When #coaching and developing Leaders, I often use the analogy, quite visual, of a bigger 'You' holding 'you' in your own hand as a puppet or a player on the field.
It works to establish the separate parts of one's mind, swiftly helping the leader become more clear on their own operating system.
For a helpful insight into how we help our clients help their leaders grow, read this article from #HarvardBusinessReview.
You hired your leaders for the skills they use in one part of their brain, when in fact they are often operating out of their amygdala, which is far more reactive and destructive.
The result: They leave insights and analysis on the table, operate impulsively,
upset your employees and possibly even your customers and prospects.
You are left to look for answers.
In an interview or conference room settings, you see the cool, composed person.
Multiple factors will arise to 'provoke' these primal, protective responses.
We solve this and bring your leaders greater #productivity through increased inner strength, stability and self-management.
'What got you here won't get you to what's next!'
We will.
To learn more, click or call today.
Foster Strategies. We lift Leaders.
https://lnkd.in/eRDK9MT
#GeneralManagers
On Why Your Strategies are Still Waiting.
There is a reason a business like mine has an important place in this or any industry. Many CEOs and Founders are still visionaries, yet their teams don't/haven't/can't see the future through those eyes.
We create community, communication and collaboration around your strategies and ours to see your vision through to completion and success.
Why wait and simply hope your desired strategies take root this year?
Opportunities and successes await you.
"Fortune favors the bold." - Virgil
We're bold and ready for 2021, are you?
Foster Strategies. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Bold, Innovative Solutions in Automotive
References readily available.
https://lnkd.in/drWghYE
#clientretention #SalesStrategies
#WhatIsPossible #automotive #DigitalMarketing #LeadershipMatters
On The Power of Speaking Engagements.
As I review all of the speaking opportunities I was privileged to receive and accept this year, the 'stages' spoken from are night and day from the early January to what became 2020.
What didn't change?
⭐The audiences' shared commitment to community learning and growth.
⭐The willingness of all of us to 'smash the walls' of Zoom and reach out through the screens we now inhabit. Instead of looking at these video blocks like cages, we chose to see them like Hollywood Squares and embrace the format.
⭐My desire to add impact and actionable insights, regardless of format or distance. People are still clamoring for strategic, thoughtful solutions and I can offer this from anywhere. Literally, anywhere.
There are many people + companies I want to acknowledge, but will save for another post.
As you go to book your next team meeting, company-wide event or industry conference, know I am always prepared and postured to help.
Engaging your audience?
No additional charge. It's part of my secret formula.
And it works every time.
Add more value to your next meeting.
Contact Foster Strategies today to be added to our 2021 schedule.
https://lnkd.in/drWghYE
References readily available.
#Speaking #womenfoundersautomotive #Leadership #Performance
On Thriving after a Setback or Breakdown.
As we enter a new year, many choose to only talk about their successes publicly. I understand the need to 'preserve' a perceived reputation, especially when many in an audience don't really know you that well.
However...
If there are still areas that you're working on, like me, or things that even knocked you on your a$$ this year, do yourself an enormous favor and listen in to at least this one episode of Lewis Howes and 'The School of Greatness' with his outstanding coach, world-renowned motivational author and speaker, Chris Lee.
Here are a few helpful nuggets to help you get the idea:
👉1. Accept and Acknowledge a Breakdown
👉2. Take Responsibility and Ownership
👉3. Define the Emotions You are Experiencing- and let go of them.
👉4. ...you've got to listen to learn more!
Also
⭐Transform your Fear into Faith!
⭐Realize your Breakdowns are actually Blessings!
and finally, know + believe this
⭐Life is Rigged in Your Favor!
My friends deserve all of the tools, transparency and guidance to true, sustainable success I can share.
Enjoy!
Listen up, listen in and get on with your Greatness!
-L
https://lnkd.in/dUtaQv6
#BetterTogether
#LewisHowes #LeadershipInAction
#ChrisLee
On Leadership from Chris Rock.
Yes, it's a good Sunday morning. As I watched one of my favorite shows of the week, I hit pause when I heard one of the lines in his featured interview with Gayle King.
Bonus tip: Brilliance is everywhere.
His setup to his joke, and I will try to quote, but you can watch it below,
"Some jobs, everybody's got to be good. Some jobs you just cannot have a bad apple. Like… pilots!" Laughter, but then the groans as the audience gets it.
He goes on to say he knows what they're up against, police are a category that should be held to this standard. I would add surgeons and you could add a list as well.
But let's think about our own work environments.
