Service Managers and Fixed Ops leaders: Are you losing control? If you're struggling with inconsistent productivity, low technician morale, and a shop where management has lost authority, you know the stakes are high. Your culture is toxic, and it's killing your business.

In this episode of SDR #334, Chris Collins and Christian deliver the essential 6-STEP BLUEPRINT for service managers ready to stop the chaos, regain authority, and rebuild a high-performance team. This process is tough, but it's the ultimate cheat code for leadership success.

This episode provides the actionable strategy to fix your shop's toughest problems, including:

✅ The counter-intuitive first step: Connect before you correct. Don't try to muscle your authority back.

✅ How hiring new blood immediately signals the end of the "old regime."

✅ Transforming chaos into "Law & Order" to boost tech productivity

✅ The surprising truth: Your "grumpy" techs crave approval and acceptance more than anyone.

✅ Using Gamification and the Daily Scoreboard for instant efficiency gains and accountability.

✅ Broadening your technicians' perspective by teaching them how a financial statement works.

If you are a leader dealing with a tough shop culture right now, watch this episode. Learning to fix this problem one time will be the single most valuable lesson of your management career.

#ToxicShopCulture #ServiceManager #TechnicianMorale #FixedOps #ServiceAdvisor #DealershipLife #AutoRepairShop #ShopProductivity #ChrisCollins #ServiceDriveRevolution #AutomotiveLeadership #TechRetention #DealershipTraining #shopculture

🛑 On-Demand Training For Huge Results: https://shorturl.at/j7J8u

🛑 Book a free 15-minute. discovery call for coaching that grows your profits: http://bit.ly/CCIschedule

🛑 Best-selling books on making your Fixed Ops a money printer: https://chriscollinsinc.com/shop/

🛑 Got a question? Call us at 1-833-3-ASK-SDR

🛑 Grab Chris' New Leadership Book I AM LEADER: https://iamleader.com

What's really changed in the car dealership service drive—and what hasn't?

In this special roundtable edition of SDR #332, Chris Collins and the team break down decades of experience in Fixed Ops leadership, revealing the timeless lessons every service manager and advisor needs to know. From culture to communication, this episode uncovers why the fundamentals of great leadership haven't changed—even as technology, customer expectations, and CSI metrics evolve.

In this episode, you'll learn:

✅What's new (and what's not) in today's car dealership service drive

✅Why accountability and clarity still drive the best performance

✅How top-performing service departments build culture and consistency

✅Leadership takeaways from Top Dog 2025 and years of real dealership coaching

✅The #1 mindset that separates average service managers from great ones

Whether you've been in Fixed Ops for 20 years or you're just stepping into a management role, this roundtable gives you a clear roadmap for leading your team, improving culture, and mastering the service drive.

💬 What's changed most in your dealership over the years? Drop a comment below — we want to hear your take!

#serviceadvisortraining #fixedops #servicemanager #sdr #servicedriverevolution #chrisbulldogcollins On-Demand Training for Huge Results - https://shorturl.at/j7J8u

Schedule a 15-minute intro call with our team to find out how Chris Collins Signature Coaching can grow your bottom line. http://bit.ly/CCIschedule

Got a question? Call us at 1-833-3-ASK-SDR Grab Chris' New Leadership Book I AM LEADER: https://iamleaderbook.com

Grab our best selling books for your team: Your 90-Day roadmap to your best Fixed-Ops month ever starts here: https://swiy.co/F-ln

Millionaire Service Advisor also includes our 11-step Circle of Trust System: https://swiy.co/F-lq

Your service department's biggest problem might not be your advisors, your techs, or your customers—it's your culture.

In episode #331 of SDR, Chris Collins and Coach Christian expose the top seven service department culture killers that are quietly destroying dealership performance, morale, and profitability.

If you're a Service Manager or Fixed Ops Director, you'll learn:

• Why unclear goals and weak leadership breed chaos
• How toxic and low performers destroy team morale
• Why most managers confuse effort with results
• How to rebuild your dealership culture from the ground up

Plus: hear Chris's hilarious (and painful) story of trying to get his own car serviced — and how that experience proves how broken many dealership systems really are.

Whether you run a high-volume store or a small service department, this episode will help you build the culture your team deserves — and your numbers demand.

