Three calls came to me directly out of the blue this week from CEOs or successful business owners, each tracking what I write, day in and day out.
LinkedIn is not a hobby for me.
I work it. Hard.
In 2012 I celebrated 500 connections.
My dinner companions laughed. Do you really KNOW these people? That glance between them that this was ridiculous.
I saw it differently.
I saw the concentric circles rippling outward and felt the powerful undercurrent pulling me toward new waters.
I said to my dinner companions, "I'm going for 1000."
They Laughed Out Loud. Pre-lol, really laughing out loud.
But instead of letting their opinions influence me, I dug in.
I learned more about myself and others as I saw connections expanding
I was never a writer. But I wrote and wrote and wrote.
I found my voice.
And an audience found me.
I had attracted an audience that fueled me. Not for personal gain, but to share insights that no one but me could or would offer.
LinkedIn was a slightly awkward job search site back them.
But some of us saw its potential differently.
I wrote more, and received such incredible feedback. I don't measure 'likes'. They are a shallow metric.
I measure other things I'll cover later.
'Likes' without Traction or Action are empty.
I started 'sending signals'. I coach clients with these words today.
Before each post, I visualized the person I was speaking to. It created an intimacy in the messages for me, as I aimed for connected to 'someone' out there.
The messages I receive come from those will never 'Like' anything.
But they reach me.
They saw the signals. 'They' were who the message of the moment was supposed to reach.
I'll now share concepts that have opened the doors to 100s of real conversations.
📌1 Authenticity attracts. And it attracts the authentic.
📌2 Intentionally focus on challenges others are facing with concern for them. It's the best time you can spend.
📌3 Re-read and edit if you don't feel your real message came through as intended.
📌4 Mix it up. Give people a chance to learn the many sides of you. Allow them to warm up to you prior to reaching out.
📌5 Speak your truth. If you believe in your heart that even one person out there will benefit, write it.
📌6 Celebrate others! There are endless people to acknowledge, appreciate, encourage. Imagine if you don't highlight them, no one will.
📌7 Be proud of your work and accomplishing something special and rare.
📌8 If you want others to read your work, read theirs This is a rule. If you're only here to 'take' and build your name, you'll never receive the full benefit of real, lasting relationships. Profitable ones, too!
Focus on your mindset.
Get your head and intentions right and the rest will flow.
I will focus on sending signals and attracting what others chase.
I'll share writing tactics next, but for today, simply ponder these.
I hope this gives you encouragement to start.
-Laurie
On Where Have You Heard This Info Before? (hint at end of post) The Leadership Dilemma.
Or better entitled 'Who has time for all of this data?!'
To career-minded female professionals who want to ensure they are moving to companies that will support their growth, we recommend you read carefully about making another career move.
Does anyone recall what figures Foster Strategies shared this year again from our research?
Don't worry!
We've got you covered.
Keep reading.
⭐Ask not only what percentage of women are on the payroll, but this major question:
👉What percentage of payroll dollars goes to women?
Currently automotive hovers at barely 20% percent of female employees.
👉 An even more concerning issue is that only 8% of payroll goes to females.
So this means on average, women are making 40 cents on the dollar as their male colleagues.
👉 Out of a $1,000,000 payroll in a month, only $80,000 is paid to females.😳😳😳
That's right. 8 cents on the dollar.
When we hear managers say we have a lot of girls here… this is exactly how they are being categorized.
They are being paid for entry-level work. Payroll will prove it out. If HR refuses to give you these numbers, step away.
Low pay equates directly to low or no influence, and zero to little chance of meaningful career growth.
Sadly, most HR people are completely unaware of these statistics.
Would you like another important question to ask?
Glad to help.
👉 Out of the females in leadership (if there are any) what percent are family members of the ownership?
Yes, this matters.
Especially when you are looking to establish if there is a precedence of an actual path to leadership for women who are not born as family members.
In automotive today, out of every 100 dealerships, only 5 to 7 have female General Managers...and 1/2 to 60% of these are family members of the owner.
