Is your Shop Manager someone you can trust to work IN your business while you work ON it?

 

As a shop owner, there are only a few people you can trust and really talk to. It’s difficult for non-shop owners to understand what you are going through day to day. This is why it is important to have a fulfilling relationship with your shop’s Manager. Your Manager is your go-to person when dealing with any work-related issues. They are the person that should always be in your corner.

 

No one knows this better than Jonathan Turner, owner of Turner’s Auto Service, and Austin Fleming, his Shop Manager. Jonathan purchased Turner’s Auto Service five years ago. As Jonathan puts it, “The business we bought in 2019 was a dismal failure, we managed to create $8000 in gross sales our first month and have been on a growth path every month since.” He credits his success to his great team.

 

Giving Room for Growth

 

It can be easy to want to find the perfect fit for a role immediately, you could catch yourself thinking if you just had the right candidate everything would run smoothly. While this situation might be ideal it’s not always possible. Instead, you can look for the potential your current employees already hold.

 

Jonathan explains Austin’s journey in career growth while working for him:

“Austin joined us at 19 years old, as a mechanic in 2019, about six months after opening. He grew into a Lead Mechanic and Shop Foreman- organizing work and mechanics; Austin learned to work at the service desk and communicate with the customers on any level they chose.  He was promoted to General Manager about a year ago. He continues to learn from me and from DRIVE about how to be a General Manager and shop owner.”

 

When an employee feels supported, they are more likely to stay with– and have a vested interest in– your business. So, take a look around and see if you have any hard-working employees that could use some attention.

 

Because of Jonathan’s support, Austin is loyal to him and his company. He’s willing to put in the work and do what’s necessary. Austin says, “Jonathan and the business he runs has allowed for me to become the person I am today. I truly can’t thank him enough for the opportunities he has given me.”

 

Handing Over Responsibility

 

When you’re the one in charge, you can slip into a “do it myself” mindset. If you’re not seeing the results or if people aren’t meeting your standards, you may feel the need to step in and take care of it. This is where your Manager comes into play. When you have a Manager you trust, you can tell them what you’re seeing, and they can troubleshoot with your team. They’re your ultimate enforcer so you can focus on running your business.

 

Jonathan says, “With full confidence, I have been able to move more routinely into my owner’s role and be away from the shop to work on the business. We are now looking at a second location and have no doubt Austin will run them both with efficiency.”

 

You have goals you want to achieve and having a dream team on your side will help you achieve them faster. Trusting your manager can allow you to step back and map out how you’re going to bring your business to new levels of success. Having your manager in your corner can also help you realize the full potential your shop holds. Jonathan explains, “Austin has been, by far, my strongest encourager and is always willing to take on the next challenge.”

 

Creating A Work Family

 

Shop culture is an important aspect of your business and who is a part of your team massively effects this. If your team dislikes one another, are unhappy in their role, or are otherwise nonmotivated it can disrupt your workflow and negatively impact customer experience. By having a skilled Manager, you can calm any discrepancies before they turn into larger issues. Your Manager sets the tone for all other employees. Are they kind, helpful, problem solvers? Or are they rude, disrespectful, instigators?

 

If you support and cherish your exemplary employees, they will return the same energy to you. Austin talks about his experience at Turner’s Auto Service. He says, “There’s a huge difference with between working for Jonathan and working for other companies. At Turner’s you’re not just a number or employee, you are part of the family.”

 

There are a few things you can do set yourself apart from other shops in your area. First, as we’ve already talked about, offer room to grow in your business. Second, be understanding of your employee’s circumstances. For example, if one of your employees has a had family member pass away it may be beneficial to offer them bereavement leave. This would allow them to process the loss while also showing you are a caring employer. When people feel valued, they give back to you tenfold.

 

You also set yourself apart from shop owners that don’t take an interest in their employees’ lives. As Austin says, “I had no relationship with my previous employers. Jonathan is the only business owner I have known to truly set you in place to be where you want to be. There’s a huge difference with between working for Jonathan and other companies. With him you’re not just a number or employee, you are part of the family.”

 

Clear Communication

 

Knowing how to communicate with someone can make or break your relationship. So, when you’re fostering a relationship with your manager make sure you both understand one another completely. How this happens will change and develop the longer you two work together.

 

For Jonathan and Austin, it started out as direct as possible. Jonathan says, “In the beginning, it was mainly directions about what to fix and what to recommend to customers.” As they got to know each other better their communication opened. They were able to be frank with one another. He says, “Now, we enjoy un-filtered, complete, honest communication about the business and life.” They can even know what the other is thinking through nonverbal communication, one look and they’re on the same page.

 

Finding your groove with someone helps the shop run smoother, tasks get accomplished faster, and keeps the cars flowing.

 

Becoming More Than Owner and Manager

 

Jonathan leaves us with this final thought, “A manager is an employee, Austin is more than that. I do not have the vocabulary to express into words how I feel about Austin nor to say thank you enough for believing in my dreams and achieving our goals. I am proud of the man he has grown to be and am confident his Father would be too.”

 

In the end, having a strong, reliable relationship with your Manager can make or break your business. When the two of you have clear communication and understand one another you can reach new levels of efficiency. So, make sure to choose the right person to manage your business and continually foster your relationship with them.

 

 

 

 

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Prepared by Chase Clough