THA 132: Business Coaches Lab: Building an Enduring Business Culture

Cecil Bullard is President of the Institute for Automotive Business Excellence.

He is a trainer and business coach in the automotive aftermarket working closely with service professionals. Previous episodes featuring or mentioning Cecil, click HERE.

Rick White has been working in the automotive, software & coaching industries for greater than thirty years and is currently an AMI-approved training instructor.

He owned and managed several successful automotive repair shops.  Currently, Rick is President and Lead Coach for 180BIZ, an auto repair shop training and business coaching company proudly serving the independent auto and truck repair owner since 2006. Rick has been acknowledged as an industry expert and has been featured in many automotive trade publications. Rick has been training and speaking at industry events across the country including AAPEX, Vision and for AASP PA just to name a few. Find all of Ricks contributions to the podcast HERE.   

Murray Voth, owner of RPM Training learned how to service and repair cars, motorcycles, and airplanes in his youth and earned his commercial pilot’s license.

After college, Murray was hired by a firm doing research and development in the service station industry. That led him to own and operate service stations for the next 20 years.

Murray has done extensive research into human potential and has the ability to synthesize this material and make it practical to apply.  His favorite moment is when a client says, “I get it!” or “I did it!”  He is known as an implementation coach. For the last 10 years, he has been the senior trainer, coach, and facilitator for a major automotive training company in Canada, and worked part-time in the USA as his schedule allows.  Murray has worked with hundreds of shop owners helping them to be more profitable and reduce their stress levels. Listen to Murray’s episodes HERE.

Bob Greenwood, AMAM (Accredited Master Automotive Manager) is President and C.E.O. of Automotive Aftermarket E-Learning Centre Ltd. (AAEC).

It is a company focused on providing Business Management Resources and Development for the Independent Sector of the aftermarket industry. It’s content and technology is recognized as part of the curriculum of the Fixed Operations Diploma and the Aftermarket Degree courses taken at the Automotive Business School of Canada at Georgian College located in Barrie Ontario Canada. This school is the leader and only college in Canada that offers an automotive business education. AAEC is also recognized by the Automotive Management Institute (AMI), located in North Richland Hills, Texas USA, allowing 80 credits for successful completion of the AAEC E-Learning portion of the site towards the 120 credits required to obtain the reputable Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) designation. Bob’s previous episodes are HERE.

Key Talking Points:

• Why do I need a good culture
  • Your people need to think about your business and the nurturing environment you have to accomplish your mission with a set of standards and values
• Culture is the environment where people can flourish and grow
• Culture will attract the right people and takes friction out of the business
• Everyone is on the same page with less stress
• Culture is what you stand for
• Does your team believe you have their back?
• Does your team have your back?
• Do your people believe your organization can change?
• You need to know who you want to be
• We have a lack of targets and goals so you know when you are successful and winning the game
• Interview skills will lean to finding a fit for your culture vs. aptitude
• Setting goals without dates, assignment and accountability is just a dream

• Every family has dysfunctions (unwritten rules) People want to have a guideline and rules to define what their purpose is at work

• The owner must lead the example of the businesses culture 
• A business coach can help you with the creation of or improvement in your culture
• It is tough to set goals without the proper purpose and culture
• The owner must have the basic vision and know what the business will be
• Create a culture that inspires them while at work and feel safe and fulfilled
• A way to start is by having a daily meeting and listen to your team with one topic or the most meaningful issue of the day/week
• Strong leadership qualities help build an enduring culture
• Culture is not a dictatorship. Your culture makes it safe 
• You must exemplify your culture. No one will get behind it if you aren’t leading.

• How to start:

  • Ask questions of yourself. Why are you here doing this
  • Don’t let today define what tomorrow can be
  • Need a baseline and a vision on where you want to go
  • Own where you are at. Many do not want to accept this
  • Bring your staff into the process
  • Powerful phrases: “I’m Sorry”, “I need your help”
  • You must be believable. Your actions must demonstrate this.
  • It is OK to disagree as long as communication exists. Differing ideas are OK
  • Many do not have the skills to be a great leader and communicator
  • Come to every meeting with a negative issue always have two positive solutions
  • Does your team have mutual respect for each other including the boss
  • Must understand each individual on the team what are their strenghts and weaknesses and future with your company

Resources:

• A special thanks to Cecil Bullard, Rick White, Bob Greenwood, and  Murray Voth for their contribution to the aftermarket.
• Books Page HERE
• Leave me an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one of them.