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What do you guys think about people being put in management positions when they have NO IDEA of the scope of the work that the people under them do, i.e. a person who's never worked on a car before being hired as a service manager. You have these ignorant people running the show who have no experience fixing vehicles, no clue as to the proper steps to complete said job, and think everything can be done quickly because you don't understand it. It's really the Dunning-Kruger effect, they're too stupid to realize how stupid they really are, and are happy as hell to stay that way.
I've heard lots of times from people that "Managers have to look at the big picture" which basically says to me that "I don't care what steps it actually takes to get the job done, just get it done!" We got a new brake lathe at the dealership I used to work at, and the service manager was talking to us about it, saying "In order for this thing to pay for itself you have to just sell 10 brake jobs a week, that's no big deal right?" It's all just so easy to them, right? Well, what if the cars that come in don't need brakes? Or what if only a couple of them do? It all sounds so easy to him because he's looking at the "big picture", forget all those pesky details it takes to actually do a good job, right???
What are your guys thoughts on this?
Based on your perspective - then the CEO or president should know how to repair cars, keep the books, purchase parts, book loans, sell cars, sell loans, wash the cars, track inventory, handle benefits, hire/fire employees, train employees, etc....
Point is, you don't always need to know how to do your staff's job in order to manage them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jimmy12345678
The point of the thread is how can you manage people and push them towards achieving a goal when you yourself have no idea what it takes to make that goal happen. When you look at the "big picture" you gloss over all the details it takes to actually get there, and it makes it seem easy to you. So it was easy for him to say "Just sell 10 brake jobs a week" when he's not in the trenches and doesn't realize that not every car that comes in is going to need brakes. But that's below their pay grade after all, they don't have to worry about actually getting the work done, they're too busy sitting in their offices playing on their phones (and getting paid more than everybody else for doing it!)
Actually - it can be a bit more stressful for him. Because not only is he accountable for those 10 brake jobs - he can't really do anything about it. And most likely, he's not just responsible for selling 10 brake jobs, he's probably also responsible for selling 10 coolant flushes, filter changes, maintenance services, etc.
I'm not defending his actions (honestly, good managers should support their staff, not just bark orders) - but just because you've not done your staff's job doesn't mean you aren't qualified to manage.
Managers are managers for one purpose: to manage. They do not need to know the intricacies of how something gets fixed, that is your job as the technician. A manager is responsible for managing the input and output of the shop. To do this he has information(accurate or not,reasonable or not) that tells him that a certain job takes xx hours to perform.
Now, would it help your cause if the manager also had some technical skills on how to repair vehicles? Not as much as you might think. At the end of the day,he can empathize with you only so much. Shoot, he might even agree with your assessment that the time allotted is unreasonable. Still, the person he answers to is going to demand to know why the job didn’t get finished on time. Mr. Manager can tell his boss it was because the time was not sufficient, and his boss is going to tell him perhaps he needs a new manager who will see that the work gets done on time.
It’s a vicious cycle, and as always the tech is caught in the middle. Unfortunately, it’s not going to change, unless it’s for the worse.
I think you definitely need the majority of a leadership team being people who know the various levels of the industry and how things work. I think having a few people around who are from outside can sometimes work and even be a really good thing, depending on who they are and what the industry is. But if there is only one 'boss', imho he/she needs to know the business from the inside out.
long story short, it would be nice if a manager gets his hands dirty, working among staff, filling in for sick mechanics, do some oil changes and get some bloody knuckles. and it would be fine and dandy that a talented mechanic would get behind the desk, manage staff, persuade customers, make sure a profit is made, etc...
how would you like it if you need to know every aspect of your managers job? I wouldn't.
just realize, you are hired for what you are hired for, and paid for that job. it is your calling. not everyone wants/can be the chief. your manager, as described is the middle man between you and the customer and has to make the hard decisions at work, and the mechanic has to make all those hard decisions assembling parts. As long as you both treat each other as adults, with respect, and stay off each others toes, there should be no reason to be bothered about it.
but oh, managers get bonuses, make more money, got it better? staff can ask or demand for the same perks. Management and the company wants you happy, and with unity, even with a manager on your side, you can make it happen. promise productivity and safety goals, with the incentive of "extra" at the end of the year.
And managers have to deal with subpar employees who think they are smarter than everyone else. You need to get that chip off of your shoulder and move on.
long story short, it would be nice if a manager gets his hands dirty, working among staff, filling in for sick mechanics, do some oil changes and get some bloody knuckles. And it would be fine and dandy that a talented mechanic would get behind the desk, manage staff, persuade customers, make sure a profit is made, etc...