Are we discounting the work that our friends the female family members are doing?
Absolutely not.
In fact, the odds that they are doing a better job than their brothers, nephews, and uncles as a comparative set are good.
We are here to build excellent leadership throughout automotive.
It starts with taking an honest look at the numbers.
It actually starts one step earlier. By learning, there are data, stats, and insights you never considered before.
😉That's where we come in.
Everyone has to start somewhere.
Make today the day you commit to do something about it and be better. Strategically better.
Foster Strategies Group ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Driving a difference in Automotive by telling the whole story.
For more meaningful automotive data reach out today.
Find Out How We Are Helping Companies ATTRACT Better Candidates.
⭐Tell us what you think about this:
⭐Reduce Time and Expense.
⭐Increase Marketplace Interest.
⭐Attract Talented Professionals With Instant Alignment for Your Company's Mission and Culture.
Learn how we're helping companies like yours stand out in a chaotic hiring market.
Foster Strategies Group ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Driving Excellence in Performance of Talent Acquisition
#Automotive #Candidates #InterviewInsider #FosterStrategies #Hiring #CareerOpportunities #Culture #Leadership #HR
On Strategically Building Your Leaders: Hope is not a Strategy. We recommend bringing in Foster Strategies Group.
Design the highest performing teams with our breakthrough Leadership programs.
Due to the vast amount of training and coaching experience we've had with thousands of Automotive Dealers and Vendors across North America, we are uniquely poised to deliver the highest caliber of effective Leadership Development in the industry.
Available for Virtual and Live events for Individuals and Groups of all sizes.
#Automotive #Consulting #Strategy #Leadership #Training #CorporateTraining #ExecutiveCoach
On an Opportunity to Discuss Innovative People Strategies and Hiring: 'Live' in Las Vegas.
If your team is like most, you are scrambling to attract and hire the best talent.
👉Competition for strong candidates is fierce.
Even when you put a fantastic package together, winning isn't guaranteed.
⭐I am glad to share how we have begun solving this for good companies in spite of an overheated job market.
❌ ❌ ❌ Stop chasing.
💲💲💲 Stop overpaying.
🎯Start using our innovative, game-changing strategies instead.
Attract, don't chase. I'll say it again in case it didn't sink in.
👏👏👏 Attract, don't chase.
Step back and you'll see how chaotic what you're doing is and the results you're not receiving.😱
🕔 Five minutes and you'll be on board.
❓Does it reduce your hiring expense?
Yes. Massive, drastic cost reduction.
❓Does it attract better candidates?
Yes. You choose from the best.😎😎😎
❓Does it save time?
Yes. For everyone.
Is it worth 5 minutes of your time to learn how you can win again at Attracting and Hiring the Best and the Brightest?
Yes.
❓Will you spend 5 minutes to see how much sense this makes and begin to rewrite your results?
Yes. Or your competitors will.
We truly have limited capacity.
Let's see who steps up first.🚀🚀🚀
Have we used enough emojis yet or do we need to write it on a wall?
It's time to attract with a partner who will lead the way.
Whether you have one key position open or dozens to fill, this works.
Foster Strategies Group⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Driving Innovation and Excellence Throughout Automotive
#Automotive #TalentAcquisition #Hiring #WorkforceSolutions #Solutions #PerformanceStrategies #Careers #CareerOpportunities #Candidates #JobSearch
On Everyone is Trying to Sell You at the Conferences l The Las Vegas Edition
What if you focused 5% of your Selling Energy and thinly veiled Sales Tactics and learned instead how much easier it can be to reach your goals, your clients and peace of mind with our innovative
⭐'Power Of Partnerships'⭐ program?
With our Performance Strategies behind every step, your entire team and your clients win as we establish stronger teams and clients.
We create bi-directional strategies driven with data, insights and OKRs that solve the industry's toughest and longest lasting challenges: The Vendor/Dealer Relationship.
Why wait any longer and continue to face challenges we solve?
