Today wasn’t any different from any other- just another day. One salesperson is on the verge of divorce; another is separated from his wife and two kids; another was late today due to a bad dialysis treatment; the other one didn’t cover his draw last month and doesn’t know how he can make ends meet; another had to be picked up while walking down the road after his car broke down; and another is shocked having made a follow up call to a customer -no answer; the customer is on the run after snapping and killing his estranged wife this past weekend. The receptionist is crying due to a rude customer; the porter is upset because he has to wash a car twice; a technician doesn’t want to stop putting a transmission in a vehicle because of a state inspection; parts quoted the wrong price; a service writer informs you a customer wants to bring a car back because of a check engine light; run and appraise a trade; work a deal; make a deal; take a T.O., keep your inventory in budget-while you’re at it have a good day!

At home when asked how our day was, all we can muster up is; “It was ok-nothing new,” while changing our caps from work to home and begin working the night shift. As managers, we don so many hats-calamity all around us; we are entrusted with keeping things running smoothly. There are many things a manager can delegate; caring is not one of them. Daily, we sit in our employees’ shadows and listen to their pains, fears, joys, and cries. We are counselors, correctors, facilitators, stem-winders, financiers, customer service reps, mediators, and any other job title that ends in “ors.” We see our employees more often than our own family members; we bask in the highs and shovel out of the lows and we do it together. Our employees are an extension of our family- we are all the family some of them have.  

This post is to say thank you to those managers who care. Thank you for what you do; not only are you there for your staff and keep the business running- you do all of that and still, somehow, keep yourself together. The only time you have to vent, expose your weaknesses, and question your strength is while driving home-the only passenger is the eyes looking back at you in the rearview mirror. Your job may seem thankless, but it is not; what you do matters.

Can't teach caring.