Technician Find’s Bluecheck Shops Interview Series Reveals the Secrets to Building Self-Managing Teams and Freeing Auto Shop Owners from the Daily Grind with HPT Training
In a groundbreaking interview, Technician Find’s Bluecheck Shops series pulls back the curtain on a proven system that is revolutionizing independent auto repair shops nationwide. Howard Guttman, world-renowned consultant and author, and Shawn Gilfillan, successful shop owner and co-founder of the Shop Management Alliance, share their insights on how to build high-performance teams that can run a shop better than the owner.
The traditional model of shop management, where owners are stuck putting out fires and managing drama between the front and back of the house, is being turned on its head. Guttman and Gilfillan reveal that the key to transforming a shop’s operations lies in implementing Fortune 500 team-building strategies, which have been successfully adapted for the automotive repair industry.
“People count more in smaller companies. You don’t have a lot of excess bodies lying around,” says Guttman. “The question is, can people move from being technically expert in the shop to also exhibiting the behaviors required to work in a high-performing, horizontal team?”
Gilfillan, who has firsthand experience applying these strategies in his own shops, emphasizes the importance of intentionality and coaching. “You’ve got to have the right people on the team, and you’ve got to take the work seriously. It’s not a one-and-done thing; it requires ongoing practice and coaching.”
The benefits of building a self-managing team are clear: shop owners gain the freedom to take extended time off, pursue their passions, and watch their profits grow. Meanwhile, team members feel a greater sense of ownership and empowerment, leading to increased accountability and performance.
Guttman and Gilfillan stress that this transformation is not about touchy-feely team-building exercises, but rather a pragmatic approach to clarifying priorities, roles, and accountabilities. “Everything flows from the business standpoint,” says Guttman. “The goal is to create an organization that works horizontally, with peers holding peers accountable, rather than a leader-centric model.”
For shop owners who are feeling overwhelmed or stuck in the daily grind, Gilfillan offers this advice: “Don’t do what I did and wait until you’re sick and tired of being sick and tired. If you know that this sounds like something that could make a shift or a difference in your culture or team, let’s have a call and figure out what we can do to help you.”
View the full interview on YouTube: High Performance Team building for auto repair shops
To learn more about how to build a high-performance team in your auto repair shop, visit www.magicalsolutionsgroup.com and schedule a consultation today.
About Technician Find
Founded in 2018 by Christopher T. Lawson, Technician Find offers technician sourcing solutions to auto repair shops nationwide. With services ranging from ad copywriting and geotargeted ad placement to on-demand recruitment courses and coaching, Technician Find is dedicated to solving the talent acquisition challenges faced by today’s auto repair industry. For more information, visit www.technicianfind.com.