👏👏👏 Sell More, Sell Faster and Sell to Your Dealer's Friends
👏👏👏 Crush the High Cost + Morale Loss of Client Churn
👏👏👏 Increase S.O.W. Without Even Trying. You Read It Right.
👏👏👏 Drive Increased Revenue, Profitability and Confidence
👏👏👏 Increase Retention and Referrals
👏👏👏 Halt Price Concession and Cancelation Conversations
👏👏👏 Set Monthly Targets WITH Your Dealers and Hit Them
👏👏👏 Grow Stronger Sales, Marketing and Product Leaders
👏👏👏 Add Value and Step Away From the Competition
Did we forget anything? Please share if you think of anything else!
Why do you insist on doing it the old-school hard way? You tell your dealers they are out of touch with their customers...right?
It's time for a powerful, positive and profitable Vendor Revolution and it starts with you.
Our 'Power Of Partnerships' is accessible, relevant and profitable for companies of all sizes and in all sectors serving Automotive.
✔#AdTech✔#FinTech✔#MarTech✔#TechTech✔#SaaS
✔#DigitalRetail
✔#ProfessionalServices
✔#FixedOpsSolutions
✔ #Agencies
✔ #MediaOutlets
✔ #LearningAndDevelopment
✔ #Recruiting
We help all of you and your companies succeed at new heights.
Take a step away from the Sales Pitches and sit down with us over a coffee and a conversation on how we can help you break these old cycles and succeed with 'Power Of Partnerships' in your tool kit.
.
Reach us now at https://lnkd.in/drWghYE , info@fosterstrategiesgroup.com or text/call 269.217.0414.
Our Performance Strategies are built for you to win.
On It's Conference Time Again in Las Vegas.
It's Time... To reconnect with great colleagues and friends.
It's Time... To hear first-hand the latest innovations the best and the brightest have created.
It's Time... To see new partnerships coming together.
It's Time... To see new faces emerging while still happy to see the ones who've been around forever.
It's Time... To listen, absorb, stay curious, ask questions and strategize.
It's Time... To network and flex the daylights out of that network to connect and support others.
It's Time!
It's Time...To go that extra mile in preparation. Make sure you get the greatest ROI from all your time, travel and expense at these terrific events.
And finally:
It's Time... To offer many thanks to the teams who spend months and months putting each and every one of these events together.
Special thanks today to Jared Hamilton, Melissa Green and Alissa Calvaruso.
What are your plans for the week of DrivingSales #DSES and Digital Dealer Conference & Expo?
Foster Strategies will be on-site from Sunday night through Friday.
Let's meet up.
It's Time!
Dave Spannhake Paul J Daly Dane Saville
#PowerOfPartnerships
#FosterStrategies
#Automotive #Performance #Consulting #Training #SalesSolutions
On How FSG, Automotive's Leading Authority on Vendor-Dealer Relationships Can Help Your Company in Q4:
At a time of the year when many people give up and hope for better results in the upcoming year, this is when we do some of our best work. We help companies run, not limp, through the finish line.
Most companies face one or more challenges.
❓👏🎯📈💲Will these concerns get easier to handle by putting them off?
❌No
❓Do your people want to go back and revisit unfavorable outcomes?
❌No
Do you create all possible profit and increase Client satisfaction while waiting?
❌No.
Here are a few examples of how we provide needed support and structure as we help companies serving across Automotive.
We can all say 'Yes' to these:
⭐ Retention
👉 We increase Length of Service by creating environments designed to keep current Clients active and paying for your platform longer.
👉We increase average Lifetime and Life Time Value (LTV) of Clients by over 35% with our P
👉We improve Client Success rates with your product or solution
👉We reduce expense created by trying to 'save' a Client
Our support with Retention alone can save your company $100s of thousands to millions annually. Take a look. You already know what you're losing. Let us regain your losses and add new profits.
In this tumultuous year as Dealers are pulling back, Q4 can be the quarter that saves your year and sets up 2022 for greater successes.
