Transitioning to Leadership in Automotive Retail: The Big Misconception

Watch Cheri Stephens discuss the challenging transition from individual contributor to management in the automotive retail industry.

Click here to watch the full interview with Cheri Stephens.

Video Transcript

Cheri: Just because you're a good worker bee doesn't mean that you're going to be good at a whole different type of job that is not just doing the function that we need you to do.

Now you're keeping the train moving keeping the wheels on track so you always go I think I can do that better you in your mind you're like I've got I'm I don't know that I'll ever find anybody that would do it the way that I think it needs to be done and then sometimes that can be a very arrogant way to think when you're at that stage of your career

And then you get you're in for a rude awakening once you do get that opportunity because you were not prepared for it which is no different than anyone else in leadership in the car business. People just go I had this person quit or I fired them and again you're the tallest of the pygmies so you're welcome.

You know, you're promoted by proxy you know these people are put into positions and just have no idea what they're doing just because they were a good service advisor or salesperson or whatever their role was they're not equipped to lead.