My wife and I have a neighborhood owl. Well, it’s not our owl.

 

Every night, right after sunset when the trees are still and the orangy-pinky hues have just disappeared from the sky, the owl starts to hoot. Based on the behavior, we believe he is marking his territory, but we’re no National Geographic experts.

 

He is very diligent, precise, and on-time about this hooting. He just goes about his business routinely and without complaining.

 

And some owls are silent and go about their business unnoticed.

 

Do these sentiments echo and represent a good employee at a dealership?

Doing the Work Without the Noise

I think so. Let’s explore.

 

You may recall in a previous article where I discussed a new definition of compliance: someone has to do a thing, at some point in time, and then prove it was done.

 

This task has to be completed periodically and the employee has to provide proof the task was completed. There is software to make this record-keeping more automated and simplified.

 

Why should an employee bother with all these items we are asked to do?

 

Employees may not always see it, but company policies exist to protect them, their job, and the business. Rules exist because something went wrong at some point and cost the company real money.

 

If an employee doesn’t know why they are doing the thing, consider taking the time to explain it. In my experience, this improves morale and helps employees prevent issues before they grow.

Making Compliance Easier to Execute

Consider automating some of the things to create fewer touch points and less administrative burden.

 

Risk and compliance software can eliminate time, hassle, and energy while creating one source of truth where all compliance data lives.

 

When implemented correctly, these tools reduce nagging, improve efficiency, and allow employees to focus on doing their actual jobs.

 

Like our friend the owl, these tasks fly by quietly when employees are motivated to get them done right the first time.

 

Encourage employees to be observant, gather information, and report issues early. Owls can rotate their heads 270 degrees, which means they see a lot.

 

It’s important:

  • to have clear company policies
  • to communicate why tasks are required
  • to track activities so the company can prove compliance
  • to encourage employees to run with bad news and walk with good news

Having policies provides the wisdom that allows employees to complete their owl chores each day. Some may hoot about it, others stay silent, but the work gets done.

 

And when it does, ownership can rest a little easier with feathers unruffled.