We also become a profit driver.
But there's more. Including our expertise with:
⭐Communication
⭐Sales
⭐Marketing-Sales-Product Alignment:
We know that with or without investors, you have goals and budgets and want to exceed them.
Partner with Foster Strategies and win. Make Q4 21 your best yet!
Foster Strategies Group. We help Vendors across Automotive maximize their potential with Automotive Retail Dealerships
On Making the Most of Your Expensive Events in Las Vegas: It's not too late to still ensure your ramp up Performance and improve your ROI with confidence.
How many times have you had the highest hopes for an industry event only to be less than enamored with the results?
When in debrief (post-mortems, aptly entitled you hear:
👉"I'm proud of our team- they really hung in there."
👉"We didn't talk to many customers, but our team showed up early and stated late."
👉"We had a lot of appointments, but they must have been pre-occupied. Vegas is so distracting."
👉"We didn't have a great location at the show."
👉 "Fill in the blank with any other defeated sounding excuses, reasons, blame or other 'Attribution' item here"
Why are you 'Hoping'?
We can quickly provide you and your teams a clear, cohesive and winning Strategy.
We are here to help.
How complicated is this?
Not at all!
From now until Friday, October 8th we are offering 'Save A Sales Event' calls starting at only 399.
We'll see you there, ready or not!
On Getting Your Message Out: The 'live' week of Digital and Driving Sales in Las Vegas edition.
👉Do you feel like your company's message is getting lost amidst a crowded market place?
👉Would you like to separate yourself from all of the others in your segment?
👉Are you having a little more difficulty retaining or securing clients during a year where dealers don't have inventory and yet are selling cars at record prices?
Would you like to level up your Sales + Marketing efforts and improve ROI?
We're here to help.
The only question is:
Are you ready and willing to make a bigger impact?
From now until the week of October 11th event and live at the events we will be helping companies and people just like you improve their messaging and conversion metrics.
Keep watching.
On Monday, September 27 we will be announcing our Foster Strategies special #PowerOfPartnerships event.
Wait until you see how our Partnerships solutions drive power, confidence and revenue for you and for your company.
Get ready to stand up and stand out.
Foster Strategies Group ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Driving Excellence Across Automotive
#BetterTogether
#Automotive #Marketing
#Performance
#Sales #Retention #Partnerships #strategy #Winning
Do You Want to Know More About Our Strategic Referrals?
Our reputation x the reputation of both clients or prospects are all in play, making it Mission Critical that all involved treat the engagement, interaction and opportunity with all respect.
What are the Rules of Engagement?
👉⭐ Professional Courtesy
👉⭐ Communication
👉⭐ Curiosity
👉⭐ Confidentiality
👉⭐ Feedback
👉⭐ Titles Don't Matter
Once we determine there is a high-protentional match for a strategic bi-directional win for two entities, we set up the calls and are an active participant.
We find that even the best people have gaps in articulating their value prop or explain their services.
We also find so many are pre-programmed to automatically say 'no' without hearing out the offer, examining the data or adding others to the conversation.
Mutual respect is paramount.
Every party's time is valuable and valued.
The deals we put together are fiscally enormous and require attention to bring to life. Hoping for a one-call close it the wrong approach.
Our participants in these calls share their feedback, including their
⭐Appreciation for the consideration for the opportunity at hand
⭐Appreciation for meeting other great players who are also working diligently to make an impact
⭐Appreciation for our thoughtful communication and thorough vetting processes.
#BetterTogether is a blue ocean of new, progressive partnerships.
The possibilities are endless when your partners are aligned for mutual success from the beginning.
Curious to learn more?
Ask for a call with us and your team.
Now that you've seen our guidelines, we're glad to show you results.
Foster Strategies Group ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Driving Excellence Across Automotive
#Automotive #FinTech #Saas #MarTech #Marketing #OnlineRetail
On Being Flexible Intentionally and Still Winning: Life isn't Pass/Fail. It's a journey. Try our AAA Plan to win every time and get where you wanted to go with greater confidence.
