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Karim Morsli owner of Winkler Automotive in Gaithersburg, MD, is an engineer by trade who has worked in the oil fields and information technology industry. Karim is passionate about the new direction the automotive industry is taking, and in particular, the critical role independent service centers will need to evolve into to ensure all present and future car owners will have the choice of where to have their vehicle serviced besides the dealership.

He is an innovator who works on multiple levels within the industry (education and legislative) to ensure his service center and others like his are ready for the challenges ahead. Always one to practice an open door approach, he is always willing to teach and share his knowledge and is also an avid learner. Listen to Karim’s previous episodes HERE.

Key Talking Points

  • Training- to give someone the skills needed/upgrade skills to complete a job
  • Training approach- overarching similarity but there should be a difference depending on the position. 
  • Technician training- has to be calculated, sustained, progressive, evolve with changes in technology. It will change the most in business. Learning is a part of your culture and ongoing. Starts from top-down. 
  • Create self-awareness with your employees- how do you lead? Are you asking questions as a leader (not accusatory but leading questions)?
  • Do you have a marketing calendar? How about a training calendar?
  • ASE certifications- know your worth and grow from there and get a sense of fulfillment through achievement   
  • Assessments/competence- all starts at recruiting/hiring. “Garbage in, garbage out.” Constantly assess what their skill level is, never do cookie-cutter training. Be individualized. Also, train for what your business needs too. Assessments are launching off point for improvement. Unconscious Competence, Conscious Competence, Conscious Incompetence, Unconscious Incompetence
  • Has training become unprofessional? Ask employees to go after hours for training and not be paid.
  • On average if you spend $100 on training you’ll receive $450 in return 
  • Retention- how do you fight boredom with your employees? Put them in front of a challenge and be given the opportunity to grow themselves. 
  • Comebacks- training opportunity. Technicians will work on it under the supervision of a manager as neutral pair of eyes. Mistakes happen and you can turn it into a positive by having the technician correct mistake and teach it to others in the shop.
  • Be proactive, not reactive- to be the best business it doesn't come easy or free. 
  • What is your commitment to your employees? Provide the best working environment to allow them to achieve their highest potential 
  • Inducting training: Condition of employment, need to be trained first before working on car/talking to customers to learn ways of business. Trainual software- take SOP’s and transfer into digital format to go through it and be assets what they’ve retained with questions 
  • Continuation training- second step, progression of training
  • Redeployment- changing positions especially when you have multiple locations 
  • Remedial- refresher training 
  • Cultural- all employees should understand your “why” 
  • Developmental- acquiring self-awareness to grow as a person  
  • Innovation- innovate on changing technology 
  • Retirement- transitioning to a different path

 

  • Thanks to Karim Morsli for his contribution to the aftermarket’s premier podcast.
  • Link to the ‘BOOKS‘ page, highlighting all books discussed in the podcast library HERE. Leaders are readers.
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NAPA Autotech Training helps your technicians keep their skills sharp and their NAPA Know How up to date. It’s the highest quality technical training that covers almost every vehicle system and every make and model. NAPA Autotech is presented by experienced instructors who are ASE master certified technicians. Even after a class is over, techs can access course information online with ClassPass. So when questions come up later they can get the answers. AutoCare Center owners who have taken advantage of Autotech Training say that well-trained technicians are helping to increase their shop’s repair capability and raise bay productivity. That results in fewer comebacks, more satisfied shop customers, and reduced technician turnover.

Learn more about NAPA AutoCare and the benefits of being part of the NAPA family by visiting www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

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  • Have you checked out Joe's Latest Blog?

         0 comments
      It always amazes me when I hear about a technician who quits one repair shop to go work at another shop for less money. I know you have heard of this too, and you’ve probably asked yourself, “Can this be true? And Why?” The answer rests within the culture of the company. More specifically, the boss, manager, or a toxic work environment literally pushed the technician out the door.
      While money and benefits tend to attract people to a company, it won’t keep them there. When a technician begins to look over the fence for greener grass, that is usually a sign that something is wrong within the workplace. It also means that his or her heart is probably already gone. If the issue is not resolved, no amount of money will keep that technician for the long term. The heart is always the first to leave. The last thing that leaves is the technician’s toolbox.
      Shop owners: Focus more on employee retention than acquisition. This is not to say that you should not be constantly recruiting. You should. What it does means is that once you hire someone, your job isn’t over, that’s when it begins. Get to know your technicians. Build strong relationships. Have frequent one-on-ones. Engage in meaningful conversation. Find what truly motivates your technicians. You may be surprised that while money is a motivator, it’s usually not the prime motivator.
      One last thing; the cost of technician turnover can be financially devastating. It also affects shop morale. Do all you can to create a workplace where technicians feel they are respected, recognized, and know that their work contributes to the overall success of the company. This will lead to improved morale and team spirit. Remember, when you see a technician’s toolbox rolling out of the bay on its way to another shop, the heart was most likely gone long before that.
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