Page 13 - GIADA May-June 2020

FEATURE

Great Leaders Care for Their Employees

How car dealers treat their staff now can make or break their post-COVID-19
reputation.

By Troy Blackwell, Chief Operating Officer of NuVinAir Global

Despite the spread of the COVID-19 healthy at work, and then defend your
pandemic, true leaders make careful, words with action.
strategic and rational decisions for their
businesses and people. Support Your Community
Many dealerships are finding creative
At car dealerships, associate care should be ways to help their communities in crisis.
a top priority. How you treat sales managers, The industry has a long history of stepping
technicians, and customer-facing staff now up when times are tough, and this global
can make or break your reputation as a pandemic has proven to be no different.
company, well after the curve flattens and
life resumes to a new sense of normalcy. As chief operating officer, it’s heartwarming
to watch our NuVinAir franchisees partner
Respect Your Associates’ Health with their local dealerships to provide free
I’m hearing from industry connections product and healthy vehicle treatments to
that some dealership technicians are first responders, medical professionals, and
fearful of entering vehicles on the service law enforcement agencies.
drive. Understandably, not knowing who
was in the vehicle previously has many We’ve also seen dealerships partner with
professionals feeling on edge. other essential frontline workers, including
pharmacy and grocery professionals.
How would you handle an employee who
refused to enter a vehicle? Great leaders Not only is giving back the right thing to do,
listen to the concerns of their employees, but it fosters a healthy dealership culture. Yes, we are all stressed about meeting sales
while poor leaders disregard them. Give your associates an opportunity to quotas and making payroll. Yes, there
Remember that part of your responsibility provide a shining light in their communities is constant uncertainty about when this
is to protect and reassure your people. and watch their workplace satisfaction crisis will end and what life will look like in
Their health is in your hands, especially skyrocket. its aftermath.
during this rapidly changing situation. It’s
your job to really listen and put people at Help Them Find New Roles But treating your employees poorly will
ease through proper safety precautions If you are forced into letting employees go only add to your anxiety, as well as to that
and oversight. due to financial challenges, support their of those around you, in this temporary
career growth. Introduce them to people situation.
Implement New Policies in your network who may be able to help.
This may be obvious but be sure your Offer outplacement services to position Work hard to build a culture that is based on
dealership is following proper guidance them for their next role. caring service, not only for your customers,
from the Centers for Disease Control but for your associates. A compassionate
and Prevention. Implement respiratory Remember that you hired them in the first environment breeds success and is a win-
etiquette procedures, as recommended place, so it’s your responsibility to give win for everyone. n
by the CDC and follow their business them a hand during these unprecedented
response guidelines. times. Check in with them weekly to see Troy Blackwell is chief operating officer of
how their families are doing and let them NuVinAir Global, which offers a patented
Give your staff – and customers, for that know you are there to support them every cleaning process, proprietary products and a
matter – gloves and masks to reduce step of the way. franchisee network serving U.S. dealerships.
their risk of sickness. Sit down with your A 20-year automotive-industry veteran,
technicians and let them know you’re In the end, your reputation as a leader rises and he previously worked for AutoNation and
doing everything possible to keep them falls on how you treat people under your watch. CarMax.

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