So why are so many caught up in the rigidity of programs that tell them if they do ONE THING INCORRECTLY they must start over?
These are vanity metrics only. There is no promise that checking all of the boxes in sequence at the allotted time will give the best results.
The most important things that can be learned in exercises like this are: Awareness, Adaptability and Action.
Most people fail at something every day. The truth is, most don't know what they don't know- and fail to have Awareness so they can quickly Adjust and Adapt and take deliberate Action at once.
When you construct a program around absolutes, you take away freedom of thought, creativity and innovation.
Unless lives are at stake, you are setting yourself and others up for Failure in most cases. Because not checking each box, on time means you are a Loser. You failed.
Rather, let's look at our overall mindset. This is where Pride enters the room as it ushers Ego out the back door, ever so gently.
Are you moving towards More of What You Want or Away From What You Want? It's that easy.
In business, we call these KPIs, Key Performance Indicators or Lead Measures. You are constantly reviewing and adjusting AS the project moves forward.
You don't STOP and call it Failure if one thing is off. You identify Why it happened, If it was Preventable or Predictable and you change the Framework around the mission based on that data.
Lag Measures show us History.
Lead Measures help us calibrate as we go.
Think of an enormous sailboat taking off across the ocean to a predetermined location. Do you call it quits the moment the wind blows?
Of course not.
You use your best data and quickly adjust the sails accordingly.
The only way you 'Fail' this mission is when you fail to adjust with ease, swiftly.
Your personal and professional journeys are not different.
Be Aware.
Seek, Use and Leverage information and data to Adjust.
Wisely build in Awareness, Agility and Adapt to truly win.
You might not get a medal, a dopamine rush or a high-five, but I guarantee you will get farther, faster and be able to move forward quickly towards whatever lies ahead.
Pass/Fail is obsolete and rarely aides or predicts future success.
The journey you experience with your AAA plan of Awareness, Adaptability and Action planning as your mindset is your new winning blueprint.
#GoodbyePassFail
#WelcomeAAA
#PowerOfPartnerships
#BetterTogether #ConsultingStrategies #RevenueDriver #Sales
On seeing #BetterTogether popping up all over Automotive and Marketing recently. What is your latest accomplishment with our mindset?
At Foster Strategies, one of our core winning formulas is how we help our clients across all sectors of Auto and Marketing see the increased power and profitability of our #BetterTogether mindset.
When you fully leverage your opportunities through our #PowerOfPartnerships program, you will still find far more durable processes to ensure your full potential is realized.
Saying you are a partner is nice.
Hearing your 'co-partner’ advocating for your added value as a partner is another.
Relationships are everywhere.
True Partnerships are rare.
We are here today to congratulate our friends at CallRevu and CallSource for espousing our #BetterTogether mindset as they merge two long-standing companies. Today, they are wearing cool t-shirts promoting their merger with their shared company colors, emblazoned with #BetterTogether!
Also, a nod to our friends at Dealership Toolkit, 321 Ignition ☕️Car Guy Coffee Podcast🎙 for their special partnership as well.
As they say, "We Are Better Together" and they're proving it in a busy market. Keep growing and keep going!
Bravo to all of you, your teams- and your clients!
The ultimate partnership winning trifecta.
It's a personal, professional thrill to see others begin to intentionally, publicly advocate for greater, deeper, more rewarding partnerships.
When your company is ready to take your 'relationships' and turn them into Powerful, Profitable, People-Centered Partnerships, reach out. We built this mindset and we are here to make it possible for you, your company, and your clients as well.
Now, what is your #BetterTogether story? Let's hear it.
And no matter what you have already done, ask our next question: Not What Has Happened, but
#WhatIsPossible?!
It's a great feeling to set trends and help our industry move forward, faster. The ultimate compliment is when you see others emulating and embracing your strategies. Thank you.
We love this business and the terrific people in it.
Congratulations again to the aforementioned companies. We are cheering you on!
