The groundhog did not see his shadow; the clocks have sprung forward; tax season is in full swing, and spring is just around the corner. Powersports dealers across the U.S. expect to capitalize on a strong spring selling season. Before the frenzy starts, set your team up for success and avoid burnout by investing in your people today.
According to the Bureau of Labor & Statistics, 44.1 million people voluntarily quit their jobs in 2023. As of June last year, Powersports Business News reported that labor shortages continue, citing a survey by Sunrise Cycles stating that 62 percent of dealers surveyed were short staffed in at least one department.
We’ve all felt the stress that comes with a short-staffed environment. Everyone takes on more responsibilities, and burnout and disengagement are just around the corner. According to the most recent Gallup State of the Workplace Report, employee engagement has continuously dropped from 2020 through 2022 and the ratio of engaged to disengaged workers in the U.S. is now 1.8-to-1.
Now is the perfect time to address this challenge and build a strong team to meet the demands of the coming sales season. Here are a few key areas where investment has measurable returns.
Employee engagement
Employee engagement does not mean happiness. It means your team is psychologically present, they understand what to do, have the tools to do their job, have a supportive manager and a supportive team. They know why their work matters. They are work ready. According to Gallup, quiet quitting employees are your company’s low-hanging fruit for productivity gains. They are ready to be inspired and motivated if they are coached in the right way. Make sure everyone is engaged, has the tools and support they need, and believes their work matters.
Skill development and growth
Engagement often translates to opportunities for development and growth. Regardless of the size of your dealership, there are always ways to enrich your team. Whether improving specific job-related skills or more personal goals, understanding the needs and enabling team members to thrive can have a dramatic impact on performance and reduce costly employee turnover.
Goal alignment
Is everyone rowing toward the same destination? You might be surprised by the answers. Look to see if you are clearly communicating your company goals by asking your team what they think is their most important contribution. Are you working with your managers to set achievable goals that employees can support or are you setting unrealistic expectations that only produce stress and anger…and more disengagement?
Improved communication
Speaking of communication, employees cite this factor as the single most important component of a successful job. Your employees need clear, consistent, and transparent communication to be engaged in and meet the company’s goals. Improving communication across all aspects of your dealership, from person-to-person, team-level, manager-to-employee, and owner, will benefit the work environment and revenue opportunities.
Recognition and motivation
Although the world has recovered from the worst of the pandemic, employee stress has remained at a record-high level. Gallup analysis finds that when employees are engaged at work, they report significantly lower stress in their lives. Authentically recognizing both team and individual accomplishments, and motivating continued improvement has direct correlations to employee engagement – and lower stress.
At EFG Companies, we realize our powersports dealers face numerous daily challenges. Our proven team of EFG trainers, recruiters, and experts are here to help you surpass your revenue goals. We bring years of experience to your team. We’re more than an F&I provider, we’re your business partner in the retail powersports industry. Contact us today to learn more about how our team can help you achieve your winning strategy.
