Houston Independent Automobile Dealers Association March 2016 Issue: Floor Plans | Page 22

I can’t find good help and the one’s I have are useless and If could replace them, fire them, or hope they don’t show up on Monday, I would be so happy. People these days, they don't want to work and it’s crazy. I hardly pay them and ask them to be here all the hours of the day and I can’t get ‘em to work, do the things I want them to do, and for the most part they are really killing time at work. If I had my way, I would have them all arrested for murder for killing time. It’s not like the old days where you find the real pros in this business. Man, do I miss the old days. Some of these new kids on the block are a joke, the come to work to wait and hope that sales will happen by accident! Not one of them has the drive I had when I got in this business. If you are looking for some political correct article, hurry up and pass on this one. Let’s call it the way it’s supposed to be. Most people though would rather run from the truth then face it. Where have all the real leaders gone today? Hiding and playing tag! For the most part, we call on the leaders to do business with them and they all hide behind their voice mail or email. I swear I want to take out my No card and say, hey dealer just say No. It’s ok, I can handle the word. I chased one dealer for two weeks and I swear he is in rehab for not being able to stand up and be a big boy and say No. Call it like it is…. that’s me. Somebody once told me, oh no we don't need train-ing, we are pretty comfortable right now! I said with a big frown, call me when the condition im-proves! Really, I don't make this stuff up!

I had a degree though. I was a PHD, Poor Hungry and Desperate. Whatever it took to make a sale, I made sure I told and sold them to buy today. Today, I can’t even get the new kids to an-swer the phone or race out on the lot to take an up. What a joke! I can’t get ‘em to follow up, I can’t get ‘em to work on time, I can’t get ‘em to follow what 200 rules I have in place, I can’t even get ‘em to ask for the sale. It’s not like the old days. When I tell them to do something, they look at me like a young puppy with a crooked smile. WTF. Poor leadership!

Sounds like a common cold to me! The above problems are so rampant in this business be-cause of a lack of leadership, and let me tell you this, you don't need to be Wharton or Harvard educated to be a great leader. If you had the good fortune to be mother or father, then you know and understand what leadership is. Its something missing in action, called Common Sense. Leadership is one of the most overused words in most businesses. Simple fact here folks, have a few rules, place them in writing, review with your team, develop some rewards and conse-quences and have the intestinal fortitude or balls to uphold them. Look at the word Lead - er – ship. There might be a reason they put the word lead in front of ship, you lead from the front, not some weak pathetic screwball who hides behind the curtain all day, like the wizard did. Pathetic! We need more people who will speak up, man up, woman up, courage up, and be able to stand up!

Oh heaven’s Dans have you lost your mind! Yes sometime ago. Come on, dealers and manag-ers, aren't you tired of living in a glass house, where if you say Boo, they will quit or complain and not do their job. Today we have to walk on broken glass, carefully not offending anyone, or we might get ourselves in a lawsuit. That’s the problem with this country, everything has to be censored or word perfect. We have to be politically correct. PC, Fuggetaboutit! Truth brings freedom, truth stands up, truth doesn't play hide and seek, truth can’t be bought!

What’s wrong with having clear expectations in writing, explaining and training people how to follow through! Have you ever been in the Armed Services? Can you imagine telling your D.I, you don't feel like following up, don’t feel like doing the paperwork right, don’t feel like coming to work on time, don’t feel like following the rules, don’t feel like even working today, don’t feel like following the steps, don’t feel like making it happen today, don’t feel like being told what to do, don’t feel like being a team player and I certainly don’t like the feelings you have for me, making me do my work! WTF

It’s time to Lead from the front and get your team to follow you to the ultimate goal. Whether it’s sales or income, if you have people that don’t want to follow the rules or what you say, its time to tell them to get

>