Foster Strategies Group ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Driving Excellence in Automotive.
#BetterTogether #PowerOfPartnerships #Automotive #Marketing #Dealerships #Vendors #Partners #Sales #Winning #People #Talent #Workforce #DEI
On Take My Advice, Take the Call: But With Focus + Intention.
I am going to assume you receive a fair amount of new requests and inquiries, at least for the sake of this conversation.
As 2020 closed, I established a schedule that would allow me time each week to schedule and be fully present for these new-to-me calls.
It was a great decision.
Now, every week I have a set amount of time intentionally dedicated for two categories:
👉 Meeting fellow professionals, often new to me, who would like to engage
👉 Learning about businesses and their new or current solutions
Prior to 2021, I couldn't tell you how much time these occupied each week.
So many hours, because I wanted to be nice.
And then I found I had blurred my boundaries. It wasn't as enjoyable or rewarding.
And suddenly I was a bit less prepared, less enthusiastic, less focused as I entered those conversations.
The most valuable thing we all hold is our Time.
And if I was too liberal with mine, was I, in fact, at risk of not being thoughtful of their time?
That would be dreadful.
Time for a new strategy and approach.
Now I am more clear with myself and others.
I have allocated slots for both People and Business Intros.
These are different mindsets, so I hold them on different days.
You may never notice, but I have.
Now, when I do say yes to a call, it's a hearty 'YES' and a welcome addition to my week's agenda.
I'll even do my homework prior to the calls as they are scheduled with a time buffer.
Having greater intention and focus has helped me shape my days, my interactions and outcomes and I'm seeing the impact.
Keep the calls and requests coming.
It's a pleasure to be contributed to by so many remarkable professionals across the full spectrum of Automotive.
I'll always do the best I can to contribute back to every call, every request. And I can say it's truly a pleasure and a privilege, especially with my 2021 Strategy in place.
Performance Strategies start right at my desk, every day.
Foster Strategies Group⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Always Leading, Always Learning, Always Growing
#TakeTheCall #IntentionFocusImpact
#NewFriends #NewOpportunities
On Who is Helping You Discover Your Performance Gaps: The gaps are there with Your Clients, Your Team, Your Processes and Your Profitability...even with Unrealized Opportunities.
Who do you turn to for help:
👉Identifying the challenges without thought of internal politics
👉Creating solutions which encompass team engagement, shared purpose and clear expectations
👉Helping Leaders identify their own strengths and opportunities to lead teams more strategically and effectively
👉When your client retention is off and your margins are tightening
👉Lifting the performance of your Sales, Product and Marketing machines?
As Automotive's Leading Performance Strategists, we offer all of the above, all wrapped in our groundbreaking #PowerOfPartnerships mindset and success platform.
You have Performance issues.
We are uniquely poised to solve them.
Our rates?
Ridiculously affordable comparative to your upside.
Ready?
Reach us today.
Foster Strategies Group ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Automotive's Leading Performance Strategists
Quick! Think of a company or a business you interact with regularly and every time you visit…
one of these thoughts is in your mind:
❓Why aren't they doing it a different way?
Because I can easily see how they can streamline this process...
❓Why are we waiting?
There seems to be plenty of people around...or...Where is everyone?!
❓Who is in charge of this process?
I don't see evidence of leadership...and it's showing on this team.
❓What do I do next?
Am I even in the right place- do I stand here or...there or...?
❓How long is this going to take?
I thought I had allocated a reasonable amount of time, but I need to go soon...I don't want to complain, but no one is telling me...anything...
Now, it's your company, your business!
Quick! Take a look around. Look around like you are a guest.
👉What are the friction points for your customers?
👉Where are the seen or unseen logjams?
👉How are my customers feeling about doing business?
👉Are you making it easy, natural, fluid for your customers, online or on-site?
👉Why do we 'always do it this way' and what more efficient ways are now available to us?
👉 Where or when do customers look most uncomfortable or annoyed? And how do they sound when you ask how they're doing? Is their "fine" sounding robotic?
