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It’s hard to believe it’s already June. Reaching the halfway point of the year means one thing for me – performing a mid-year check-in. I started doing these a few years ago, and I’m so glad I did. Mid-year check-ins are a great way to see how far you’ve come. Are you meeting the goals you set in the new year? What’s something you’d like to improve on moving forward? What’s your biggest achievement of the year so far? Answering questions like these can set you on the path to improvement.
A simple way to perform your mid-year check-in is by doing a SWOT analysis. In a recent blog from Score.org, Rieva Lesonsky, president and CEO of GrowBiz Media, recommends that small business owners, much like some of you, conduct a SWOT analysis twice a year to assess your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. This isn’t just for the shop owners though; this also works as a form of self-evaluation for all you technicians.
- Strengths: In this section, you should look at where your business or you are excelling and how you’re surpassing the competition. If you’re a shop owner, think about the repairs you offer, the customer service you provide, and anything you do that positively sets you apart from other shops in the area. If you’re a tech, think about the repairs you’re best at performing, the soft skills you use while interacting with customers, and anything you’re doing to set yourself up for success.
- Weaknesses: Understanding and acknowledging your weaknesses is necessary in order to improve. If you find that you or your shop struggle with productivity, first ask why, and then look for ways to improve. Try implementing repair processes, like the diagnostic process that Ross Colket mentions his shop runs through when diagnosing ADAS issues in this month’s Tool Briefing.
- Opportunities: These outside factors are chances to grow. While doing your SWOT analysis you may even find some new opportunities, such as new tools/equipment to purchase (EV-related, perhaps?), new repairs to offer (ADAS calibrations?), or maybe new things to try like attending a live training event or webinar to sharpen your skills or widen your horizons.
- Threats: You’ve heard the saying, “Know your enemy,” and whether it’s a competing repair shop or the ever-advancing technologies in today’s vehicles, understanding influences that may hurt your business or success as a technician is crucial so you can create a plan to fight back.
Also, while looking for ways to improve yourself or your business, perhaps a new scan tool is in order? Be sure to check out the Scan Tool Spec Guide for side-by-side comparisons of functions and features for a large selection of aftermarket scan tools from 26 equipment manufacturers.
Now, go take 15 minutes to think about how your year is going so far.
