You can check out the full podcast here: Tips to Help Your Business Build Effective Leaders w/ Brian Alvo

There are few things more important for your dealership than effective leadership. With a historical precedent of high turnover coupled with a greater ability to build networks across social media, it's important to understand how you affect your staff and the impact you can make by being an effective leader and building effective leaders across your operational departments.

To help with that, we have the opportunity to learn from Brian Alvo, founder of the NextGen Center that focuses on building effective leaders through myriad proven principles, strategies, and trainings. This episode of the KPI Cafe dives into these to help us take a more introspective look at our own leadership skills and offers actionable takeaways.

Here's what to expect:

Brian’s Origin Story (1:30)

Core Principles of Effective Leadership (4:08)

• Others
• Impact
• Potential
• Self-Awareness

Are Principles Sequential in Nature? (6:28)

• Theory vs. Real-World
• Context/Variables

Why “Effective” Leadership? (7:58)

• Re-Framing
• Binary of “Good”
• Neutrality

Missing Ingredient(s) to Become Effective (10:22)

• Manage Change
• Set Direction
• Align People
• Growth Path?
• Inspire/Motivate
• Listen

High-Level Tips on Establishing Growth Paths (13:49)

• What Do “You” Want?
• Work Backwards from End Goal

High-Level Tips for How to Actively Listen (17:07)

• Self-Audit
• Intent

Benefits of Effective Leadership (20:30)

• Reaching Potential
• Growing Talent
• Uncertainty vs. Trust

Assess Now for Success Later (24:58)

• Where to Begin?
• Lay of the Land
• Actionable/Demonstrable

Frameworks for Leadership (28:49)

Contacting Brian Alvo (31:27)

The podcast can be found here: http://bit.ly/36zb6Fp

The original title for this episode was "Onward and Upward: Digital Marketing in 2021." This conversation, however, turned out to be much more than just digital marketing. Jason Harris and I dove into myriad topics surrounding dealerships with lessons learned from navigating COVID-19 for nearly an entire year. From marketing mixture to BDC expectations to internal promotions and more, there is a lot to be learned, analyzed, and said about where the industry is now at the beginning of 2021 and how it can be elevated by challenging current conditions.

We're just halfway through this season of the #KPICafe!

#automotivemarketing #automotivedigitalmarketing #automotiveindustry #automotiveretail #cardealer #cardealerinsights #digitalmarketing

Full podcast can be heard here: https://bit.ly/3oCbkm2

Laurie Halter, CEO of Charisma! Communications and host of Carearing, joins the KPI Cafe to talk about creating a balanced work and home life. As an entrepreneur herself, Laurie brings plenty of perspective from her own experiences, but she also leverages conversations with other industry leaders to further the discussion and provide concrete examples. Throughout this episode, you'll hear insights on myriad ways to not sacrifice your career or family time: routines versus spontaneity; staying connected when traveling or working long hours; what companies can do to be competitive to bring in and keep talent.

So many in automotive retail live the entrepreneurial life. Whether you're on the floor as a salesperson or in the office as a General Manager or Dealer Principal, this episode has plenty of insights to help all of us do better with managing our home and work responsibilities.

Here's what you can expect:

5:30 Introduction of Laurie Halter

6:07 Laurie Halter's Automotive Origin Story

8:20 What Does It Mean to "Have It All"?

9:34 Why Do Women Often Feel Overwhelmed Their Goals?

11:22 Setting Up Today's Content

11:47 Tips for Entrepreneurs to Plan a Balanced Work Life

14:35 Routine vs. Spontaneity

16:48 How Smaller Companies Can Compete to Bring on Experienced Professionals

19:21 Ways to Stay Connected to Family When Traveling

22:04 Diving into Carisma Communications

23:37 Most Poignant Takeaways from Carearing, Laurie's Podcast

I closed out this season of the #KPICafe with a topic quite personal to me: letting go of the vine. Understanding what this means is a vital and foundational piece to good leadership. If you want insights on how to empower your team and focus on your most important tasks, this is for you.

You can check it out here: https://bit.ly/3lY1c4N

In this episode, KPI Cafe Host Dane Saville discusses the concept of "letting go of the vine." He uses his experience as Co-Founder of and former Content Director for Reunion Marketing prior to the company's evolution that saw the Content Department transform into the SEO Department. Throughout this episode, Dane shares what it means to let go, how to let go, and the benefits of letting go of the vine, including real-life examples of it. This is an opportunity to engage about beginning true leadership and empowering your team -- that can start today.


0:20 Context for the Episode

• Founding Reunion

• Solo Act on Content

• Set in My Ways

1:53 Things Change as You Build a Team

• Now There’s a Content Team

• The Obstacle

• The
•  
•  
•  
• Missing Pronoun

3:07 Traction: Letting Go of the Vine

• Our Department

• Take the Ball and Run

• Work Smarter, Not Harder

• Asana

• The Benefits

5:08 How to Let Go of the Vine

• This Works for Anyone

• The Process to Let Go

9:00 G.W.C.

• Get It, Want It, Capacity to Do It

9:56 How This Helps Build True Leadership

• Your Time

• Empowerment

• Not Simply Being a Boss

11:19 Honest Introspection

• Letting Go of the Vine is Ongoing

• Take the Time to Do This

• Find the Right Seat

13:40 Concluding Thoughts

I want to give a final thanks to Brent Wees, Laurie Foster, Matt Sneed, Steve Roessler, Stephanie Singletary, Jeff Elhart, Chelsea Nodine, Brian Brockman, and Andrew Kocha for making this season so insightful and valuable.