Now, imagine this is all happening with your Sales Team.
How do you know if they are giving great service?
How do you help them be a valued Partner?
Your team represents the entire company to your clients.
I hope this quick exercise serves as a reminder to be diligent to bring your customers' experience to the forefront of every decision. Make no assumptions, other than assuming it could probably use some improvement.
When you want more from your #Sales Team, we can help.
Their performance may be limited by things you weren't aware of.
We'll find out and provide solutions.
Quick! Don't overthink it.
Our Power of Partnerships platform offers you a way to break through current results and reach new levels of performance and profitability.
It all starts with a few basic questions.
https://lnkd.in/eRDK9MT
Foster Strategies Group ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Transforming Results in Automotive
#PowerOfPartnerships #PerformanceStrategies
Discomfort Alert: On Why We Must Protect Our Women in the Workplace.
Discomfort Alert: On Why We Must Protect Our Women in the Workplace.
Too many women are consciously or unconsciously operating out of fear.
Fear.
Fear of retaliation.
Fear of consequences.
Fear of not getting the next job.
Fear of standing out.
Fear of rocking the boat.
Fear of ruffling feathers.
Fear of walking to our car even at work.
Fear of not getting invited out to company events.
Fear of getting invited out to company events.
Fear of being found guilty of sounding like a woman at work.
Fear of 'His' retaliation for not succumbing to his advances.
Fear of finding out the woman in HR you trusted is so engaged with management that she is no help at all. Quite the opposite.
Fear of not being enough support to the women around you, but barely being able to save yourself.
Why do I speak up? Why do I take the risk in a predominantly male wouldn't it lay male environment?
Because I have to.
These are my morals. Women aren't seen in automotive the way they should be the way they could have been all of these years.
Why did I not get farther faster in my career my career? Read all of the above.
Why did I start my own company? Read all of the above.
When too many men are allowed to be average or actually reprehensible in the workplace, why would they help strong, articulate, capable women?
Why was I told in 2001, very early in my auto career, that women women couldn't be managers in automotive retail, that it didn't work out?
Why was I pressed against a wall and kissed hard as I turned my head by my married superior who I thought was being a gentleman and walking me to my room at the same hotel at the last large automotive retailer that I worked for-then suffered lack of visibility and promotion?
I was a problem. And I wasn't willing. And then one of his comrades had the balls to say I needed to stay in my lane.
I know what their lane looks like.
Why was I left out of male based work events? Because we all are.
I'm not special, I'm just female.
Why do I advocate for women so powerfully?
Because it's my responsibility.
Why do I appreciate good men who are committed to the right things more than I should have to?
Because it's too rare out here.
The alpha males climbing and crushing their way to the top on the backs of women must stop.
The reason you don't have more women? They're not attracted to the environment because of these behaviors.
The reason they don't get ahead is not because they're not capable, it's because they're 'problematic'.
When we don't even have bodily autonomy, why would we be treated better?
Yes, not ironically at all, the place I was pressed against a wall was in Texas. All the guns, all the alphas.
No women in leadership.
Anywhere. Besides HR.😅
You can't paint your company pink and call it a culture. Not when this is the reality for your hard working women even in the management and director ranks.
If you perceive me as a strong person, what do you think others are facing?
On One Key Reason Your Employment Ads Aren't Attracting Highly Qualified Candidates:
On One Key Reason Your Employment
Ads Aren't Attracting Highly Qualified
Candidates:
It all begins with language, non-verbal
communication and role clarification.
We all see the ads daily. And we have to wonder why.
Do you really want to use words like 'Superstar' and 'Rock Star' in
your career ads when seeking highly talented professionals?
What personality types will this attract?
Performers, perhaps.
And who is turned off by these word choices, removing you from
their consideration set, labeling your company as ‘not suitable’?
It’s also important to remember that those who are self-proclaimed
'Rock Stars' are rarely good for the whole team.
We have so many words available to say what we need to say. The
dictionary may take longer, so we suggest a thesaurus.
