Bridgestone introduces management module to retail training

Bridgestone UK’s training department has announced the addition of a fourth element to its Retail Business Development training programme. Dealer Selecta Tyre has been the first to engage with the new module, believing Bridgestone to “[understand] the tyre retail business better than any other external management training company we have been involved with in the past,” according to sales director Nick Henshall: “Selecta Tyre is growing as a business and as such we recognise that our retail managers are of vital importance to us continuing to achieve our future company strategies and goals.

“We decided to undertake a detailed management training course with Bridgestone’s Training Department because we felt they understood the tyre retail business better than any other external management training company we have been involved with in the past. The results have been immediate and amazing, with a noticeable shift in how our managers see their team and how their team see and work with their customers.”

Steve Howat, Bridgestone’s Training & Audit Manager, said: “During the last four years we have successfully launched three  important elements of our all-embracing retail business development training programme related to sales, finance and marketing. The fourth important part of this has now been successfully launched, with Selecta Tyre providing the first delegates.

“For the last couple of years we have been consulting with a broad section of our customer base and the same fundamental message was clear; the success of any retail site hinges on the quality of the manager’s ’management’ skills. Sadly many of today’s managers have been promoted to this position without any structured training in this area.”

During this consultation period, Bridgestone established that customers’ key requirements were: key management styles and when each style is appropriate; team dynamics and leadership –the key components of effective teams; how to manage performance of the team; the difference between motivational and developmental feedback; gaining co-operation from your staff; how to deal with conduct and capability issues; handling difficult situations assertively for positive outcomes; the key elements of motivation; interviewing skills for managers; how to conduct an appraisal meeting, and why they are important to performance; how to delegate effectively; and current employment law relevant in the retail tyre environment.

Howat continues, “When operating in a fast-changing and challenging environment, organisations need to adapt in order to stay at the forefront. We believe this means that people working in the retail tyre business must extend their knowledge and skills and master new ways of doing things in order to continue to provide a high standard of performance within their business. The Bridgestone Training Department believe we can help and support them in achieving this.”