A small, but enthusiastic group gathered to share thoughts on seeking out third-party guidance.

• There are any number of outlets for third-party guidance out there (Jim Weber, Spader Groups, Currie, JCC, etc.) One dealer felt like their use of an outside consultant helped bring their dealership “out of the dark ages and make it new.”

• 50% of what you’ll hear from a third party is a no brainer; 25% you ought to try and 25% may not work for you.

• Find what fits your needs; do you need consultants for sales and marketing, HR, management or service? Different consultants have different areas of expertise. Find the one that suits your specific needs.

• You can typically find something local for HR. “It’s an HR world out there now and it’s critical to make sure your dealership is up to speed.”

• Some of your suppliers may have recommended training — make sure it’s valuable and not just a “check the box” situation. “Majors do a great job on their product training, but the ‘soft skills’ were tough because these are iron people and you may need to look elsewhere for that guidance.”

• There needs to be value since time, money and resources go to the training and consulting. Your people need to be engaged in the process to make sure the ROI is there.

• The three takeaways from the group

• Engage your people
• Make sure there’s value in the training employees are getting
• Seek out mentors — either inside or outside your organization