Stop Shadow Boxing and Become a True Leader

The psychology is described as trying to overcome a negative self-image that may prevent you from achieving the successes that you desire. It is my belief that no matter what position you hold within the automotive industry we are all shadow boxing in some way or another. So what can we do to overcome the negative stereotypes and create positives thoughts, reactions and outcomes for each of us and for the dealerships that we work with or for?

• Adopt an Attitude of Gratitude: Gratitude is our way of responding to and reflecting on making our clients completely satisfied. When we accomplish this we are then rewarded with better CSI, positive reviews, returning client bases, and referrals. This leads us to a forever growing business. This Attitude of Gratitude always will start at the top and trickle through your business like a never ending stream. A positive attitude is the foundation for all of your employee’s successes. If you come in to work smiling, optimistic and approachable, then it's easier for your staff to expect a positive work day. If you come to work with negative mindset, disgust on your face, are resonating with anger or a "don't talk to me" vibe, you can expect nothing but a negative work environment, and you will have no one to blame but yourself. Put all negativity aside and be a professional, always be the professional no matter what the circumstance.

• Encourage acceptance of differences with your staff rather than demonizing them because of their differences. We are all products of our upbringing within the automotive industry.  Skill levels within each of our backgrounds are all wonderfully diverse; this is a positive thing not a negative thing. When we accept these differences and even encourage and build upon them, we will all achieve a better understanding for success, and be able to communicate much more clearly and positively.

• Once it is all said and done so many people go through life worried about what everyone else thinks. In a lot of cases they are always trying to impress everyone look at the “Man in the Mirror” just as Michael Jackson said. We all have to realize that when we come to the end of our careers no matter what they may have been, we all need to reflect back and say it really wasn’t the money that I made that was important, it was the amount of lives I made better because I gave all of myself in order to make the next person better within their life. Remember we make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. In the end the King and the Pawn go back into the same box.

Take the time to become a beacon of positive energy, encourage acceptance within everyone you know. Remember, if your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more and become more then in fact you are a True Leader.