Fostering Fresh Thinking

A dealership’s days are often filled with numbers and calculations and formulas (we’re sorry), but it’s important to remember the importance of creativity and experimentation. 🎨🧑‍🔬💭

Embracing innovation, fostering an atmosphere of inclusivity, and embracing the valuable lessons from successes and failures, are keys to staying ahead of the competition. Check out these ideas from a recent article on CBT News.

🔑 Benefits of a Creative Perspective:

• Understanding new technologies, safety measures, and AI advancements is pivotal for staying ahead.
• Innovative approaches facilitated by customer-centric feedback and data analysis can enhance the overall shopping experience.

🔑 Cultivating a Culture of Creativity:

• Valuing employees' contributions fosters collaboration, boosts engagement, and leads to better decision-making.
• Inclusive discussions, diverse viewpoints, and open brainstorming sessions generate innovative solutions.

🔑 Finding Comfort in Discomfort:

• Creative problem-solving demands stepping out of the comfort zone and embracing uncomfortable challenges as opportunities for growth.
• Dealerships should welcome new ideas, especially from their employees, and be open to innovative strategies and perspectives.
• Fearlessly challenging the status quo, taking risks, and experimenting with new methods are key traits of successful problem solvers.
• Pilot programs can serve as safe spaces for testing before widespread implementation.

🔑 Asking the Right Questions:

• Dealerships need to understand why customers choose competitors and explore creative solutions to differentiate themselves in the market.
• Deep insight into underlying problems and a broader contextual understanding are crucial for effective problem-solving.
• Don’t know where to start? Turn to your team. They’re your greatest resource that often goes untapped when the right questions aren’t being asked.

🔑 Collaboration is Critical:

• Working with suppliers to develop new products and partnering with other dealerships or companies for shared resources enhance innovation and expand your reach.
• Engaging in meaningful dialogue with employees and vendors at all levels encourages diverse perspectives and imaginative strategies.

🔑 Overcoming Challenges:

• Remember, making mistakes and learning from failures are integral parts of the creative problem-solving process.
• Adapting strategies based on past experiences ensures informed decision-making and long-term success.
• “Each [person’s] path is going to be different. Play to everyone’s strength, and then put them in a position to succeed,” said Matthew Haiken, Retailer Principal at Prestige Collection Auto, during a breakout session at ASOTU CON 2023 titled Getting The Best Out of ALL Your People.