Congratulations are in order if you are in the process of filling a new position for the first time, particularly one that is managerial in nature such as a workshop manager.
Employing a workshop manager is a sign that you have achieved success, regardless of whether this is because you have purchased a second workshop or because you have reached a place in your life when you are able to step back from frontline operations. To reach to this stage, you must have been doing something well.
However, this makes it much more essential to ensure that the correct people are hired. In the event that anything goes wrong, you do not want to be forced to rush back from the golf course, and you cannot divide yourself in half in order to return and handle everything if it does.
If you want to offer yourself the greatest possible opportunity of avoiding catastrophe, the information that is provided below is a solid beginning point for you to use. Although they are not the definitive answers to all of your questions, you should keep them in mind as you deliberate over the weighty choices that lie in front of you.
What are you seeking for, in full honesty?
It is essential to have a crystal clear understanding of what it is that you are genuinely seeking for. From the position of service advisor, one might advance to that of workshop manager. It's not only about interacting with consumers; it's also about managing the whole workshop, from getting the doors open in the morning to being accountable for the company's financial success. Your workshop manager's responsibilities include personnel recruitment and management, as well as the resolution of client complaints. Because of the wide range of capabilities required, you need to choose a candidate that is well-rounded.
In the job advertisement, during the interview, and in the key performance indicators (KPIs), you should be extremely clear about the duties of the position as well as your expectations for the candidate.
The duties of a manager of a workshop
You are searching for a candidate who has previous expertise with the following roles, or who is capable of learning them quickly and becoming proficient in them.
A manager of a workshop is responsible for:
Acquire a comprehensive grasp of the business objectives and financial goals that the workshop has set. This ought to contain (but not be limited to) the following items:
Turnover
Gross profit
Gross margin
Net profit
Counting cars
Average dollar sale
Productivity and effectiveness of the staff
Monitoring of annual, monthly, and weekly progress toward objectives and targets respectively.
Guide and inspire the group's members. In order to effectively manage workers, a manager has to be familiar with both the minimal levels of performance that are considered acceptable for each job and the regulations that govern the firm. The manager will be familiar with how to conduct successful evaluations and meetings with the team, as well as how to address any sort of employee concern that may arise.
Take care of day-to-day problems that arise with customers. A manager will be able to confidently and effectively deal with each circumstance, and they will also have the innate ability to recognise when the involvement of the firm owner is necessary to settle a major problem. It is important to keep track of any complaints from customers and make sure the log is accessible to the owner of the company.
Take charge of security. This covers the protection of the building housing the workshop, the cars, the cash, the information about customers, and the records of employees.
Maintain equipment assets. And provide the owner of the firm with advice for the acquisition of equipment.
Provide the owner of the firm with updates on all actions. A weekly report on all pertinent key performance metrics, violations of corporate rules, employee concerns, and any serious customer complaints should be provided by the manager at the very least.
Whether you are still actively participating in the workshop or not, it is crucial for the future development of the workshop to make the appropriate choice of workshop manager and to ensure that all obligations and expectations are understood in a clear and unmistakable manner.
Because making the incorrect decision or failing to communicate will almost certainly put the company in jeopardy and may lead to outcomes that are financially devastating, it is important to take the time necessary to discover the ideal applicant straight away.