How would you like it if you need to know every aspect of your managers job? I wouldn't.
Just realize, you are hired for what you are hired for, and paid for that job. It is your calling. Not everyone wants/can be the chief. Your manager, as described is the middle man between you and the customer and has to make the hard decisions at work, and the mechanic has to make all those hard decisions assembling parts. As long as you both treat each other as adults, with respect, and stay off each others toes, there should be no reason to be bothered about it.
But oh, managers get bonuses, make more money, got it better? staff can ask or demand for the same perks. Management and the company wants you happy, and with unity, even with a manager on your side, you can make it happen. Promise productivity and safety goals, with the incentive of "extra" at the end of the year.
They can "Ask" all they want, it will fall on deaf ears. You think the turnover rates are so astronomical at companies these days because "Management and the company wants the workers happy"
No wonder America is in the shape its in. People continue to turn a blind eye to problems. Problems are never solved unless they are identified and not ignored. You can't throw dog turd under a carpet and expect it go away. The turd will still say there. We just roll over and let poltiticans and corporate leaders give us the old "1- 2" with a smile on our face. We aren't vigilant with getting the idiots out. And it goes right to the top.
There is never any accountability demanded on lousy management, The only brilliant advice is "just find another job". ROFLMAO
They can "Ask" all they want, it will fall on deaf ears. You think the turnover rates are so astronomical at companies these days because "Management and the company wants the workers happy"
No wonder America is in the shape its in. People continue to turn a blind eye to problems. Problems are never solved unless they are identified and not ignored. You can't throw dog turd under a carpet and expect it go away. The turd will still say there. We just roll over and let poltiticans and corporate leaders give us the old "1- 2" with a smile on our face. We aren't vigilant with getting the idiots out. And it goes right to the top.
There is never any accountability demanded on lousy management, The only brilliant advice is "just find another job". ROFLMAO
More whining on your part. Do you have any practical suggestions for solving the problems that you believe are so pervasive? Or are you simply a complainer without solutions?
More whining on your part. Do you have any practical suggestions for solving the problems that you believe are so pervasive? Or are you simply a complainer without solutions?
Solutions from the workforce fall on deaf ears more times than not so what point is to give solutions to problems. That should be upper management's job to fix the companies' problems. Not the workforce who isn't listened to
Solutions from the workforce fall on deaf ears more times than not so what point is to give solutions to problems. That should be upper management's job to fix the companies' problems. Not the workforce who isn't listened to
Upper management seems pretty happy with the direction of corporate America. They are booking near record profits, with the all time record occurring as recently a 2014. https://tradingeconomics.com/united-...porate-profits
They are about to land an incredibly huge tax cut paid for by the middle class, boosting profits even more. A huge portion of the country votes against workers interests by fighting minimum wage increases and gutting unions.
Companies are not failing as you continually, and falsely, claim.
All I see from you is an error filled world view, pointless whining, and no proposed solutions to your perceived problems.
Upper management seems pretty happy with the direction of corporate America. They are booking near record profits, with the all time record occurring as recently a 2014. https://tradingeconomics.com/united-...porate-profits
They are about to land an incredibly huge tax cut paid for by the middle class, boosting profits even more. A huge portion of the country votes against workers interests by fighting minimum wage increases and gutting unions.
Companies are not failing as you continually, and falsely, claim.
All I see from you is an error filled world view, pointless whining, and no proposed solutions to your perceived problems.
All the money is floating to the top. Of course they are happy. It doesn't negate the fact that of horrible underemployment, ridiculous turnovers at companies, low balled wages that do not keep up with inflation, and otherwise horrible worker disengagement. expense cutting everywhere which ultimately ruins operations and experienced people kicked out the door for "cheaper" non-experienced people, or BS outsourcing. There is no company if there are no workers.
And companies are failing. My last two F500 companies did indeed just that. I can say first hand that companies are failing because I have lived it.
I guess but as long as execs run off with all the money before the places crashes and burns all is well. Its the typical "I got mine now so to hell with you" mentality.
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It doesn't negate the fact that of horrible underemployment, ridiculous turnovers at companies, low balled wages that do not keep up with inflation, and otherwise horrible worker disengagement. expense cutting everywhere which ultimately ruins operations and experienced people kicked out the door for "cheaper" non-experienced people, or BS outsourcing. There is no company if there are no workers.
