Everyone I’ve met who’s spent time in the service drive will confirm it: being a service advisor is exhausting. Just being ‘on’ all day, interacting with customers and co-workers, is tiring in itself. Some people thrive on the hubbub and bustling environment, but it’s not only the ‘type A’ personalities that makes great service advisors. You can have a softer disposition and be fantastic at the desk.

But I’ll tell you firsthand that it’s extremely tough to be consistent day to day, week to week, and month to month. I’m the second kind of person – a little quieter, go-with-the-flow, and a bit of a people pleaser. Fear of rejection goes hand in hand with my type of personality.

Consistency? It’s part of my vocabulary. I know how to do it. Achieving it, on the other hand, is not easy. For other service advisors who are like me (and even ‘type A’ personalities from at times) it’s hard work to stay consistent in performance.

Rate performance however you will. CSI scores, hours per RO, dollar per RO, gross profit, or your paycheck. When you’re inconsistent, your performance suffers in them all.

What You Can Do

It isn’t likely that your manager is going to just accept that your performance will be hot one day and cold the next. If that’s the case, you’re probably not going to stay a service advisor for long. You’ll need to find a way to keep consistent, level-headed, and on your game from day to day. Here are a few tips to help you do just that.

Establish a Morning Routine

I used to only give myself 20 minutes to do the triple-S in the morning, and I’d leave for work missing out on one of them quite often. Establish a morning routine that’s structured and concise. Wake up in the morning at the same time every day and get out of bed WITHOUT hitting the snooze button (that’s my weakness).

Dress for Success

You’re going to do better if you feel better about yourself. It might go without saying for some, but I’ve seen so many service advisors who go to work with their shirt untucked, unkempt hair, and shoes that have toes poking out of them.

Dressing well for your job has another side too. Customers take notice. I believe customers gravitate toward the service advisors who appear to have it all together, and that’s done with first impressions – starting with appearance.

Eat Well

It doesn’t matter what type of fast food you eat at lunch, or at breaks. You’re going to feel like crap. Been there, done that – it’s like an addiction. It really does help with your performance to eat clean. Anything you make at home will be better for you than eating out every day (within reason, of course). And again, when you feel better, you’re going to perform better.

Work Out

Get your physical activity in. Whether you take your dog for a walk, run around the playground with your kids, or pump iron at the gym, physical activity is fantastic for consistency. Primarily, it’s going to get the right chemicals flowing that benefit your mental acuity. Secondly, you’ll get in shape.

You’ll need to make time for physical activity. Ideally, you’ll do it as part of your morning routine or immediately after your shift is done. If you head home to relax a little, there’s a good chance you’re not getting off the couch to work out later.

Train Your Mind

Find resources for professional improvement. Read books on selling techniques or ‘self-help’ topics that apply to your position. Subscribe to blogs from masterminds, life coaches, and people you admire. Surround yourself with information by successful people to train your mind. Read a chapter a day, a blog every lunch hour – get it in at some point throughout your day. It’s going to make you more confident and positive, and you can put that to work for more consistent performance.