In my 30 years in the dealership training and consulting arena, I have been exposed to numerous dealership executives, department managers, and sales and service personnel who felt the need to be “on the job” 60, 70, and, yes, even 80 hours per week. And no matter how much you love the retail business, and its diversity, excitement, and challenges, that level of time investment in your business career will never allow you to achieve any type of reasonable balance between your professional life and your personal life. Believe me, when I was on the retail side of the business, I learned the hard way, that “a retail automotive dealership will suck every hour out of your personal life that you allow it to!” 

It shouldn’t, and it doesn’t have to! In an effectively staffed dealership, with good business processes and reasonable personnel scheduling, combined with sound Time Management practices, there should be no need for any manager or employee to “clock” more than 55 hours per week. Should we expect that all employees clock 55 hours? Certainly not! That would be totally unrealistic, particularly considering the maximum work schedules desired by most Generation “’X”, ”Y”, and “Z” employees who work in our industry. But for some reason, 55 hours seems to be the magic number that top performing executives, managers, and sales and service professionals know that they need to work to be successful in the retail automotive business.

The key to becoming highly successful within the magic “55 hour workweek schedule” is Time Management.  Dave Anderson, of LearnToLead.com has written numerous articles on this subject, all of which are available on his web site. Following, I have selected what I consider to be “the 3 best things” that Dave recommends:

1. Structure your day around the discipline of priorities! “First things first, last things not at all.” (Peter Drucker)

2. Leave as little unmanaged time on your daily calendar as possible! Unmanaged time is a killer! It slays drive, passion, rhythm, momentum, execution, and accomplishment.

3. Build a routine and stick to it! Structure keeps you focused! Develop highly productive habits. If you’re a leader without a solid routine, you have no credibility telling others to get their act together!

Developing and executing sound time management practices is easier said than done. But it’s certainly worth the effort required! I wish you well in your effort!

Warmest regards,

Garry House