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What does it look like when your business lacks team leadership? There will be elements of
distrust, disorganization, and negativity. This creates a toxic culture where employees are not
valued and are not empowered to work in a high-performing team. It can be difficult to retain employees, let alone attract the unicorns every shop craves and needs to be the best in the business. It’s time to examine your company’s culture and weed out the toxic elements. If you want to be a top 1% shop, here’s a way to start.
1. Cross-Training
2. Peer-Led Training Sessions
3. Community Pay it Forward Program
4. Gamify Shop Goals
5. Create a Culture Council
6. Acts of Appreciation
7. Innovation Teams
These seven unconventional team leadership approaches were designed to motivate
independent automotive repair shop employees to feel connected to their work, the team, and the business. These techniques focus on fostering a unique work culture that is in alignment with the hands-on nature of an auto repair shop environment. Through creativity and empowerment, you will quickly begin to see positive shifts in your workplace and, over time, see a difference in your bottom line.
1. Cross Training
Have each employee spend time learning the specifics of other jobs in the shop and interacting with others in those different roles, learning a bit about what each role entails. This provides opportunities to build empathy and create a deeper understanding of what it takes to do the work.
This Works because:
● It increases understanding of what it takes to do someone else’s job function.
● It helps the team to understand the workflow.
● Increases empathy for what others experience in their workday.
● Team building improves, and so does appreciation for each other’s skills.
2. Peer-Led Training Sessions
Give teaching/training opportunities to all staff. Work with each employee to identify their
greatest strength and then allow them to give a short session on how they do what they do so
well. This increases confidence and encourages openness and knowledge sharing.
This Works Because:
● Breeds an environment of openness and learning.
● Creates a culture where everyone is a mentor.
● Builds leadership skills for all.
● All team members contribute to creating and maintaining a learning culture.
3. Community Pay it Forward Program
Once a quarter, have the entire team get involved in fixing a vehicle of a community member in need. Work with local charities to bring suggestions of worthy recipients to the team and then have them vote on who would benefit the most.
This Works Because:
● Creates a different motivation for the work they all do every day.
● This produces a strong sense of purpose and contributes to a positive reputation in your
local community and beyond.
● Team morale increases as they work together through shared core values and a
common goal.
4. Gamify Shop Goals
Develop a system for employees to earn points for meeting daily and weekly goals. This will
create healthy competition and encourage everyone to strive harder to reach daily, weekly, and longer-term goals while building greater camaraderie.
This Works Because:
● Makes the daily work environment more fun and engaging.
● Motivates employees to meet goals.
● Drives productivity.
5. Culture Council
Ask for volunteers to sit on a Culture Council for the shop. Have them meet once a month to
come up with strategies to increase a positive work culture and encourage them to ask for input from all employees. Ensure that their recommendations are validated and implemented.
This Works Because:
● This gives a voice to all employees.
● Encourages positivity in the workplace.
● Builds a culture of inclusivity and innovation.
● It is team building.
● Keeps the team up to date on emerging automotive technologies.
6. Unexpected Acts of Appreciation
Take the time to show appreciation for each employee regularly. Whether surprising them with a note of appreciation, giving them a coveted tool, or bringing lunch for all employees, these acts of appreciation motivate your people to do and be better.
This Works Because:
● This demonstrates genuine personal appreciation.
● It helps to make employees feel valued, and it boosts morale.
● Showing appreciation helps your people feel connected to the greater good and
genuinely appreciated. This creates a strong sense of belonging that drives employee
retention and productivity.
7. Innovation Teams
Form small innovation teams that meet regularly to discuss the different areas of the business.
Encourage them to focus on improving policies, standard operating procedures, and customer service.
This Works Because:
● Increases a sense of belonging by asking for input from all employees.
● Improves the overall innovation of the business in all areas.
● Drives productivity and morale.
When implemented, these unconventional leadership strategies drive the overall performance of your business by engaging your entire staff in creative, outside-the-box thinking and keep you on the cutting edge of the industry. It also creates a work culture that engages and retains employees because they feel part of something bigger than themselves. Instead of simply working in a job, they are working in a career where they are motivated to do their best and contribute to the overall success of all. This now becomes a career they want to stay with until retirement instead of just a job until the next best thing comes along.
For more outside-the-box inspiration, contact us at the Institute for Business Excellence. Check out what we’re doing with our newly launched Venture Strategy Networks!
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