CFADA was founded in 1929, around the beginning of the Great Depression. The association has worked to protect and strengthen dealer members ever since, and its leaders have been especially mindful of helping develop leadership skills in association members. That might be the reason why CFADA is so successful. It has become Central Florida’s largest nonprofit automotive trade association, but that wouldn’t have happened without the combined efforts of many talented, hardworking and visionary leaders.
It’s worth talking about why leadership is so important. In any industry, the most basic reason for recognizing and supporting official leaders is that organizations without them will develop unofficial ones. People become confused about hierarchy when there isn’t an official structure, and arguments between leaders develop. Pretty soon, there are miscommunications, nobody is sure about the business mission, and people are so busy filling the leadership void they forget about basic processes such as serving customers and building profitability.
Good leadership – the kind that is so abundant within CFADA’s leaders and members – has many benefits. For example, it’s inspirational. Leaders understand the messages they deliver and members’ needs. They use their knowledge to create action by inspiring and uniting employees. A good leader sees long-term goals even when surrounded by many short-term ones, and they keep morale and employee confidence high by making it clear what employees need to do to reach goals. Expectations are challenging but realistic, so everyone understands success is possible. Many dealership employees have an amazing work ethic; that must be encouraged because taking care of basics is hard work and necessary for dealerships to thrive. Employees who contribute should be recognized for their work and receive rewards, including monetary ones. (Nothing takes the sweetness out of work well done than having it be ignored and either unpaid or underpaid.)
Leaders also have good communication skills. They communicate quickly, clearly and appropriately to all stakeholders because they recognize how important it is for people to know what’s happening. They create a workplace where people have the space and flexibility to be innovative. They make genuine connections with people and protect them in dangerous circumstances.
Strong leadership skills have never been more necessary and helpful than they are right now. For example, leaders in many dealerships are increasingly interested in increased diversity because that is the only way they will stay competitive in a work environment like the current one. The country is still recovering from the economic impact of the pandemic, and the U.S. has increased interest rates, hoping to dampen the inflation caused by supply chain problems and employee shortages. There are also more jobs than potential employees right now. As a result, the rest of the year promises to be a tricky time for dealers nationwide.
We are confident that CFADA’s members and leaders will successfully solve our challenges. These members are passionate, dedicated and enthusiastic. They know how to build morale and inspire employees. They act with integrity toward employees and customers and have high ethical standards. They communicate effectively, are committed to their teams, act decisively, combine management skills with creativity, and are willing to learn new skills. At the same time, they are also realistic, practical and pragmatic.
To meet the need for qualified employees in the future, many of CFADA’s dealership leaders are committed to investing in their communities and encouraging young people, including young women, to develop trade skills. CFADA recommends inclusion policies, which must be written and supported at the highest levels of organizations, and should include finding and building leaders with diverse backgrounds, too.
Even though acquiring leadership skills involves learning and improvement, CFADA believes our member’s leadership skills compare favorably with leaders found in any other industry. This magazine issue contains articles about some of CFADA’s members who are also leaders. Prepare to be impressed if you haven’t met them; they are remarkable. And if you have already met them, we hope you find the articles about them informative.
