FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
In a Volatile Market, High Integrity and Leadership Training Drive Retail Automotive Success
HIGH POINT, North Carolina (July 10, 2012) — Sonic Automotive, one of the largest automotive retailers in the United States, has entered a multiyear agreement to partner with Farr Associates, to provide leadership development to over 3,000 Sonic associates.
Sonic Automotive has explicitly stated to both their associates and the public that “leadership at every level is essential”. In order to help their entire organization live up to that standard, they have engaged Farr Associates to provide Sonic with a suite of dynamic leadership training programs. The aim is to provide Sonic associates with practical skills for delivering the highest quality service possible. Even more importantly, the in-depth leadership programs will help Sonic associates operate as one team with unquestionable integrity in a volatile marketplace, while facing changing consumer expectations.
Steve Royal of Farr Associates explains, “This is a process designed to provide transformational modules and practical tools to leaders at every level of the organization. We are impressed that, in an industry that has faced so many recent challenges, Sonic Automotive is making such a significant commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.”
Farr Associates’ Senior VP, Tracey Gillespie goes on to explain, “These are not feel good sessions, but a strategically organized effort on Sonics’ part to make sure that Sonic associates at every level of the organization know exactly how to deliver on the company’s business objectives.”
Ms. Gillespie also noted that Sonic Automotive has fared much better than many in the automotive industry during the recent economic downturn and that by making a commitment to improve their leadership, Sonic is continuing to strengthen their competitive advantage. She explained, “Sonic Automotive believes that sound investments create predictable, repeatable and sustainable success and Sonic is making a significant investment in the success of their people and in the success of the communities in which they do business.”
Sonic’s President and Chief Strategic Officer, B. Scott Smith, strongly concurs. As he explains, “How we lead, coach, listen to, identify with our associates and hold them accountable for the results, sets us apart from every other dealer organization in the country.” Mr. Smith also added, "Our team and culture is our secret weapon. Sonic Automotive is committed to meaningful development of life and leadership skills for our associates."
Farr Associates was chosen as the provider for the leadership initiative because of their expertise in leadership development based on a mix of neuropsychological research and practical business application. Mark Ernsberger, CEO and President of Farr, commented, “Farr specializes in helping leaders and teams develop the skills to become more fully aware of themselves, others and external factors all at the same time. We help leaders use this awareness to facilitate more effective and nuanced decision making. This makes our services ideally suited for organizations such as Sonic who are seeking tangible ways to respond positively and proactively to shifting marketplaces and customer demands.”
About Sonic Automotive
Sonic Automotive is one of the largest and most successful automotive retailers in the country. Sonic Automotive was launched as a public company in November 1997 and today is a Fortune 500 company and member of the Russell 2000 Index. It operates over 100 dealerships spread across 15 states and 26 major metropolitan markets. Sonic is an industry leading automotive retailer committed to providing their customers with an outstanding automotive experience, delivered with professionalism, integrity and enthusiasm.
About Farr Associates
Farr Associates has been providing transformational leadership development for over 50 years and has worked with hundreds of organizations working through periods of challenge and growth. Farr Associates developed the unique leadership coaching and training process to help leaders develop Conscious Leadership™ a specific leadership capacity which uniquely prepares leaders and employees to succeed with integrity during periods of high change and when faced with turbulent market conditions. Farr Associates is headquartered in High Point, NC, but serves organizations throughout the continental US.
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Lindsay Donohue
Market Development Officer
Farr Associates, Inc.
336-812-8050
Lindsay_Donohue@farr.net
“Sometimes I imagine myself transferring her out of here … Or firing her….Or yelling at her until she shapes up. Obviously none of those ideas is a good option, but I don’t know what to do. I am at the end of my rope. Every method I have used to try and help her grow beyond her weaknesses and be the leader I know she could be seems to either have no effect at all or backfire badly.”
Frank (not actual name) shared these thoughts with us during a private meeting in which he was seeking advice on how he could help his employee, Debbie (not actual name). Debbie was a classic Challenged Leader and Frank needed new tools to successfully help Debbie quickly become a high-achieving leader instead.
This case study provides an overview of the signs and symptoms that identified Debbie as a Challenged Leader, shows why some of the classic development strategies that Frank used were not working in her case, and, most importantly, outlines how a different approach was able to achieve a significant and lasting result. To Continue Reading Click Here
Sometimes a star performer and his manager believe that the future holds nothing but greater opportunity and achievement, until suddenly a change in business as usual, leads them to discover that there is significant trouble in paradise. Here is the story of one High Potential Leader who faced that uncomfortable truth and used it as a launch pad for even greater excellence.
A Typical Beginning
Bob (not actual name) is a 31-year-old Senior Finance Manager with a large management consulting firm serving Fortune 500 companies. Bob is a fast learner with exceptional business and finance knowledge and a strong drive to produce results.
Bob was considered by his organization to be a top performer and High Potential employee who would eventually move into a senior level position if he proves himself. However, like many High Potentials, Bob’s ambition and subsequent success had the potential to slow him down or even sabotage his very efforts for growth and taking on greater responsibilities within the organization.
His competitive drive and need to win had helped propel him to be one of the youngest Senior Finance Managers in his organization. To Continue Reading Click HERE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lindsay Donohue Farr Associates, Inc. Telephone: 1.800.395.FARR (3277) Email: Lindsay_Donohue@farr.net FarrLeadership.com
High Point, NC - June 8, 2011 - Farr Associates releases new blog,
Transformational Leadership Strategies.
The Farr Associates Transformational Leadership Strategies blog is different:
Unlike many blogs and articles on leadership, the Farr Associates blog is written by experts in leadership development who combine solid scientific understanding with years of in-the-field experience. Farr bloggers base their articles on the latest neuropsychology research and hard data from thousands of organizations working through periods of challenge and growth. Farr bloggers are experts at helping you uncover the insights and ideas that lead to core level transformational change.
In just 10 minutes a week you can get practical insight from leadership mentors who understand the distinct challenges you face as an executive level leader.
By reading the blog you will:
1) Gain insight into the most pervasive misconceptions about leadership and learn how to avoid common leadership traps.
2) Discover how to inspire your team to achieve greater levels of success and maintain their excellence consistently.
3) Start your own transformation into a resilient, responsive leader with the skills to drive collaboration, engagement and bottom-line results in any environment.
Blogger insights will impact daily operations and help executives grow into more effective leaders.
The goal at Farr Associates is always to help you move beyond the “management theory of the week” and instead uncover the essentials of long term success. The Farr blog features plenty of real world examples and case studies to help you put the information into practical context and we welcome your comments and questions.
Upcoming articles that will be featured in our blog are:
Stop Working So Hard-How Delegating Promotes Effective Leadership
Is Your Team Smarter Than You? How Successful Leaders Adapt Their Style
Brain Secrets for Transforming Resistance Within Your Organization
To read these great posts and more as soon as they are published subscribe today at: http://info.farrleadership.com/
Reading the Transformational Leadership Strategies blog is a smart investment of your time.
About Farr
Farr helps you address real business challenges such as: employee retention, adapting to market changes, innovating new products, and improving productivity. With proven leadership strategies and transformational processes you can generate new energy and creativity in managers at every level. Organizations that desire high-performance teams and leaders to build a true leadership culture, will realize bottom line results through consulting and leadership development programs. With a half-century of experience, serving hundreds of organizations and thousands of professionals, leaders draw on Farr as their leadership partner for business and personal success every day.
Farr Associates, 4194 Mendenhall Oaks Parkway - High Point, NC 27265
Phone: 1.800.395.FARR (3277)
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