Shownotes
The Weekly Blitz is brought to you by our friends over at Shop Marketing Pros. If you want to take your shop to the next level, you need great marketing. Shop Marketing Pros does top-tier marketing for top-tier shops.
Click here to learn more about Top Tier Marketing by Shop Marketing Pros and schedule a demo: https://shopmarketingpros.com/chris/
Check out their podcast here: https://autorepairmarketing.captivate.fm/
If you would like to join their private facebook group go here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autorepairmarketingmastermind
Finish Strong Series: “People Season — Keep the Team Focused, Motivated & Appreciated”
Presented by Shop Marketing Pros — the most trusted marketing agency in the automotive repair industry.
Episode Summary
In Part 2 of the Finish Strong Series, Coach Chris Cotton dives deep into the most important part of your shop’s success in December: your people. This episode unpacks the emotional reality of the holiday season, how burnout impacts productivity and customer experience, and the tactical steps leaders can take to lift their team, energize the shop, and create a culture that drives performance through the end of the year (and into the next).
This is the leadership blueprint shop owners need — practical, human, and built around real-world behavior.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
✔️ Why December Is “People Season”
Understand the emotional and psychological load your team carries this time of year — and why your leadership matters more now than ever.
✔️ The Real Causes of Burnout (It’s Not the Work)
Hear why burnout comes more from feeling unseen than from being busy, and how to counter it with clarity and connection.
✔️ The 5 Tactical Motivators That Actually Work
Things like:
- Personalized recognition
- Shorter Fridays or flex schedules
- Team-based appreciation routines
- Specific shoutouts that matter
- Leading with empathy and accountability
✔️ Daily Huddles: The December Lifeline
How 10 minutes of morning structure can transform your team’s focus, speed, and communication.
✔️ Creating a December Theme That Pulls Everyone Forward
How to set the tone with simple shop-wide focus points like “Zero Comebacks Month” or “Run Through the Line.”
✔️ The Family Touch That Builds Loyalty
Why acknowledging the people behind your employees has an outsized impact on morale and performance.
Why This Episode Matters
December is when your team needs leadership, clarity, and appreciation — not more pressure. This episode gives you the tactical tools and mindset to build culture, create momentum, and finish the year with a team that feels committed, energized, and ready for 2025.
Sponsored By: Shop Marketing Pros
A big thank you to Shop Marketing Pros for sponsoring this episode. They’re the experts in storytelling, branding, and digital marketing for auto repair shops.
Learn more at ShopMarketingPros.com — where great shops get great marketing.
To listen to more episodes, make sure and go over to iTunes and or Spotify.
Don't forget to rate and review us!
Connect with Chris:
AutoFix-Auto Shop Coaching
www.aftermarketradionetwork.com
940-400-1008
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AutoFixAutoShopCoaching
YouTube: https://bit.ly/3ClX0ae
Email Chris: chris@autofixsos.com
The Automotive Repair Podcast Network: https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/
Remarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto: Advancing the Aftermarket by Facilitating Wisdom Through Story Telling and Open Discussion
Diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z with Matt Fanslow: From Diagnostics to Metallica and Mental Health, Matt Fanslow is Lifting the Hood on Life.
The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast with Kim and Brian Walker: Marketing Experts Brian & Kim Walker Work with Shop Owners to Take it to the Next Level.
The Weekly Blitz with Chris Cotton: Weekly Inspiration with Business Coach Chris Cotton from AutoFix - Auto Shop Coaching.
Business by the Numbers with Hunt Demarest: Understand the Numbers of Your Business with CPA Hunt Demarest.
Speak Up! Effective Communication with Craig O'Neill: Develop Interpersonal and Professional Communication Skills when Speaking to Audiences of Any Size.
Transcripts
This is the automotive repair podcast network.
Speaker B:It's your weekly blitz with Chris keeping.
Speaker A:You in the game.
Speaker A:Your team doesn't burn out because of the work.
Speaker A:They burn out because they feel invisible.
Speaker A:December pushes people harder than any other month.
Speaker A:Techs are tired, advisors are stretched, and emotionally, everyone's running at 70% of their normal bandwidth.
Speaker A:If you want to finish the year strong, you don't start with marketing.
Speaker A:You don't start with sales.
Speaker A:You start with your people.
Speaker A:And this is people season.
Speaker A:Hey, everybody.
Speaker A:December is weird.
Speaker A:Everyone's busy, everyone's stressed, everyone's tired, and nobody's going to want to admit it.
Speaker A:Your texts are pushing through, their hands are frozen.
Speaker A:The clothes are heavier.
Speaker A:The weather's harsh.
Speaker A:We have holiday schedules.
Speaker A:If you're like, we are here in Durango, you put a car up and it just drips on you the whole time.
Speaker A:Your advisors are mentally exhausted.
Speaker A:Phones are ringing nonstop.
Speaker A:People are traveling.
Speaker A:Last minute emergencies and emotional customers.
Speaker A:And you, well, you're running the shop.
Speaker A:You're running payroll, you're running family commitments and trying to lead through all the noise.
Speaker A:And it's no wonder shops feel this tension.
Speaker A:But here's the truth.
Speaker A:This is the month where your leadership matters more than any month on the calendar.
Speaker A:If your team's going to check out mentally in December, your shop loses productivity, they lose accuracy, they lose sales, they lose communication, they lose morale, they lose retention.
