Leadership is more important than ever to weather storms
Today’s business and political conversations are filled with questions of leadership.
Who are the right leaders to move our country to the next level? Which automotive leaders can help us through this tariff war? Which leader will drive our company into the stratosphere?
You can’t get ahead without the right person steering the ship. It’s that simple. Without one, your company, government or community will be in chaos. This is more evident than ever. I often reflect on this notion, somewhat selfishly of course, as I work on my own career aspirations.
What I’ve concluded is this: A good leader isn’t just about having authority — it’s about how you use it.
It’s about combining personal humility with fierce professional will. Being ambitious for the organization, not for yourselves. They often drive a metaphorical bus without knowing where it will end up, and accordingly, acknowledge the importance of others and external factors in their leadership success.
Great leaders will possess some, or all, of the following attributes. Those that may be missing, rest assured that their continuous learning mindset drives them to develop.
Vision & direction: They have a clear, inspiring vision and know how to communicate it. Their plan will give team members a purpose and inspire them to work toward something;
Decisiveness: They confidently make decisions and own their outcomes, especially the bad ones. They act quickly and share their wins with the rest of the team;
Integrity: They walk the talk. Honesty and ethics aren’t negotiable. Trust is everything — once it’s lost, it’s hard to rebuild;
Emotional intelligence: They’re mature, self-aware, empathetic, and good at managing both their own emotions and those of others;
Adaptability: They are fluid, not fixed, and can roll with the punches; and
Resilience: They can handle setbacks, bounce back, and lead through uncertainty without panicking. They can handle things when chaos exists.
I believe this uncertain environment will be the “new norm” for the next few years.
This has, and will continue, to impact the automotive industry in a negative way. No business, especially those in retail automotive, will benefit from this.
Customers will be less likely to spend on high price vehicles when they don’t know what the future holds.
With that, it is important for dealers to reflect on their leadership team and make the necessary changes to weather this storm. This is required, not optional. Retraining may be necessary. Doing nothing just won’t work.
Sit and reflect on your team: What can you do today to prepare your leaders for the future? It is more important than ever.
