In profit-driven environments, it’s hard to avoid falling into the mindset that more money helps people manage their workloads better. It doesn’t mean that our intentions shift or that our focus is on profits and not people; it means that we can easily be distracted by the perceived motivating power of money.
Most of the managers and principals we work with are all people-focussed, wanting to create a great team in a positive working space. But at the end of the day, we have to make money to keep these dreams alive, and it’s a very delicate balance to maintain.
Running a motor dealership in South Africa has changed considerably over the last few decades; not only has technology disrupted virtually every area of the supply chain, but the need to multi-task and upskill has also escalated enormously.
If you feel like you’ve ‘tried and tested’ every approach, here are a few reminders on how you can help your team manage busy seasons over the next few months. We found these ideas on gethppy.com, and it was a refreshing read!
- Talk about team spirit, not targets
The best way to boost morale and prepare your workforce for the busier periods is by always being transparent with them. Don’t try to sugar coat it; explain that you know it will be tough but set goals (not necessarily turnover targets) that will motivate them and acknowledge their extra efforts.
They all know busier periods are coming; they can prepare themselves for the rush when they remember that they’re not alone. This will help to create a positive environment where you’re all ‘in it together’. Working towards a common goal can help to boost team spirit and keep everyone motivated.
- Always offer additional training
Remember, it can be helpful to invest in some additional training for your staff. If you manage to sneak this in before the busy periods, great, but if not, take note of where training might help. This can help them to better handle their increased workload, but it also proves to them that you’re invested in their career.
- Reward their hard work
As workloads increase and overtime takes its toll, it’s vital that you are incentivising and rewarding your staff. Set targets that reflect the busier periods, but ensure you are offering rewards to match. Whether this is working on commission, bonuses, workplace perks or an employee of the month award – find the scheme that works best for your business and shows your staff that you appreciate their hard work.
- Delegate effectively and monitor workloads
Preparing for the peak times will ensure things continue to run smoothly, despite the increasing demand on your dealership.
Be sure that you delegate tasks fairly so everyone is pulling their weight, and no one is left with an unrealistic workload. It’s also important that you monitor this throughout to make sure no one is becoming overwhelmed.
- Help them unwind and encourage balance
You will be expecting staff to work harder during busy periods, so you must ensure that you still encourage work-life balance and help them to unwind at the end of the day. There are a number of ways you can do this. Firstly, make sure no one is doing too much overtime. It’s not good for your mental or physical health to be starting early and finishing work late every day.
Secondly, encourage them to switch off when they leave the office. This means not taking work calls or checking their emails outside of office hours. They need time to relax and recharge before returning to work the next day. You must also make sure they have proper breaks throughout the day, most importantly make sure that they’re taking their lunch break. If you can persuade them to get out of the office for a bit, even better!
Finally, create an environment where healthy lifestyles are encouraged and praised. You can do this by offering healthy refreshments such as fruit, for free. You can also arrange staff discounts for local gyms or activity centres. Exercise is a great way for your employees to de-stress and unwind after work. These steps will make a huge difference to ensuring that your workforce are happy, healthy and working at maximum productivity during the busier periods.
- Make sure you have plenty of staff
Last but not least, make sure you’ve got enough staff on hand! You don’t want your existing workforce to be totally stretched, so it can sometimes be helpful to take on temporary staff, particularly during these busy times. It’s understandable that businesses want to keep their overheads to a minimum, but if you’re deliberately keeping the number of staff low, you risk your existing employees becoming overworked and unhappy.
With over thirty years of experience in the motor industry, we can help you identify and attract the best people for your team. Placing people in their ideal position and supporting them for continued growth benefits your whole team – especially when things get crazy busy!