⭐Who do we have in leadership in large roles or small?
⭐Can we really afford any bad apples or do we tolerate them?
⭐Should we also have zero tolerance for shenanigans in our key roles?
⭐What are some of your leaders doing that limit the results of your company and/or inhibit the growth of your team, even relationships with your client base?
Your toleration makes you a part of the issue. Now that you're aware, we can work on it. With humor, serious action, with surgical precision.
Let's talk.
Foster Strategies. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#ExcellenceInAutomotive
#LeadershipMatters
#Automotive #ChrisRock #GayleKing
On the High Cost of Operating Your Own Automotive Sales and Service BDC.
Quiz of the Day.
Which most closely matches your current situation?
1) The overhead and oversight don't warrant the expense.
2) We're doing OK but would like to get a much greater return on our investment.
3) We'd love to have someone take it off of our hands especially if it costs less and nets more sales and happy customers.
4) Our leadership team is supposed to manage and operate our BDC but needs coaching to do so profitably and effectively.
There are no wrong answers.
In fact, we have a solution for every one of these very common challenges.
Wherever you are, we can help quickly.
Bookings now start March 1st for our next wave of in-store implementations and training.
Our omnichannel platform gives Dealerships 5x more throughput in their BDCs.
We are faster, more rewarding, more effective. We can help Sell more Cars and Service Appointments than any #BDC technology in the industry.
#AutomotiveBDC #Sales #Service #Recall #LeaseManifest #Customers#FixedOperations #CallCenter #ResponseRate
#SweetRelish
https://lnkd.in/drWghYE
PM to skip the line
On the Language We Learned.
"Behind every good man there's a good woman."
One could easily try to explain away saying, "Well that means they're giving the woman some credit for his success."
Read that again.
What does that pay?
Where does that ultimately get 'her'?
And is this everything it's saying?
Much of the reason we primarily have men in leadership positions is due to their availability, access to and the commitment of a woman who can carry the load for them, unburdening them from distractions of home and aiding in their career pursuits.
They had more time and they took it.
Behind good, hard-working, talented women, what, no, who do we see?
Yes, we often see her kids, but they're not contributing.
Who is, who will?
Get behind the women you know.
Offer your support.
Invite her.
Don't just accept her presence, appreciate it and learn.
Your roundtable meetings, annual planning...where are they?
Great leadership realizes their businesses are missing out without more women not merely seated at the table but contributing and influencing.
Ask yourself, "Who is behind Her?"
We can learn from the words we learned- and re-learn.
Look around.
Let's ramp up our commitment.
#IntentionalEquality
#LeadershipMatters
#BetterTogether
#DoYourPart
#WomenInBusiness
#Automotive
On Forecasting, with Reality in Mind.
Over the next few months, here are our predictions.
Dealers will continue to celebrate YOY wins 'our best March-April ever' messaging. But those wins are over their worst months ever. This is not a solid success model, rather circumstance and external forces at work. Including, you are allowed to be open for business.
Now here will come May, June, July.
In 2020, those months broke loose due to a wild variety of unprecedented factors, including, but not limited to:
🚗RE-opening
🚗Stellar OEM incentives
🚗Pent up demand
🚗Stalled lease turn-ins
🚗Decreased desirability of Public Transportation
🚗Family vacation/enjoyment vehicles in lieu of air travel
...and the list goes on.
Not to mention the extra hours staff was required to work.
In the upcoming months, we'll see heads start to roll as the false successes of 2020 cannot be duplicated in the current landscape.
Smart GMs working for demanding, unrealistic owners will start seeking new positions elsewhere prior to this tidal wave.
We have the data. We can use all of it, or a slice that tells a false story. We must be better, choose better. Forecasting is a science, not a gut feeling.
We can help.
Foster Strategies ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Designing Excellence in Automotive.
On Gender Inclusion and Payroll at Your Company.
An easy to understand tip from ⭐Laurie Foster, President and Founding Partner of Foster Strategies Group:
"If you are truly committed to the equal inclusion of women in your workplace, the first metric to review is Headcount by Gender.
The next, more important data to track?
Payroll by Gender.
Currently, the average Automotive Retailer employees only 20% Women and their Payroll is merely 8%. For every dollar paid out in payroll at the dealership, .92 goes to the paychecks of their men, .08 to women. Herein, we can begin setting new ideas of what 'inclusion' and 'equity' look like. Payroll= Influence or the lack thereof." - Laurie Foster
The 8% mentality has to end.
We can and we must do better.
How?
It begins and ends with leadership.
