How dealership managers can set their teams up for success – David Lewis

Many associates can be sluggish during the first month of a new year as they return from the holiday season. For dealerships looking to crush it this year, automotive expert David Lewis has several strategies that managers can utilize to get the most out of their team in January and for the rest of 2021. Lewis is the President and CEO of David Lewis and Associates and the host of Straight Talk right here on CBT News.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, automotive dealers still had a great year, and sold a lot of cars due to high consumer demand. Lewis’s dealer clients are generally pleased with how things are going, but want to carry this momentum into Q1. In order to motivate and get your employees excited about the year ahead, Lewis says it’s imperative that managers set the tone. If the manager starts out sluggish, the team will be sluggish.

The dealership doesn’t succeed because of a good leader, it succeeds with them. According to Lewis, leaders have to understand that their motion is not as important as the motion of the people on the frontlines. Managers can’t answer every phone call or sell every car; they need to set their teams up for success.

One way to do this is by ensuring that your employees are having a good time and enjoying their work. Lewis recommends bringing a sense of humor to the workplace that also motivates people. He says managers should perform annual reviews with their employees, to assess their overall position in the dealership. Reviews are also an opportunity for managers to get feedback about what can improved. Additionally, it’s up to managers to adjust their training strategies based on changing consumer expectations, and to make sure the team is properly equipped to execute them.

Did you enjoy this interview with David Lewis? Please share your thoughts, comments, or questions regarding this topic with host Jim Fitzpatrick at jfitzpatrick@cbtnews.com.