And we can all benefit from spending more time explaining what
skills (transferable skills, even) are required and what a day is like on
these teams.
At this point, there is an enormous gap that
needs to be closed.
And as is our style, we are here to bridge it.
Learn more about our approach to landing your next job and
seeking the best candidates as we begin our
'Interview Insider' series in September.
We are excited to watch an increasing group of dynamic industry
professionals embrace this #PowerOfPartnerships and
#BetterTogether philosophy when it comes to all things 'People'
and Careers.
Your Career and your Company matter to us.
Stay up to date with Foster Strategies Group and the movement
towards a better future together in Automotive and beyond.
www.fosterstrategiesgroup.com
In the meantime, let's try parking Rock Stars. They're getting old
and have done their time.
#Commmunication #Careers #InterviewInsider #Hiring
#JobOffers #CareerOpportunities #Strategy #FosterStrategies
#WomanOwned
On Unlocking the Next Level of Success: Make sure your daily plan includes contributing to others.
On Unlocking the Next Level of Success: Make
sure your daily plan includes contributing to
others.
Yes, you will *literally* add generosity, sharing, offering assistance
onto your calendar.
It's good to see it and black and white. before the day or the week
starts.
It's so important that you should use another tip I use:
Give it a color.
Make it a color you like. A color that evokes the feeling of helping
others or care or love or joy or gratification.
Because those are the feelings that are going to show up.
Now as you look back on your days or plan your days ahead you
will see this color sprinkled throughout your weeks.
I recommend light green. This feels like new growth and fresh
beginnings to me.
The funny thing about contributing to others is finding out how
much of that new growth is inside you and not just in your
benefactor.
Be intentional to contribute with abandon.
whatever you're doing right now, ramp it up.
Be the kind, generous person you are outside of work to others to those inside the paradigm of your work life.
I can guarantee you the results are equally as rewarding.
Maybe even moreso as you're touching lives you can see grow right
before your eyes as you grow right along with them.
Now enjoy your day and keep contributing at the top of your mind
and in the bright green of your calendar.
Greater success is right outside this door.
-Laurie
#BetterTogether
On Why Business Leaders Want to Run or Leave the Conversation When They Hear the Word 'Compliance':
First let's talk about dying. Stick with me here.
Envision lying in a casket at the front of a beautiful sanctuary, flowers and tears everywhere.
Why are we talking about our own funerals?
Because when surveyed, people routinely state they would prefer being the one In The Casket over being the one Delivering The Eulogy!
There is a central concern shared in these shocking stats:
Fear.
Fear of embarrassment so crippling they'd prefer to be the eulogized over the one at the microphone.
People are afraid of Public Speaking until they have something important to say, the feeling they are comfortable with the subject matter and that there will be an audience to hear them. Preferable an audience who doesn't plan to throw tomatoes at them.
A little knowledge, some practice, and knowing how to begin to build those muscles and start building mental and physical confidence and you're on you way.
What does this have to do with 'Compliance'? Just like other recently added categories such as
👉Cybersecurity
👉Digital Retail
👉Talent and Workforce
When Leaders haven't had the opportunity to learn in a safe environment from someone they trust, they typically avoid learning more, rather than risk exposure of looking well, you know.
Uninformed should be a dot on your timeline once you hear about something critical to your business.
A dot.
A brief point in time that was 'Before You Knew'.
This is followed shortly by
'Learning Something, Somehow from Someone'
then comes
'Con8nued Learning'
followed by 'Mastery'
And this is how you avoid being the dinosaur in the casket.
Lying in there by choice because they were more comfortable
❌not knowing
❌not learning
❌not evolving
Rather than taking time to be able to perform with confidence behind the podium.
COMPLIANCE: Don't avoid the conversation or let it paralyze you with Fear.
When it comes to the complex and sometimes fearsome topic of Compliance' call our friend Tom Kline of BetterVantage and he will help break it down so you can understand, help you avoid costly mistakes and have the peace of mind you hoped for.