Can you plan to move up 5 basis points in the next year? How will you do so?
Can you take an honest look on why you currently aren't attracting women to your organization?
How do you plan to attract more women, develop them and retain them?
Great financial opportunities await those bold enough to answer these questions and start today.
Leave the '8% Club' behind.
We can help.
Foster Strategies. You're one call away from making a difference.
#ExcellenceInAutomotive
#8PercentMentality
On One of Our Core Principles at Foster Strategies Group: Provide more value than we ask for in return.
This is how I have authentically, methodically, consistently and enthusiastically grown to host one of the largest and most relevant networks across all channels of Automotive.
I gave. We gave. We will never stop. It's in the FSG DNA.
And when we are asked to add more?
We pour on the value!
Every time I speak, present, podcast the message back is the same:
We want more. Because even in those moments, we are not 'taking the stage' but rather giving to the audience.
Big difference and it's palpable in the room.
We're here for this. The Power Of Partnerships and #BetterTogether combined are our massive mindset for business performance strategies.
And it works.
Thanks for the friendly reminder, Gary. Talk to us soon if you want to know how to genuinely grow your business to withstand and thrive in any environment.
Partnership thinking is bulletproof. Call us to get started before your competition does. ;) (we're not kidding!)
#ThePowerOfPartnerships
#GivingBack #PayingItForward #Contribute #PeopleFIrst
On Insights and Innovation.
This brief video is a great example for looking at what is typically a complex and challenging problem overcome with insight and innovation applied.
Yes, it is still just one man with 2 large containers.
But in the hands of the expert, suddenly the answer is so clear.
We take complex situations with our clients and apply our years of insights, innovation and a healthy layer of care for your company's well-being and drive new strategies and solutions to overcome your challenges and help you reach your goals.
It's your business.
They are your challenges.
Are you ready to move past them?
We would love to help.
It's our privilege to drive #ExcellenceInAutomotive and beyond.
Increase Performance, Drive Profitability, Lift your People.
You don't have to pick one, we do all 3 at the same time.
Foster Strategies.
Automotive's Leading Consulting and Strategy Firm.
https://lnkd.in/drWghYE
#Automotive #
DealerPrincipal
#CEO
#Owner
#DigitalMarketing
On Breaking Out of Any Box.
Using 'The Box' or 9 Dot Puzzle as a metaphor for many challenges we face, at times the common thinking is to simply change for the sake of change.
It's important to consider where you've been with that 'Box'.
Here are nine questions from Foster Strategies Group to consider prior to randomly changing things:
1. Who built this box?
2. When did that take place?
3. Why was this structure important?
4. Was it pushed onto people or was it built with input?
5. Did it solve a challenge at that moment?
6. Was it intended for permanence or were we lazy/content with our results?
7. Why is it still here?
8. What is still useful today?
9. What did we learn, accomplish within the constraints of this box?
Now, with gratitude in lieu of frustration, you can more mindfully build a new 'Box Without Borders'.
Make your plans and platforms with greater fluidity and adaptability going forward.
Design your vision with iteration and evolution as essential.
Knowing change will come, plan for it, embrace it and create stability.
Refrain from building new boxes today that end up as stale boxes soon.
Thank the 'Box' that brought you here. Honor it with new success through thinking beyond its borders.
Foster Strategies. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Smart Solutions for Today's Challenges.
On 'Content is King'. "Oh really?", says The Queen.
With all respect (and apologies) to Gary Vaynerchuk, let's look at what's happened with this theory since its inception.
'King' mentality has reached an unparalleled level of noise and chaos. Try doing a normal browse you would have enjoyed even a few years ago. Such a mess.
When everyone gloms on to the same approach, the value is diminished. Remember when SEO/SEM were new? Same thing. Nothing new, just noise, rewrapped and in your viewers' face to the point they tune you out.
With my LinkedIn and Social Media authority, I hereby declare that in 2021, Content Is Queen.
👸Forward thinking yet stable and structured.
👸Calm, yet determined.
👸Unwavering yet open to new ideas.
👸Mindful of her audience.
👸Listening
👸Smiling on the outside, strategizing inside.
👸Mindful people are watching.
👸Not doing something 'just because she can'.
👸Creating significant moments, and her audience loves it. Lines up for it!
👸 Relevant messages for the moment.
Can you imagine if HRH read the same speech every day on every channel? The angry mobs! The noise... who would listen?
Stop the noise.
Wave buh-bye to the King.🤴
Refine your approach, listen and talk with your audience.
Content is now The Queen!
