June 2011 Newsletter
What Makes a Good Manager?
Written By: Andrea Lehner
With so many departments working together—sales, finance, service, parts—having
strong managers leading each department, communicating openly with each other is
critical for keeping a business running like a well-oiled, money-making machine.
Keeping costs down and employee performance up is the balancing act managers must
perfect in order to be effective in their role. Watching budgets, identifying areas
of wasteful spending, minimizing nonproductive labor hours, and making sure they
have quality people on board are all ways managers directly control the budgets
within their respective departments.
A manager who is a strong leader has motivated players supporting him or her. Those
leadership skills aren't easy to come by. A good leader is respected by employees
and coworkers not because of a title but because they've earned that respect through
action, by leading through example. When employees know their manager is consistent,
open to ideas, accessible, and will back them up in difficult situations, they will
go the extra mile everyday for that manager.
When a manager is able to create a positive, friendly work environment, team members
don't try to find excuses to disappear or shirk their responsibilities. They are
at their posts, ready to work all the time. As productivity increases, numbers go
up, and commissioned-based employees enjoy their jobs even more because of the higher
paychecks they start earning. When employees are content, there is less personnel
turnover in the dealership, and that stability reflects directly upon a top-quality
manager.
A good manager is also a good teacher. They are there, hands-on, providing subordinates
with the tools and training needed to do their jobs better, faster, and more efficiently.
As employees become empowered with new skills, not only can they make better decisions
and work with increased independence, they also have a stronger sense of security
in their jobs and won't be as apt to jump ship when the first offer comes their
way. Managers who know how to bring out the best in each and every employee are
rewarded with having a dedicated and capable crew who don't need to be micromanaged
in every aspect of a job. This increases job satisfaction within the company while
simultaneously freeing up the manager's time to focus on strategic planning and
long-term goals within the department and the dealership.
Finding the right person to be all of this things—a costing guru, motivational
team-builder, and teacher—is not easy. Many candidates may excel in one area
but be sorely lacking in another. Auto People knows how to locate the right candidate
who possesses all of these skills along with the right personality to fit the dealership.
Managers make or break a business. One bad decision in hiring a manager can result
in lost profits, talent, and customers, which makes hiring the right manager one
of the most important decisions dealer principles make. Auto People's stringent
recruitment process ensures that only candidates who will truly become an asset
to the company are recommended.
For more information about Autopeople, please go to
www.autopeople.com or email us at info@autopeople.com
