I walk into a brand new store with an already established team in a week. I’ve been a tech, advisor and service manager before but it was always a team where I came up through the ranks. This time I’m new to them and they’re new to me.
If you had a new service manager coming in, on day 1, what would you want them to do? Open to whatever. I can feed them, gift them all a 10mm (ha!) Or something else useful. Or?
This is a team that didn’t like the previous guy. He didn’t trust his techs, didn’t quite understand the shop. Genuinely, I want their lives to be easier but for day 1, I just want an icebreaker. .
Listen. You don’t have to do as requested but listen and take under advisement. Ask ask why things are done certain ways. Maybe there is a tool lacking or a resource you can provide. Ask how the crew would fix a situation the bring to you. Sometimes the budget won’t allow; but if you are willing to try that will get more cooperation. Don’t fire a shit ton of people just to prove a point What I found made the best managers were the ones who made what resources could be, available; ran interference between higher ups who don’t know what it takes to get job done. Stand up for customer, employee when needed. Don’t screw over customers, employees will know you will do them over too. Check in with how things are for the employees especially new ones. Notice if people have low affect for more than a couple days.
Know that things won’t EVER run perfectly. But if you do a good job they will run with less stress on everyone.