My New Adventure - Al West Nissan

[Carsten]

That's so awesome to hear!!

Outside of the obvious, we will screw you over types, I am a firm believer that people just want a fair solution as a resolution. I've ended up loosing many deals that I won because I went back as sign of gratitude. They lost a minor battle and won good reviews and made some profit. Win win eventually!

 

[BillVaughnAlWestNissan]

A little reflection on yesterday. I was a bit of a grump after all the nonsense in the morning. That can't happen. I believe that, as leaders, we can't have bad days.

 

[DrewAment]

Vendors who have not worked directly in automotive would be stunned to learn all of the moving parts that happen in a dealership just to sell one car.

I have offered to put a few vendor reps/support/sales/whoever "in store" for 1-2 weeks, to see what a car dealer is really like. I make this offer at least 1-2 times a month. I have NEVER had a vendor/person take me up on it.

 

[BillVaughnAlWestNissan]

The team is starting to suffer from "change fatigue." Slow down or tear the band-aid off?

 

[DrewAment]

^^^^ THIS!!

 

[Carsten]

Give an inch, and they'll take a mile.

Most likely you need a Napolean Field Marshal badge system. Apparently, Napolean gave out badges that made his field marshals feel important and ended up performing better.

In other words, some type of recognition of the improvements. "Improvements"
Throw a pizza party? HotDog day? Cookies that you baked? Maybe just Donut Monday.

But don't slow down, just yet. Try the appreciation day first, if and only if it doesn't look like everyone will quit on your next week.

From I've been reading, it sounds like you've doing a great job and most people will realize the changes were needed.

 

[joe.pistell]

I have offered to put a few vendor reps/support/sales/whoever "in store" for 1-2 weeks, to see what a car dealer is really like. I make this offer at least 1-2 times a month. I have NEVER had a vendor/person take me up on it.

BOOM. Nailed it. If @Carsten took his engineering mind into a store, he'd be shocked at the 'organized mayhem'. The industry is so ripe for knowledge based systems. Look at Tekion burn millions $$ struggling with bringing order to the mayhem.

 

[flosho]

The team is starting to suffer from "change fatigue." Slow down or tear the band-aid off?

Interesting. It's been a whirlwind of change simply reading the thread, let alone living it there at the dealership.

I doubt you are at the point of pushing these folks off the bridge to quiet quitting but no doubt it is stressful for them.

Perhaps beyond the "low morale pizza party fix" which is a meme at this point, set some sort of short term goal to achieve together as store and celebrate as a store.

Take the Dave Ramsey baby steps/snowball approach of building on these consistent little victories into the larger ones.

 

[BillVaughnAlWestNissan]

Interesting. It's been a whirlwind of change simply reading the thread, let alone living it there at the dealership.

I doubt you are at the point of pushing these folks off the bridge to quiet quitting but no doubt it is stressful for them.

Perhaps beyond the "low morale pizza party fix" which is a meme at this point, set some sort of short term goal to achieve together as store and celebrate as a store.

Take the Dave Ramsey baby steps/snowball approach of building on these consistent little victories into the larger ones.

I will have to try to come up with some kind of goal. As crazy as it sounds, I've been more obsessed with the details so far than even selling cars. Just feels like today is already lost and if I keep focusing on the short term we will be chasing it forever. So I've just been buckling down and focused on getting as much done as I can to set us up for success later.

 

[BillVaughnAlWestNissan]

Give an inch, and they'll take a mile.

Most likely you need a Napolean Field Marshal badge system. Apparently, Napolean gave out badges that made his field marshals feel important and ended up performing better.

In other words, some type of recognition of the improvements. "Improvements"
Throw a pizza party? HotDog day? Cookies that you baked? Maybe just Donut Monday.

But don't slow down, just yet. Try the appreciation day first, if and only if it doesn't look like everyone will quit on your next week.

From I've been reading, it sounds like you've doing a great job and most people will realize the changes were needed.

I think I've done a decent job of quelling the frustration as it comes up. I've just validated their feelings, told them I understand a lot change in a short time can be a challenge, and explained the "why to the what." I don't think I've lost anyone yet.