AKRON (March 17, 2016) — Good job! Kudos! Thank you! Yes, these simple phrases may seem overused, but in the long run they cost nothing — and certainly can go a long way toward boosting employee morale.
And who can deny that good morale also has a positive impact on worker retention and the profitability of the business.
Saying “thank you” and recognizing employees' efforts may seem like common sense, and it is. But it is amazing how often this simple gesture is overlooked in the busy tire dealership workplace — so much so that Tire Business auto service columnist Dan Marinucci discusses it on page 9 in the March 14 print issue of Tire Business.
The question owners and managers should be asking themselves is: How often do I recognize employees' outstanding work at my dealership?
Tire dealership and repair shop owners get rewarded every day, hopefully with profits, increased sales, perks from suppliers and positive feedback from customers. The workers toiling in the back of the shop or at the service counter? They may not receive much if any recognition or appreciation.
If they don't interact directly with customers, they may not even hear the customer “thank yous” as they pay their bills.
So remember to end the daily shifts with a little appreciation. A simple “thank you” or “good job” can give a well-deserved boost to your employees.
Management may go further by offering incentives, awards and holiday gifts to show their appreciation, while going a long way toward boosting morale, teamwork, pride and a sense of ownership.
This in turn may encourage employees to do a little extra around the shop or, at the very least, not be so anxious to look for a job somewhere else.
We've reported on many successful dealerships and organizations over the years that spend a little more to boost morale and camaraderie in their businesses — free office lunches, rewards for improved sales or meeting goals, flexible work schedules and generous benefits, to name a few.
American Tire Distributors Holdings Inc.'s Tire Pros franchise program did this recently at its dealer business conference when it recognized top-performing dealers in the areas of retail sales, store profitability, community involvement and use of its credit card program.
In this current market where dealers often complain about the lack of qualified job applicants and high worker turnover, it's time to think above and beyond just a generous paycheck.
The intangibles are just as important as pay and benefits are to keeping employees in a positive frame of mind — and loyal.
Thank you!
This editorial appears in the March 14 print issue of Tire Business. Have an opinion on it? Send your comments, or a letter to the editor, to [email protected]. Please include your name, title, official name of your business, the city and state where you're based, along with a daytime phone number at which you can be contacted for verification purposes only.