#ContentIsQueen
#GaryVee
On Actually Talking to Shoppers.
Most Dealers want to talk to Customers. Engage them, dazzle them. We want you to do what you do best, get the conversation going with highly-interested shoppers.
But most products and systems are generating
1000s of clicks
100s of leads to get to
Fewer conversations
Less appointments and a lot of work for your team to get to Sales Results for all of your investment and effort.
Do you want to talk to more Car Shoppers?
Yes!
Qualified customers who are ready and willing to skip the routine drill and get right into a conversation about buying #NewCars and #UsedCars from your team?
Yes!
Let's see if you're ready:
🌟Do you want to answer their questions now?
🌟Do you want to talk to them about their financing options on the phone BEFORE they call their Credit Union?
🌟Do you want to hear about their trade and save the effort of capturing at least 1 piece of #Inventory?
💡 Contact us now for this #ByInvitationOnly event as I meet with inSearchX Founder, Eric Brown. We'll show you how we leverage your best skills, earlier.
Join us for
'The Fast Track to Conversations with Car Shoppers, Before They Buy Elsewhere'
Refer a friend today.
https://lnkd.in/drWghYE
Foster Strategies. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#TheFastTrack
On Ask the Experts.
I work with several global consulting companies that occasionally need my expertise for an hour at a time on specific topics. When I'm not the right fit, I decline. But at times, these opportunities could go nicely with some of my friends' expertise out here.
If you believe you have a solid foundation in whatever industry you are serving in and are interested in short term consulting projects that must always remain confidential, send me a note here or pm me. Always glad to share.
These are fantastic companies, easy to work with and pay immediately! No nonsense and you get to learn about some amazing projects behind the scenes.
Tonight, I asked for help on LinkedIn and a few of my friends connected me to someone who is going to be able to help them and will also get paid handsomely for his time.
Whatever career you're in, if you have achieved a level of expertise and insight ping me and we can talk.
#BetterTogether...obviously works.
UPDATE! Since I'm already getting requests in, let's do this.
Send a brief bio or resume if you like, not necessary.
Add your current employer and position
Include name, email & mobile.
Send to my email Laurie@fosterstrategiesgroup.com or
https://lnkd.in/eW-i5EQ and fill out a form. Either work.
L!
On Ambition and Choices.
Over 22 years ago, I chose to remain in a male dominated industry. And for several years I used those words 'male dominated'.
But now, over the course of many years and many experiences, I've changed those words.
I choose to say 'predominantly male' which takes the edge off of it. It also helps sharpen the focus on what is happening and what is not.
I see a listening starting to occur. I see the next generations of male heirs and sraff searching for and embracing the reality of the importance to their business, their culture, their purpose of including and developing women throughout their organization.
Are we there yet? Oh God no.
Are we closer than when I started? Absolutely.
My ambition centers on lifting leaders + performance in our industry. The better we train and develop our leaders to higher standards, the less the male/female ratio matters. When all operate off of the same principles, more will have a chance and a choice.
My ambition is married to a purpose. I'm glad I chose to be here after all of these years. I'm still standing and swinging and gettng my 3rd or 4th wind.
To all women out here who are looking to carve a path, get in touch.
To the great men I know, your partnership is more needed than ever.
-L
#AmbitionInAuto
On Automotive Leadership Careers.
We want your resumes. Any part of the country, any upper management role candidates. Fixed or Variable Operations.
Dealership and Automotive Vendors alike.
But here's what we know.
As much as you're frustrated with the lack of opportunity where you currently are or are simply ready for a change:
Most of you don't have a current, attractive resume.
Most of you will stop even thinking about searching for a job because the task of putting together a #resume or #CV seems too daunting, too time consuming...so you stop before you even get started.
Most need help prepping for interviews, especially for live, virtual interviews.
There are incredible opportunities out there. We constantly connect great companies to great people.
And we want to help you nail those jobs.
But are you ready?
Are you looking to step up?
Are you considering crossing over from Dealerships to Vendors or vice versa?
What does it take?
You want a job with a stellar salary, yet you haven't invested in yourself to prepare to win the best job possible.
It's time to take the step.
Our Career Services programs will prepare you to be the Candidate of Choice.
Foster Strategies Career Services.
We Empower and Connect Automotive Leaders.
https://lnkd.in/drWghYE
On Leveraging Your Marketing Tools + Software to the Fullest.
I selected several digital products to operate my business.
Part of my 2021 #AnnualPlan includes a comprehensive approach to learning the complete capabilities of the products I choose to maximize my spend and time.
