The most important asset in any business is employees. It doesn’t matter how much automation or processes are in place, people are still required to ensure those operations function properly, and to interface with customers if and when issues arise.
In the dealer industry particularly, where so much work requires direct employee input, the importance of employees is even more obvious. A dealership flat out cannot run without them.
But for all the talk common in the dealer industry (and trucking industry) regarding employee recruitment, little is ever said about retention and the importance of keeping quality employees in place. Everyone works so hard to bring new talent in that they forget that talent must be nurtured and supported just the same. A sudden exit of top talent can cripple a business — particularly during an ownership or leadership transition — and is costly and damaging no matter the circumstances.
For dealers struggling to keep their best talent in house, below are three tactics than can prove invaluable.
Develop a culture
Create an enjoyable work environment. It doesn’t matter the industry, people appreciate a positive atmosphere in a workspace and a feeling of family and togetherness. Dealers who have that say it pays dividends, and say it’s not particularly hard to develop. Corporate lunches and on- or off-site team-building events are great ways to foster relationships among employees.
Lee White, president at Old River Volvo, says he serves lunch for his employees at least once a month and has other events such as Christmas Parties and Crawfish Boils around holidays where employees can relax and enjoy an experience together. White says the benefits of these events to Old River’s culture far outweigh any costs, and help connect employees not only to Old River as a company, but also their colleagues. Friendships are formed and communication channels are opened, he says.
