Being a Leader is Not About Ability; It's About Responsibility!

If you are a CEO, President, Vice-President, Manager or Director of any organisation within the Aftermarket, please consider these words to be accountable to the Title that you hold.

Owning/Managing a company or heading an organization does not automatically confer the title of "Leader" upon a person. Leadership today is not just about the "Ability" of an individual, as many people in key roles have great Abilities, but it is how they exercise their Responsibilities. In the end, their lack of understanding their Responsibilities, which is demonstrated through their actions, dramatically hurts the companies profitability and can be the demise of an organization.

Leadership is not about personal ego being messaged day in and day out but instead taking charge of their Responsibilities in that role.

Responsibilities include standing up and showing their passion for their company or organization by addressing anyone who challenges the "concept" of what the company or organization stands for because they actually believe in what the company or organisation is and what it represents.

Responsibility is ensuring that the company or organization performs at a level of excellence, on a timely basis, ensuring the image is accountable not only to their clients/members but also the general public.

Responsibilities include creating the environment and culture where all staff members enjoy a rewarding career through their desire to execute their role with excellence, efficiency and pride.

Responsibility means going the extra mile to secure the company or organisation's future by executing with absolute intensity. A "get it done now" attitude is demonstrated through the actions of the Leader because the Leader truly understands the importance of their role and their Responsibility to get results.

Examine closely the Leadership of successful companies and organizations and I'm confident you will clearly see a strong Responsible approach at the top position. It has nothing to do with luck but everything to do with understanding their complete Responsibilities in their role; after all that is why they hold that position.............that is...the select few Leaders that get it.

Never Support the Status Quo If It Is not Working

Everyone knows the definition of "Insanity"...doing the same thing over but expecting different results.

Are you prepared to go to the wall for "Change"?

Will you stand up, be vocal and ensure you are not guilty that you are still embracing the old ways instead of embracing the change that our industry must address?

Examples include:

- Good bye to Flat Rate pay for technicians and say Hello to hourly pay based on "Competency" of the technician? Flat rate for Diagnostic time is totally NOT realistic and the shop must come up to reality in its thinking, understanding of the new world and understand the new reality of what truly is our business on behalf of a client?

- Good bye to old bonus structures and say hello to a full Company Profit Sharing Plan with everyone involved from the bookkeeper to the front counter to the technicians?

- Good bye to night training for technical staff and say Hello to fully paid day training courses like every other PROFESSION out there?

- Pre-plan 2012 training (Technical & Business Management) courses now? Where and when in "North America" are they being held and get your company enrolled now?

- Work diligently to bring together a TEAM compared to individualistic objectives that in reality only serve the financial interests of the owner first .....compared to PROFESSIONS that focus on the CLIENT and build a reputation for excellence and uniqueness....... which leads to higher profitability for ALL that are involved?

Simple examples of status Quo and old thinking in our industry.

Are you ready for a defined change that takes our industry to a higher level of thinking, performance and measurement or are you one who insists that the old philosophy and measurement is the only thing we can survive on? Good point you made....as you talk about and say "survival"....instead of moving forward in a positive manner and encourage everyone at every level of our industry to embrace "a life" .......... a direction which this industry so desperately needs.