I'll also take more time pre-purchase to learn more about products going forward.
Take Canva for example.
I initially purchased this to create better looking imagery for all marketing channels, increase consistency and do so faster.
What I've found is that in addition to templates, they've swiftly built a vast array of added tools to enable greater effectiveness and efficiency.
They are also now hosting myriad 'How To' classes and publishing helpful articles like the one you see below.
I learned quite a bit from their '20 Marketing Trends to Know in 2021'.
Three favorites:
✈SERP Position Zero-loved!
✈RCS-Rich Communication Services
✈EAT from Google.
You don't have to be a Marketing genius when you have one at your fingertips.
I think I'm paying 99-119 annually.
That's it.
When you're running your own business today, you can stay focused on what you do best and increase your effectiveness 10X by using digital tools like this.
Now let's hear what you're using.
#BetterTogether
#entrepreneur
On Why Businesses Cut #Training First.
Usually this is where I give you tips. But, I've got nothing.
Actually I do know why they do this, but it's beyond comprehension.
Because it is the worst possible business move they can make.
It's a knee-jerk, short-term, 'walking over dollars to pick up pennies' reaction which leads to immediate and future disastrous outcomes.
So much for positivity! I am positive this is a misguided business decision.
If you've been caught in this trap, accept it and call me today to start digging your way back out.
In good times, in bad times, businesses need to keep their foot on the most important pedal:
The People Accelerator:
Empowering, Enabling and Equipping our People.
If you would like to discuss choosing a training company or would like our help, call or text today.
#AutomotiveLeadership #Training #PeopleDevelopment #LeadershipMatters #TimeToGreen ##Usually this is where I give you tips. But, I've got nothing.
Actually I do know why they do this, but it's beyond comprehension.
Because it is the worst possible business move they can make.
It's a knee-jerk, short-term, 'walking over dollars to pick up pennies' reaction which leads to immediate and future disastrous outcomes.
So much for positivity! I am positive this is a misguided business decision.
If you've been caught in this trap, accept it and call me today to start digging your way back out.
In good times, in bad times, businesses need to keep their foot on the most important pedal:
The People Accelerator:
Empowering, Enabling and Equipping our People.
If you would like to discuss choosing a training company or would like our help, call or text today.
#AutomotiveLeadership #Training #PeopleDevelopment #LeadershipMatters #TimeToGreen #Usually this is where I give you tips. But, I've got nothing.
Actually I do know why they do this, but it's beyond comprehension.
Because it is the worst possible business move they can make.
It's a knee-jerk, short-term, 'walking over dollars to pick up pennies' reaction which leads to immediate and future disastrous outcomes.
So much for positivity! I am positive this is a misguided business decision.
If you've been caught in this trap, accept it and call me today to start digging your way back out.
In good times, in bad times, businesses need to keep their foot on the most important pedal:
The People Accelerator:
Empowering, Enabling and Equipping our People.
If you would like to discuss choosing a training company or would like our help, call or text today.
#AutomotiveLeadership #Training #PeopleDevelopment #LeadershipMatters #TimeToGreen#BusinessStandards #Coaching #EmployeeRetention #BetterTogether
On #Recall Lists...that never seem to get called.
📰We know you have lists.
⌚We know you're short on time or staffing to get to them.
✔We can do it for you.
💰There are ten's or even 100's of thousands of dollars of recall lists sitting at dealerships everywhere.
We can turn this challenging task into a celebration.
🤸♀️🎆🎈🏆
☎Your BDC's are buried with routine intake calls and just when they start to work on these manifests, another call comes in.
Sweet Relish offers a solution for all of your lists
💡Our Technology is 5-7x faster than any BDC Agent
💡Built-in Accountability ensures results
💡Our 'Press Play' technology makes the task easy, enjoyable and rewarding for your teams
🏳🔧Your #Service Department can easily fill the gaps in their schedule their Recall clients in, profitably supplementing your regular workflow.🚗🚙🚗🚙
⏳Call today before your customers end up in your competitors' #ServiceLane.
Cal or Text 'RECALL' to 269.217.0414
📌Please share with your #ServiceDirector #FixedOpsDirector #ServiceManager or #GeneralManager
#Software #OmniChannel #BDCResults
#FIxedOpsDigitalFIxedOpsDigital Dave Foy - 🔴Fixed Ops Mastermind🔴 ◾Mike Vogel - Fixed Ops Coach ◾Ted Ings Paul Meijer Daniel Drews William May Jessica Martin
