That is awful; we didn’t get anything out of that training!

Top reasons people don’t change behaviors after training courses.

No buy in

The student doesn’t want to attend. The student was mandated by owner/manager or manufacture.

Lack of support

The student doesn’t feel that lesson learned can't be applied in the dealership because no one will support the changes.

No follow-up

The training has no follow up by the trainer.

Distractions

The student comes back to opportunities with customers, staff and family.

Little Accountability

The training doesn’t have any accountability tied to the course for behavioral change.

Sometimes you get what you pay for. So what can you do to insure you get the ROI out of your training dollars?

Organization Development

We did a Webinar for a dealership today. Helping them with some organizational opportunities. This is the best part of my job; spending time with clients talking about strategic and organizational development. 

Having open discussions about plans, obstacles and desires of their businesses. Then having the ability to guide them to solutions. I will never get tired of helping people develop their staff.

Have you taken the time to review your aspirations and the obstacles that are keeping you from reaching them?

Is the shop ready for slow times this winter or is it going to be busy?

How do I keep the shop full in the down months?

I hear that question all the time. And my response is what are you doing about it? If you always do what you have always done you will always get what you have always got.

This is so true; if you continue to allow the shop to be empty it will stay that way. By now you should have a winter maintenance plan is place and actively seeking work. I work with dealers that do a good job with this, dealers that say they are going to do something and those who just plain ignore it. Who do you think asks the question how do you keep the shop full in the down months?

I just got back from a peer group meeting where two of the dealers have put programs together and are having great success with them. So are you always going to do what you have always done?

How are you preparing for Change?

The state of the industry is in constant change. You cant bury your head in your day to day and think Market changes are not effecting you and your business. Now is the time to review what is going on in your regional market. You can no longer just look at your local competition; you have to look at the bigger picture.

Those who are focused on just today will be overwhelmed when tomorrow comes. Quickly I have seen the dynamics change over night in some cases. So how are you preparing for change? Are you looking to grow, exit or just get better at what you do?

http://www.jccservices.com/mergersacquisitions.html

Have really you created brand differentiation?

Many brands have set themselves apart from their competition by creating gaps in product technology. That does not last long when manufactures build almost identical products to compete with each other.

When your tractor has all the same features as the color down the road you have to create brand differentiation through superior customer experiences and service. Ask your self this; as a customer what does it feel like when I walk through the front door? What does it feel like when I call for a part? What does it feel like when I'm looking for service? Can you answer these questions knowing that your customers see your dealership experience to be the best in your market. Do your customers get WOWED by your team?

Have you had a WOW experience before? You know what I mean; you walk away from some where and want to tell some one about how your routine day was turned into an exceptional one. When the next time you need something you drive past two places to get to that place you are now Loyal to. Now I'm going to tell you the disheartening part to this. That experience wasn't by accident; businesses that have a strong Customer Service Culture work hard at it everyday. They Plan, Train, Communicate and Celebrate Customer Service EVERYDAY; not just hang a sign over a desk and put a check mark in the box.

So the challenge is how do you create that culture? You have to Create the Brand Within the Brand. You have to make your customers Loyal to You, Your Team and Your Store through great service and winning attitudes. Don't wait for tomorrow start planing and executing today.

Smile it never hurt anyone before.