Dealerships today have to edge out more and more competitors in order to win customers. Because of this, they are constantly looking for new and better ways to distinguish themselves and gain an advantage in the marketplace. One way dealerships can increase their curb appeal is by empowering employees and developing strong, engaged workforces. This involves encouraging employees to take control and make decisions, ensuring they feel more confident and involved in dealership practices. Additionally, this increases the effectiveness and efficiency of the work being performed, boosting productivity and allowing your dealership to outperform competitors and attract the attention of more customers.

Work quality is important when trying to advance your dealership in the marketplace and earn customer trust, and in order for employees to be driven to deliver top quality work, they must first feel their contributions are important to the dealership as a whole. Your pros want to know their work is valued and makes a difference in the dealership’s success, and when you’re able to convey this by engaging them and empowering them, they will consistently deliver better, higher quality work.

It can be daunting to turn responsibilities and a portion of the decision-making over to employees, but when they see the connection between their specific roles and overall dealership operations, they’ll realize the impact of their contributions.  By empowering all employees, you’ll be ensuring more devoted attitudes, increased positive impact on the dealership’s business, as well as more workplace contributions as a whole—all of which create better overall customer experiences.

Overall employee satisfaction can also play a huge role in whether or not your team feels empowered. Depending on the culture at your dealership, there are several things you can do to build trust in this area. For example, simply by encouraging a work environment that is more flexible and relaxed, you can boost employee satisfaction.  Keep in mind simple changes like offering more flexibility with schedules, dress code, or even cutting down on early or late meetings can dramatically affect employee satisfaction in a positive way.  Employees who feel you’re letting them take control over their own work habits feel they’ve earned your trust and end up finding and making equitable solutions that work well for the team as a whole.

When you create a sense of empowerment, you’re essentially telling your employees they are important and you trust their good judgment.  In work environments that are more rigid and hierarchical, employees feel less empowered and, in turn, are less likely to make substantial contributions to the dealership.  In fact, a recent study found that 87% of millennials, the largest age demographic in the U.S., believe the workplace should base success on more than just financial performance, citing issues like employee satisfaction, customer satisfaction, and contributions to community as high-ranking issues of importance.

Simply stated, employees who are empowered to make decisions, grow, and thrive in their work environments tend to have higher productivity levels than those who do not. The increased trust they feel encourages them to take more responsibility and ownership over their work, often resulting in greater levels of accountability. Additionally, the energy and dedication they contribute to their daily performance carries over and is seen by customers who visit your dealership.  In the end, with empowered professionals on staff, your dealership is able to attract and maintain a larger customer base, as well as garner the trust and loyalty of shoppers.

From a more collaborative dealership atmosphere to improved communication and service, your empowered employees play an integral role in the daily operations of the dealership. By giving your employees a chance to really take control of their work environment and make more important decisions, you’re demonstrating your trust in them and their professional abilities. You’ll see an increase in satisfaction, a better and more relaxed work environment, as well as increased productivity—all of which lead to happier and more satisfied customers.

Your employees are a driving factor behind your dealership’s success, and when you take time to develop a plan for their success and empowerment, you’ll soon see your dealership follow suit.  By ensuring your pros are happy, satisfied, and giving their all, you’ll be making sure your customers get the best service possible every time they set foot on your lot.