The #KPICafe will return on Wednesday, January 6th.

You can listen to the full podcast here (and subscribe!): BE NICE KPI Cafe

In this episode of the KPI Cafe, "Playground Director II" Jeff Elhart of Elhart Automotive joins host Dane Saville to discuss how he managed to navigate the pandemic, laying off nearly 75% of his staff, and his efforts to lead with compassion for his people and community with Good Grief. In addition to that, Mr. Elhart opens up about his family's tragic loss of his brother and how that lead him to implementing the Be NICE program that helped steward Elhart Automotive's mental health awareness. 

5:54 Origins of Jeff’s Title “Playground Director II” and Role in Automotive

• Managing the Fun in the Sandbox
• Family Business

10:00 Context of Today’s Episode: Compassionate Leadership

• Laying off ¾ of staff
• Concern: mental well-being
• Good Grief

12:10 Highlights of Good Grief

• Background of Losing His Brother, Wayne
• Distribution of Copies
• Examples of the 10 Steps of Grieving Well

13:55 The “BE NICE.” Program

• Mental Health Foundation of Western Michigan
• BE NICE. Acronym Breakdown
• How to Learn More About BE NICE.
• Letter from Wayne

15:44 Reaction to BE NICE. and Compassionate Leadership

• Those Reaching Out to Jeff
• Various Issues Affecting the Community

23:12 What Can Dealers Do to Begin Leading with Compassion

• Be the “Lifeguard”
• Don’t Have to Invent the Wheel
• How to Launch the Program
• The BE NICE. Champions

28:48 True Story from the Dealership

• Service Technician
• Underlying Cause

32:08 The Benefit of Today’s Technology for Mental Health

34:55 Concluding Thoughts

All content provided in these videos, publications, and interviews were created for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of rendering medical advice. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you read or viewed as part of this content. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor, go to the emergency department, or call 911 immediately.

Reunion Marketing, Inc. does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned in this content. Reliance on any information provided by Reunion Marketing, Inc., its employees, presenters, interviewees, or medical professionals presenting content for publication is solely at your own risk.

The podcast episode can be found here: Activating Your F&I and BDC to Improve Dealership Performance

Be sure to subscribe to the KPI Cafe on your favorite podcast platform!

In this episode of the KPI Cafe, Laurie Foster of Foster Strategies Group challenges the status quo to dealerships' sales process. With compressed margins, increased competition from new players like Carvana, and the fluctuating circumstances of the economy, it's more important than ever that your process gives you more at-bats with every opportunity. 

Part of that means activating your finance managers earlier in the process because you know that in-market car shoppers have questions regarding financing and leasing; part of that means thinking about your Business Development Center as more than a call center. 

Laurie also gives insights about how to get buy-in from your team with these fundamental questions, as well as some tips about compensation for the new duties assigned. In the end, it's all about alignment.
 

3:22 Laurie’s Automotive Origin Story

• Furniture Sales

• Projected Growth Path in Automotive

• Possibilities

4:45 Foster Strategies Group

• Leadership

• Serving Others

• Maximize Management
•  
• Potential

• Vendor Partnerships

6:37 Context for the Episode

• Inventory

• Margin Compression 
• Issues

7:03 Activating Your F&I

• Role Redefinition and Clarification

• Current Process and Its Issues

• A Fresh Approach

16:40 Good Customer Experience. Better Results

• Customer Intent

• Friction
• Dollars and “Sense”

• PVR

• Less Time

• Product Penetration and Revenue Projections

21:18 Getting Buy-In

• Know Your Audience

• Measurement

24:00 Training for Comfortability

• Roleplay

• Priming the Customer

25:26 Managing Other Staff Concerns

• Getting the Help Wanted

• Greater Communication

27:53 What Does the Whole Process Look Like

• Forward Momentum

• BDC Statistics

29:40 Optimal BDC

• Break It Down

• Current Role / Responsibility

31:41 Alignment on Shifts in Roles

• Top-Through
• Cohesion

• Tap the Brakes

33:51 Perception vs. Reality

35:43 Customer-Centric. Dealer-Centric.

• Good Experience Across Touchpoints

• Dealership Customer

37:17 Better Together

• More Opportunities
• Market Statistics
• The Right Principles

38:45 Breaking Down the Silos

• Value and Elevation

• Business. Development. Center.

• Football Analogy

44:06 The Hiring Process

• Change Our Words

46:01 What’s Coming Up with Laurie

In this episode of the KPI Cafe, Matt Sneed from Power Ford joins Host Dane Saville to dive deep into the weeds about the proper way to leverage Facebook advertising. In this hour-long session, a great number of topics from Facebook's purpose to traditional advertising to the strategy itself to measurement; literally, no stone is left unturned in this discussion about how your dealership can benefit by following the guidelines laid out.

You can use this link to listen to it on any of your favorite podcast platforms. Be sure to subscribe/follow on the platform of your choice to never miss an insight: KPI Cafe

In this return episode of the KPI Cafe, Dane Saville and Brent Wees start off discussing how much car dealers are expected to multitask, even in the face of "right-sized" staff, but quickly dive into different paths of thought as unexpected insights, questions, and concerns pop up throughout this hour-long session of impactful takeaways will have you thinking about your own dealership's internal processes.

You can use this link to listen to it on any of your favorite podcast platforms. Be sure to subscribe/follow on the platform of your choice to never miss an insight: KPI Cafe