According to Google, alignment is defined in a couple ways: arrangement in a straight line and/or a position of agreement or alliance.

When it comes to any group, whether it be sports, politics, or business having everybody working together, headed in the same direction,  and “singing from the same song book” often, if not usually, makes the difference between winning and losing or success and failure. It is one of the main reasons why one team performs better than another!

Keeping everybody aligned in philosophies, behaviors, and values is a constant challenge, and requires constant effort, especially in a growing organization where the pace is fast and new people are introduced into the mix. Add to that the unavoidable “potholes” of life.

You would think that the automobile industry understands alignment better than anybody else where a misalignment causes excess wear on tires, results in lower fuel economy, and can be a nuisance, let alone a potential safety issue.

Since wheel misalignments don’t fix themselves, are not always easy to detect, and not everybody is trained to properly fix them, it is important to get trained experts [Technicians] involved. A trained technician can assess the situation and apply the appropriate ‘fix’. Not fixing-it-right-the-first-time in this area can actually make the situation worse.

The same is true when it comes to people and teams, who inevitably hit relational and operational potholes. Unfortunately, it seems, by their actions, that most automotive owners, dealers, and/or general managers try to deal with alignment issues themselves or hope they will just go away [rectify themselves] – neither approach produces the best result and, as with wheel alignments, can often make things worse.

According to research, people misalignment within automobile dealership teams is costing the dealership hundreds of thousands a year in preventable, fixable, and unnecessary expense, reduced productivity, and lower customer retention.

Don’t trip over dollars to save nickels. Consult an expert, get your situation assessed, and ensure your team is well aligned. It will be your best investment of the year…guaranteed!

Herb Mast is Leadership Coach and Employee Engagement Specialist. He would love to assist you in implementing the principles and concepts presented here. 

Click here to schedule a free no-obligation introductory consultation.