#serviceadvisortraining #fixedops #servicemanager #sdr #servicedriverevolution #chrisbulldogcollins

OnDemand Training FOn-Demandor Huge Results - https://shorturl.at/j7J8u

Schedule a 15-minute intro call with our team to find out how Chris Collins Signature Coaching can grow your bottom line. http://bit.ly/CCIschedule

Got a question? Call us at 1-833-3-ASK-SDR Grab Chris' New Leadership Book I AM LEADER: https://iamleader.com

Grab our best selling books for your team: Your 90-Day roadmap to your best Fixed-Ops month ever starts here: https://swiy.co/F-ln

Millionaire Service Advisor also includes our 11-step Circle of Trust System: https://swiy.co/F-lq

In SDR #330, Chris Collins, Christian Lafferty, and Hogi expose the 7 biggest pay-plan mistakes that cost dealerships money, motivation, and top talent.

From overcompensating mediocrity to confusing multi-page pay structures, this episode breaks down why most Service Advisor pay plans fail — and how to rebuild yours for higher performance, retention, and CSI.

You'll learn:

• Why rewarding average performance destroys culture
• The truth about "socialistic" pooled pay systems
• How to build pay plans that drive results, not resentment
• Why changing pay plans too often kills trust
• The one rule for paying on what advisors can control

Whether you're a Service Manager, Fixed Ops Director, or Dealer Principal, this episode gives you the blueprint for creating a pay plan that actually motivates — and keeps your best Advisors from leaving.

👉 Watch now and learn how top dealerships pay for performance, not problems.

Related episodes: SDR #325: Are You Ruining Your New Service Advisors? https://youtu.be/g4nCsfyp120

SDR #326: 7 Steps to Go from Service Manager to General Manager https://youtu.be/TDUHb3K7nH4

SDR #327: Are You Paying Your Technicians Enough? https://youtu.be/m4cqZLD3A7c

#serviceadvisortraining #fixedops #servicemanager #sdr #servicedriverevolution #chrisbulldogcollins #ServiceAdvisor #FixedOps #AutomotiveTraining #DealershipManagement #ServiceDrive #CarDealership #AdvisorPayPlans #ChrisCollins #AutoService #TechnicianRetention #DealerLeadership #FixedOpsGrowth

On-Demand Training for Huge Results - https://shorturl.at/j7J8u

Schedule a 15-minute intro call with our team to find out how Chris Collins Signature Coaching can grow your bottom line. http://bit.ly/CCIschedule

Got a question? Call us at 1-833-3-ASK-SDR Grab Chris' New Leadership Book I AM LEADER: https://iamleader.com

Grab our best selling books for your team: Your 90-Day roadmap to your best Fixed-Ops month ever starts here: https://swiy.co/F-ln

Millionaire Service Advisor also includes our 11-step Circle of Trust System: https://swiy.co/F-lq

What's running your service department: feelings, or facts?

In this episode, #329, Chris, Christian, and Hogi break down what spells success in Fixed Operations. Here's a hint: it's not tradition, and it's not the blame game.

It's all about tracking the RIGHT numbers. It's like Moneyball; scouts were worried about intangibles like how a player looked, acted, or "felt," when all they needed to know was whether or not that guy got on base.

Tradition, vibes, and relationships can lie; numbers don't.

In this episode, you'll learn:

1. Advisor Pay Caps Kill Performance

2. How to hire techs that "get on base"

3. How to spot lies on a resume

4. Which numbers you NEED to be tracking: profitability and CSI

5. Why challenges are an unfair advantage for your Service Department

6. The recipe for a winning system in ANY dealership.

If you're a Service Manager or Fixed Ops leader tired of turnover, inconsistent results, and frustrated advisors, this episode will change the way you run your department. 🔥 Facts over feelings. Metrics over ego. That's the Moneyball way to win in Fixed Ops.

#ServiceManager #ServiceAdvisor #FixedOps #DealershipLeadership #ServiceDrive #Moneyball

On-Demand Training for Huge Results - https://shorturl.at/j7J8u Schedule a 15-minute intro call with our team to find out how Chris Collins Signature Coaching can grow your bottom line. http://bit.ly/CCIschedule Got a question? Call us at 1-833-3-ASK-SDR Grab Chris' New Leadership Book I AM LEADER: https://iamleader.com Grab our best selling books for your team: Your 90-Day roadmap to your best Fixed-Ops month ever starts here: https://swiy.co/F-ln Millionaire Service Advisor also includes our 11-step Circle of Trust System: https://swiy.co/F-lq

Why do good technicians and advisors leave—and what makes them stay?

In SDR #328, Chris Collins and Christian sit down with @clintpulver author of I Love It Here and the "Undercover Millennial," who has interviewed over 11,000 employees undercover to find the truth about retention. Here's what they discovered: it's not just about money.

