THE ABILITY TO CONDUCT EFFECTIVE STAFF MEETINGS is one of the most important requirements for successful dealers and managers. But there seems to be minimal effort and few available programs to develop key dealership personnel in this important talent.

Sales managers (and many dealers) who are naturally gregarious and loaded with hype are often prone to use the meeting forum as a site for theatrical      performances.

They attempt to pump up' the attendees with lengthy dramatic monologues. Also, there often may be time-consuming discussions on minor topics such as     adjusting the heat thermostat, securing the building at night and showing up  at meetings on time. If there's a time and place for that, it's seldom at staff     meetings.

Some dealers and general managers conduct manager's meetings as though   they were holding court. Those meetings are stressful, constraining, imperso-  nal and exclusively bottom-line oriented.

The powerful influence of an aggressive dealer in an authoritative meeting can create an atmosphere of compliance which lowers the level of authentic feed-  back.

Don't turn your staff meeting's into a one-man show. Facilitate, don't dominate.