Most workshop owners think of growth as just growing the business, such as increasing car service turnover, or moving to bigger premises. But real growth covers much more than these obvious definitions. What about growing as an individual or as a technician, a workshop operator or an industry leader?

Growth can mean advancement, development, expansion, improvement and progress and everyone in the auto game should aspire to this wider definition of growing, because of the endless opportunities that are there for the taking.

The job of an automotive technician is to provide quality repair services on a malfunctioning car so that it can get back on the road with minimum delay. Today’s technician can pursue a variety of industry sectors, such as automotive electrical, automotive mechanical (light and heavy), vehicle body repair and scores of specialised aftermarket specialities.

But like all things in life, advancement in any of these sectors can only happen as a result of personal effort and learning. The end game is job satisfaction and self-growth.

While not a definitive list, here are some ideas that might help:

Further training

The pace of auto technology almost demands further training, if only to keep up. But further training delivers more than knowledge.

Further training keeps technicians in the loop, and having contact with other technicians helps to form networks that can turn the training process into productive fun that keeps the learning process alive and interesting.

Learning from professionals, whether through theoretical or practical classes, elevates work practices to a more authentic and reliable level. Often, techniques you pick up at these classes can be just as rewarding as practical knowledge.

Managing time and work begins with a healthy body

Technicians are often called on to manage multiple projects simultaneously, and keeping many balls in the air requires planning your day strategically.

Any high-pressure job like this can be managed and enjoyed if technicians look after their personal physical and mental health. A perfect work-life balance takes some effort, but once achieved, time management becomes second nature.

Develop skills for the unexpected

The auto aftermarket is one of the fastest-growing industries in Australia, so sooner or later every workshop will face unexpected issues. Coping with these is an acquired skill that takes practice to get the workshop to the stage that it can handle any unexpected issue quickly and effectively. How to react to an issue should be a chapter in the workshop manual so that time is not lost and there is no argument about who should be doing what to overcome an issue.

Don’t rest on your laurels

Many workshop owners tend to rest on their past glories but forget that their industry world never stops evolving.

Meeting challenges and keeping ahead of the game is still a full-time job. For those who treat it seriously, the results can be very rewarding. Stand still and you risk losing your market share.

For a business to continue growing, owners and managers need to be vigilant about changes in business practices, technology and marketing. Effective measures for growth of sales could include:

• Stepping outside your regular sales channels and looking for new avenues for picking up customers.

• Increasing your industry knowledge by joining technical support groups and attending trade shows.

• Connecting with your customers by communicating workshop services to them with special offers. Ensure all employees understand that the customer is the only reason they have a job, and they must be treated with respect and understanding.

• Investigating online marketing with a website that must be kept up to date and changed frequently, or on social media. If you are one of the many who don’t have time for social media, give the job to another staff member who actually enjoys using social media.

• Using email or SMS more regularly to maintain contact with customers, reminding them about service dates or seasonal specials you might be running.

If growth is slowing, what’s the reason?

Just as you can’t fix a problem vehicle without diagnosing why it is a problem, you need to diagnose why business is slowing before you can adopt measures to turn the tide.

A slowdown in growth could be caused by one significant factor, or it could be the result of many small issues.

Sometimes, a slowing of growth is merely a reflection of the economic times. Keep abreast of national or regional trends by reading the business pages of reputable publications, and at a more local level, look around at the other workshops in your area. Sharing ideas with others about market trends can often lead to solutions that you may not have considered on your own. Friendly competition can be quite rewarding.

Even small, random comments from a customer, or on social media can reveal if there is something about your business or service that is irking them.

Then look internally at your employees. Is the turnover too high? Staff need to be happy and treated as valued members of the team. Without their cohesiveness as a technical team, business will suffer. Look at your turnover and discuss it openly with staff at casual lunchroom sessions. Some of the best ideas can come from an apprentice mechanic.

Perhaps the workshop tools and testing equipment are outdated. Technicians might be envious about the new technologies being adopted by other workshops. In these rapidly changing times, it would be wise to set aside an annual budget for equipment upgrading.

Maybe the budget is at fault. If necessary, renegotiate deals with suppliers or look for better deals.

Whatever growth plan you adopt, be flexible and prepared to adapt as you go.

Well measured growth, slow and gradual, is always the best kind of growth. And don’t forget that growth means personal growth as well as professional and business growth.