In this episode, you'll learn:

- Why employees quit managers, not jobs

- The status interview every Service Manager should run before an exit interview

- How culture, mentorship, and recognition outperform pay raises

- The leadership shift that turns churn into long-term loyalty

If you're serious about keeping your best techs and advisors, this episode gives you the playbook.

#ServiceManager #FixedOps #TechnicianRetention #ServiceDrive #CarDealership #Leadership #EmployeeRetention

Are your technicians leaving for $2 more an hour—or is there a deeper reason?

In SDR #327, Chris & Christian break down why tech retention has less to do with pay plans and everything to do with leadership, systems, and culture. Most dealerships ask the wrong question: "Am I paying my techs enough?"

The real question is, "Have I built an environment where great techs want to stay?"

In this episode, you'll discover: - Why weak Service Advisors are the #1 reason techs quit - How broken systems (lost keys, bad dispatch, weak processes) drive top performers out - The role Parts Departments play in technician retention - Why training and mentorship are non-negotiable for long-term success - How shop culture impacts CSI, retention, and customer-pay hours - Leadership lessons that prove: he or she who has the most techs, wins If you're a Service Manager or Fixed Ops leader worried about turnover, flat ROs, and frustrated technicians, this episode is your blueprint for fixing the real problem—not just raising pay. 🔥 Build systems. Train advisors. Protect culture. That's how you keep your best techs.

How do you make the leap from Service Manager to General Manager? In SDR #326, Chris & Christian lay out the 7 key steps every ambitious Fixed Ops leader needs to follow if they want to run the whole dealership. Most Service Managers get stuck because they only think about their department.

But the path to GM requires mastering leadership, profitability, culture, and dealership-wide strategy. In this episode, you'll learn exactly what separates managers who stay in the service lane from those who rise to the top.

We also cover: - The mindset shift every Service Manager needs before becoming GM - Why controlling hours per RO and gross profit isn't enough - How to think like an owner, not just a department head - The importance of recruiting, coaching, and culture-building daily - Industry news, leadership lessons, and Top Dog updates

Whether you're just starting to think about your next step—or you're actively gunning for the GM seat—this episode gives you a roadmap to get there.

If you want more than just survival in Fixed Ops… if you want to run the whole show… this is the playbook.

#ServiceManager #FixedOps #CarDealership #AutomotiveLeadership #ServiceDrive

OnDemand Training For Huge Results - https://shorturl.at/j7J8u

Schedule a 15-minute intro call with our team to find out how Chris Collins Signature Coaching can grow your bottom line. http://bit.ly/CCIschedule

Got a question? Call us at 1-833-3-ASK-SDR

Grab Chris' New Leadership Book I AM LEADER: https://iamleaderbook.com

Grab our best selling books for your team: Your 90-Day roadmap to your best Fixed-Ops month ever starts here: https://swiy.co/F-ln

Millionaire Service Advisor also includes our 11-step Circle of Trust System: https://swiy.co/F-lq

When is a new service advisor really ready? In SDR #325, Chris & Christian break down training timelines, feedback loops, and why rushing onboarding ruins more advisors than it helps.

Plus, industry updates on Ford recalls, Nissan's struggles, and more. We also tackle one of the most common questions in the service drive: how long does it actually take to get a new service advisor up to speed? Is it 6 months? A year? Or is there no set timeline at all?

Chris & Christian also reveal why "one-size-fits-all" training doesn't work—and how dealerships can create smarter onboarding systems that build confidence, boost CSI, and keep advisors around for the long haul.

We also cover:

- Why there's no universal timeline for training advisors

- How feedback loops and gradual workload increases build lasting success

- Leadership lessons on hosting, culture, and Top Dog Live prep

- Industry news: Nissan plant closure, Ford F-150 recall, and rising brand loyalty

If you're serious about building a high-performing service team—and want to avoid burning out new hires before they're ready—you won't want to miss this one.

#ServiceDriveRevolution #DealershipLife #AdvisorTraining #FixedOps #ChrisCollins #TopDogLive

Offers on Training and Books in Description Below ⬇⬇⬇

OnDemand Training For Huge Results - https://shorturl.at/j7J8u

Schedule a 15-minute intro call with our team to find out how Chris Collins Signature Coaching can grow your bottom line. http://bit.ly/CCIschedule

Got a question? Call us at 1-833-3-ASK-SDR

Grab Chris' New Leadership Book I AM LEADER: https://iamleaderbook.com

Grab our best selling books for your team: Your 90-Day roadmap to your best Fixed-Ops month ever starts here: https://swiy.co/F-ln

Millionaire Service Advisor also includes our 11-step Circle of Trust System: https://swiy.co/F-lq