Car Dealerships vs Little League

They just lost the championship game this weekend, the same weekend they set out to "strike out cancer" for their local community.?I attended seven different youth sports games this weekend ranging from flag football to under 12 boys’ club baseball.?As I sat through these exciting, yet sometimes painful games, I was focused more on the coaching than the touchdowns, goals, strikes and runs. Some coaches were parents of players and others one-time college athletes, and the occasional grandparent or two. ?What I took notice of was how the coaches interacted with the players during triumphs and disasters.?

I think we've all experienced for ourselves, or through our children, the coach that yells, whose voice you can hear over the roars of the spectators and the piped in music. What about the manager that yells at their sales staff , scolding them as if they were a bunch of five-year olds . ?What kind of coach or dealer are you??

My son played college baseball for a division one university.?A quiet, lefty pitcher who when credited with the win always said, "it was a team effort and win, without these guys, I'm just another pitcher." He has coached his sons’ Little League teams the past six years and relying on his own experiences, coaches with empathy, utilizing teaching moments, plus one on one mentoring to improve skills and knowledge, but more importantly, he is recognized by players and parents as a leader.

I believe a leader is someone who has a very clear vision and ability to excite and rally their community and business to achieve stated objectives.?The most important job of a leader whether a parent, CEO, General Manager, or coach is to build self-confidence and self-esteem.?In addition, it is incumbent for a leader to build their team through education, empowerment, providing value and space to grow, yet making them accountable to you, the team, or the business. You must also realize that you can't lead generation Y and Z the same way you did X and Boomers.?

Does berating employees or the team really motivate them??Okay, so Johnny missed what looked like an easy catch in left field or Mr. Johnny let a potential truck customer leave the building or hang up on a phone call.?How can a leader turn that scenario around and make it a teaching moment, improving skills in both instances? This process begins with providing a safe and educational environment from the first moment one steps onto the field or into the showroom.?

Encourage a team atmosphere.?There should be no divas in dealerships or kids’ sports. There will always be the super stars in sales and athletics, but a good leader will be able to balance that out with other team members, through mentoring, training, and motivational guest speakers, or events. More and more Little League teams do something as a team off the field as well. Perhaps it's a pizza gathering at a parent's home where they get to be kids while cheering each other up after a loss or patting each other on the back for a job well done.?The same approach can hold true for the business world. Successes should be celebrated, and improvement opportunities reviewed with specific action plans. Not one GM or coach can address all the issues that are faced in the automotive industry, or kids’ sports, but they do have a responsibility to their staff/team to find out what they think, how they feel and instill a sense of ownership for the team’s success.

How many of you remember a great teacher, coach, or counselor vs the individual that told you that you would never be anything; that you can't hit the side of a barn, or you're too small to play football or you'll never sell a car???A leader should strive to be that general manager or coach that in later years are remembered by name for the way you mentored, taught, and coached them.

?Coaching a Little League team and a dealership is about how individuals lead their respective teams, creating a learning environment that fosters mental health, self-esteem, and successful outcomes.?

www.hercertified.com - [email protected] - www.thewomen360.com