Author: Frédéric Gasse
Recently, La Presse published an article on kindness, Frédéric Gasse, owner of Autopro Station Robert Gasse, weighs in on this subject.
In an auto repair shop, performance is not only measured by the number of vehicles repaired each day. It is also built in the way team members treat one another. A simple “thank you,” a helping hand, or a constructive comment can do more for productivity than a new, state-of-the-art tool. Yet, some companies are struggling to establish this mentality. Why? And more importantly, how do you get there?
Kindness means thinking about the common good, about the whole team, rather than just your personal interest. As Estelle Morin, a psychologist at HEC Montréal, points out, this quality has been lost in many workplaces since the push to “do more with less” took hold. But in a repair shop, working only for oneself quickly leads to exhaustion… and an atmosphere that slows down work.
According to Nicolas Chevrier, an occupational psychologist, kindness leads to respect, listening and support. In a shop, this might mean: taking the time to check in on a colleague who has been maintaining cars since the morning, congratulating an employee on a tricky diagnostic, or helping a new apprentice get familiar with the procedures.
A psychological safety net
When a shop foreman adopts a kind leadership, they create an environment where people feel safe to talk about their mistakes or challenges, without fear of being criticized. This leads to better cooperation, fewer repeated mistakes, and a reputation as a great shop to work for. And make no mistake, good mechanics talk to each other. A repair shop known for its nice atmosphere is more likely to attract and keep competent employees.
But be careful: kindness does not mean avoiding difficult decisions. Rather, it’s about making them with fairness and the good of the whole team in mind. For example, distributing urgent work in a balanced way, or quickly addressing toxic behavior in the shop.
Giving yourself oxygen
An exhausted or stressed manager will have a harder time being attentive to others. That is why you also have to take care of yourself to be available for your team.
In short, kindness is a real driver for shop performance. It reduces exhaustion, increases productivity and makes the workplace more pleasant. And like any engine, it must be maintained regularly: listening, respect, transparency and team spirit are the key elements.
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Photo credit: Yohann Gasse
