Have you ever left an encounter with a customer (or coworker, or family member) really different from you and felt completely drained? Perhaps they seemed really boring. Or too animated. You might have found their amount of details exhausting. Or their lack of them annoying. Maybe it felt like there was a wall between the two of you. Or that …
A report from one of our listeners: He quit … for less money … doing the same work. Why?
A report from a listener: He quit … for less money … doing the same work. Why? It’s not about money. As the Great Resignation continues, it’s a good time to look at the research from Gallup–and common sense. Make your organization as attractive to employees as possible. (See some related advice here.) Questions? Comments? Ideas for future episodes? Email …
Horn Sections Make Rock Better: The Hard Way
Let’s continue last week’s soul music. This is James Hunter, a British throwback. And backing and producing him: the legendary Allen Toussaint. You can see Toussaint talk about Hunter in this promo video.
One company’s littlest act yielded the strongest loyalty
A client told me this story last week. I had to pass it along. He was trying to buy his first house in the 1980, when interest rates were still high, and banks were still skeptical. The bank told him he just didn’t have enough credit history. As an automotive technician who watched his pennies, he hadn’t had a credit …
Coaching feedback tips for kids and adults
Coaching is as simple as providing a child with feedback on his or her drawing. This simple metaphor can help you change your coaching habits–and take some pressure off. You can listen to an episode sharing insights from “Coaching Amplified” here. Questions? Comments? Ideas for future episodes? Email Mike and Mark. Listen here … subscribe on Spotify, Amazon or Apple … …
The ancient secret to better customer interactions
This is the first in a series of posts about the DISC behavioral model. It’s a crucial part of how Hip Socket helps clients. We hope this gives current clients more insight and future clients a peek behind the curtain. Cranky customers now crankier? Did the pandemic permanently change your customers? Science says “yes.” A recent psychology study used quantitative …
Horn Sections Make Rock Better: It’s Midnight
The Halloween horns are over. My plan was to tell you today, “Get ready for some Christmas music soon. But first, some more rock.” Now for the plot twist. I heard this soul band over the radio and loved their sound. When I searched for them online, this was the first one I heard. As you will see, this is …
Employee turnover is about to increase
The latest Morning Shift video from Automotive News (an excellent 5-minute review of headlines, even if you’re not in the industry) shares a warning from dealership recruiter Hireology. Its CEO’s prediction on automotive hiring: You’re going to see the turnover rate go back up. Because if all we’re offering is a lot of money, when that goes away and the …
For car dealerships: FTC Revised Safeguards
This post is for the sake of my many automotive clients. You have heard through NADA or your state association that the FTC’s new Safeguards rules go into effect early December. I don’t know if you are ready, but here are two thoughts. This is one more opportunity to “chunk it down.” You could work on a big issue like …
Workplace sins: Flattery is worse than adultery and murder
Do you ever flatter? Perhaps a boss or coworker? You’re worse than an adulterer or murder. Don’t take my word for it. Ask Dante. Swimming in poop When Dante Alighieri wrote his Divine Comedy, he imagined an orderly hell. The damned are categorized into nine downward circles: garden-variety non-Christians at the top all the way down to Satan at the …