Leaders gain from Learning more

In order to achieve stability and success in the automotive industry, Chris Olschewski, the President of Olschewski Auto Group, desired an organization that provided clear processes and guidelines while also empowering and ensuring the safety of employees. He also emphasized the importance of focusing on customers and creating a positive experience for both the organization and its customers, so as to differentiate themselves from other industry groups and generate repeat business.

Chris believes strongly in the importance of mentorship and networking. He values curiosity and personal development. For Chris, learning is essential, and one should be willing to learn from unexpected sources. He believes in the ongoing process of learning and applying new information and ideas to improve the business and the people within it. As a young leader, he is open to new ideas and applies them when appropriate. In his business, he values inclusivity and is able to effectively communicate with people at all levels of knowledge. Chris is proactive, always considers the larger goals, and does not easily accept rejection.

Besides, Chris values open and honest discussions with his team and values their ideas and input when making decisions. He emphasizes the importance of relying on facts and numbers in their business and believes they have the necessary reports to support their decision-making process. For this, he creates an environment for his management team where they rely on facts to make decisions and take action. Chris has guided his employees to use their own intuition, along with the KPIs and facts provided, to make decisions on the goals he has set out. He encourages them to do their own research, develop their own proposals, and present their findings to him. By doing so, they can have informed discussions and apply pressure strategically to achieve their best results. Chris believes in providing support for his team to make their own decisions based on logic and facts, whether they succeed or face challenges. He takes pride in not influencing their decisions, as it is crucial for everyone's growth and development. In his view, the success of a good team is dependent on how the team works together, and everyone has something to add, be it their own experiences or knowledge, or maybe a different way of thinking.

There is room for improvement in their communication skills as well, adds Chris. They excel at communicating with the management team but acknowledge the need to improve communication among themselves, especially in today's technologically advanced world. Time management is crucial for effective communication, so Chris holds regular meetings with the management team to ensure everyone is on the same page and has what they need.

Continuing to grow the organization and its people, for Chris, it is achieving success in one's work and experiencing personal growth and development, which may be highly gratifying for individuals, particularly in terms of their mental well-being across several domains. He asserts that the concept of a healthy work-life balance is subjective and varies among individuals, therefore suggesting the need to consider this aspect. Progressive organizations demonstrate agility in accommodating their people, therefore maximizing their potential and fostering reciprocal benefits for both the employees and the firm. Satisfied employees contribute to the creation of satisfied consumers, who are more likely to engage in repeat business.

To new leaders, Chris suggests having a positive and confident mindset and reach out to people they admire, especially local leaders. He also recommends finding books written by more famous business leaders that they admire; he learned a lot from modernizing some of the ideas he found in Ken Blanchard’s books. Moreover, the speed of the leader is the speed of the team; keeping a positive and open mindset, having a strong work ethic, and always doing the right thing, no matter the cost—these are all things that he personally keeps at the forefront of his mind when leading his team, he claims.

Chris sought to inspire his Mitsubishi store's low sales volume to believe in themselves, their goods, and their brand. The dealership is now one of the province's top five. This is due to his regular connection with the sales staff and their weekly coaching meetings. These seminars would focus on fact-based KPIs and SMART targets. Chris refused to join the store's negative outlook. As one of the top-performing stores, they still focus on growth, making them think big and communicating that. The same rules apply to business and everything else; hence, accept and allow, he says.

By bringing in additional dealerships, Chris aims to increase the Auto Group's scope. Additionally, he is currently engaged in the development of a novel mental health project aimed at benefiting his workforce. Ensuring that employees see their employer as really concerned about their well-being is crucial for the long-term viability of the organization. He expresses a desire to further expand the organization and foster the development of its members.