Speaker A:If your team feels supported, seen, and appreciated, you're going to double the performance of a December shop that's just getting through it.
Speaker A:December exposes bad leaders, and it also creates opportunities for great.
Speaker A:All right, so.
Speaker A:So what does your team actually need right now?
Speaker A:Your team doesn't need a motivational speech.
Speaker A:They need structure.
Speaker A:December gets chaotic.
Speaker A:Structure creates calm.
Speaker A:They need clarity.
Speaker A:You need to tell them, here's the plan, here's the priority, here's the expectation.
Speaker A:Appreciation.
Speaker A:People don't need parades.
Speaker A:And they.
Speaker A:They do need to know that their work matters.
Speaker A:Okay?
Speaker A:Boundaries.
Speaker A:Protect their time, protect their focus, protect their sanity.
Speaker A:Presence of leadership.
Speaker A:You need to walk the shop, check in on people, ask how they're doing, not just what they're doing.
Speaker A:The shops that finish strong aren't the ones yelling, work harder.
Speaker A:They're the ones saying, I see you.
Speaker A:Let's do this together.
Speaker A:All right, really, really quickly, I want to talk about Shop Marketing Pros.
Speaker A:This episode of the weekly blitz is brought to you by Shop Marketing Pros, the top marketing agency for auto repair shops.
Speaker A: nd more visibility going into: Speaker A:Now I'm going to give you five tactical moves that turn December around.
Speaker A:And here we are.
Speaker A:Here are those moves that you can use today that will change the energy in your shop.
Speaker A:Tactic number one, ten minute morning huddle.
Speaker A:This is non negotiable in December.
Speaker A:Have an agenda, have a format.
Speaker A:And I'm going to give it to you right here.
Speaker A:Real quick.
Speaker A:Wins from yesterday, problems today, VIP, cars, parts issues, maybe a weather update and one quick motivational nugget.
Speaker A:That's it.
Speaker A:That's the huddle.
Speaker A:Get in, get out, get them going.
Speaker A:Huddles create clarity.
Speaker A:Clarity creates confidence and confidence creates action.
Speaker A:Number two, a little bit of personalized recognition goes a long way.
Speaker A:Not the generic good job team.
Speaker A:You know, say their name, state the exact thing you appreciate, tie it to some customer impact, and here's an example for you.
Speaker A:Hey Joey, that save yesterday with the SEIZE caliber pin prevented to come back and kept a family safe on the road trip.
Speaker A:Thank you.
Speaker A:Specific praise is remembered.
Speaker A:Generic praise is ignored.
Speaker A:Number three, Flex Fridays.
Speaker A:Maybe every other week, rotate one tech or advisor leaves early.
Speaker A:You'll get their effort back 10 times over in performance like us, we're four days on, three days off.
Speaker A:But maybe you can still do this in that schedule.
Speaker A:Your people need more life.
Speaker A:Give it to them.
Speaker A:Okay, tactic number four, the December win board.
Speaker A:Physical or digital, it doesn't matter.
Speaker A:Track and share reviews.
Speaker A:Maybe some big jobs sold, some comebacks prevented.
Speaker A:Maybe the DVI completion percentage hours.
Speaker A:Build team shout outs.
Speaker A:Every time someone wins, write it up.
Speaker A:Momentum becomes visible.
Speaker A:Number five, the family touch.
Speaker A:Send a message to a spouse or partner.
Speaker A:Hey, thank you for supporting Sarah this month.
Speaker A:She's doing an amazing job for us.
Speaker A:That small gesture creates loyalty.
Speaker A:I think stronger than any bonus.
Speaker A:It also gives you in a connection outside the team.
Speaker A:Talk to them, involve them if you can.
Speaker A:You know you can't finish the year strong unless your team finishes strong.
Speaker A:So remember, December isn't the month you push harder.
Speaker A:It's the month you lead smarter.
Speaker A:Remember, you as a leader, set the tone.
Speaker A:You as a leader, control the energy.
Speaker A:You as a leader, are the thermostat, not the thermometer.
Speaker A:You as a leader, your confidence becomes their confidence.
Speaker A:You as a leader, your calm becomes their calm.
Speaker A:And as a leader, your appreciation becomes their effort.
Speaker A:If you want your team to show up fully, then they need to see you showing up fully.
Speaker A:Leadership isn't loud.
Speaker A:Leadership is consistent, visible and intentional.
Speaker A:Okay, this is people season the work matters, but the people matter more.
Speaker A:If you want a strong December, protect your team.
Speaker A:If you want a strong January, inspire your team.
Speaker A: And if you want a strong: Speaker A:You don't need to be perfect, you just need to be present.
Speaker A:If you've got a topic for the show, hit me at chris autofix sos.com and I want to give another thanks to our sponsor Shop Marketing Pros.
Speaker A:And don't forget to check out all the great shows on the Automotive Repair Podcast Network.
Speaker A:I want you to download the app and stay plugged into the best minds in the industry.
Speaker A:Have a great day everybody.
Speaker B:You've been listening to the weekly blitz with Chris Cotton on the Automotive Repair Podcast Network.
Speaker B:Download our exclusive podcast app at automotive repair podcastnetwork.com because the best conversations in the industry start here.
Speaker B:Want expert advice on running your shop?
Speaker B:Well, Chris is listening.
Speaker B:Check the show notes for his email and send him your topics.
