working with a stubborn family member and offers advice for others in similar situations. Regrets and Lessons (00:37:07) Josh discusses what he could have done differently and the lessons he learned from the experience. Influence of Support Groups (00:39:14) Josh shares the impact of support groups like ASA and Shop Marketing Pros on his business decisions and growth. The helpful auto repair group (00:43:41) Discussion about a helpful online group for auto repair business owners and the value of their services. The abundance of industry resources (00:44:15) The availability of resources for auto repair shop owners on the internet and the continuous growth of information. Starting the journey to seek help (00:45:00) The frustration that led to seeking help online and the positive impact of reaching out for assistance. Reaching out for advice and support (00:47:38) The realization of being in a bubble and the value of seeking perspectives from others in the industry. Concluding the podcast (00:48:38): I thank the guest for the conversation and acknowledge the sponsors of the podcast.
Connect with Chris:
[email protected]
Phone: 940.400.1008
www.autoshopcoaching.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
AutoFixAutoShopCoachingYoutube: https://bit.ly/3ClX0ae
#autofixautoshopcoaching #autofixbeautofixing #autoshopprofits #autoshopprofit #autoshopprofitsfirst #autoshopleadership #autoshopmanagement #autorepairshopcoaching #autorepairshopconsulting #autorepairshoptraining #autorepairshop #autorepair #serviceadvisor #serviceadvisorefficiency #autorepairshopmarketing #theweeklyblitz #autofix #shopmarketingpros #autofixautoshopcoachingbook
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By Joe Marconi
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By carmcapriotto
Culture, Leadership, and Growth: This episode isn't just about the nuts and bolts. It's about the heart and soul of business—people, leadership, and culture. Shari Pheasant and Kenny Wedow don't just share their successes; they get real about the struggles, too. They've both seen firsthand how the right climate can turbocharge a team's performance and drive success. Shari Pheasant, Horse Power Strategies. Shari’s previous episodes HERE Kenny Wedow, Fine Tuned Auto, 4 locations, Colorado. Kenny’s other episodes HERE Show Notes: Watch Full Video Episode Kenny Wedow's Business Growth (00:02:17) Kenny Wedow shares his experience of growing his business from a single store to four locations. The Gift of Struggle (00:02:41) Discussion of the book "The Gift of Struggle" by Bobby Herrera and the definition of struggle. Kenny's Business Struggles (00:03:47) Kenny discusses the challenges he faced in the early stages of his business and his determination to overcome them. People First Philosophy (00:04:34) Shari emphasizes the importance of focusing on people and teamwork in overcoming challenges and driving business success. Leadership and Culture (00:05:43) Shari discusses the significance of leadership and culture in driving business growth and success. Reflecting on Mistakes (00:06:29) Shari emphasizes the importance of learning from mistakes and using scientific data to understand human behavior. Changing Company Culture (00:07:56) Kenny talks about making significant changes to the company culture and the impact it had on business growth. Leadership and Climate (00:09:49) Discussion about the difference between culture and climate in a business and the importance of aligning them. Hiring and Culture (00:11:45) Kenny shares the impact of hiring the right people on the business and the importance of cultural fit in interviews. Money and Energy (00:15:14) Shari discusses the concept of money as energy and its impact on financial situations and business decisions. Pivoting and Adapting to Change (00:17:21) The importance of being open to change and pivoting quickly in business. Leadership and Making Mistakes (00:19:55) Shari and Kenny share their experiences with making mistakes and the importance of admitting and learning from them. Employee Engagement and Company Growth (00:20:43) Kenny talks about engaging employees and investing in company-wide training to drive growth and success. Overcoming Struggles and Embracing Change (00:21:36) Overcoming struggles and the importance of embracing change to drive business success. Learning from Mistakes and Taking Risks (00:25:15) Kenny shares his experience of learning from mistakes and taking risks to drive business growth. Embracing Failure and Moving Forward (00:28:09) Shari shares a story of failure and how it ultimately led to greater success, emphasizing the importance of pivoting and moving forward.
Thanks to our Partner, NAPA TRACS NAPA TRACS will move your shop into the SMS fast lane with onsite training and six days a week of support and local representation. Find NAPA TRACS on the Web at http://napatracs.com/ 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 (X): https://twitter.com/RResultsBiz -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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