Developing strong group dynamics is a key strategy for ensuring efficient and successful car wash management. Studies have shown that employees are more dedicated to the success of a business when they feel that they are a part of the team. Moreover, this will boost employee morale. High employee morale contributes greatly to increasing the productivity of your car wash employees. Incorporating this positive group and team dynamic will take some time and effort. However, it is a worthwhile investment that will reap great benefits for your car wash management strategies over time.

Improve Group Dynamics With Group Development Strategies

It is important that you understand the five stages of group development. Especially, when developing this positive group dynamic to boost employee morale within your car wash business. Bruce Tuckman, a psychologist, developed these five stages of development that have become a guide for businesses and groups globally. Each stage of this group development guide builds on the other, to create a wholesome understanding of group dynamics that every group manager should be aware of. Tucker’s group development stages are: forming, storming, norming, performing and adjourning. Let’s take a look at how you can incorporate each of these stages successfully within the structure of your business’ car wash management.

Forming – Laying a Proper Foundation To Boost Employee Morale

This is the orientation phase of the creating a group with positive a group dynamic. Employees  meet each other  and get to know each other through observations and gathering impressions. Your employees will look to you as the leader in this stage, to provide proper directions and guidance.  It is important that you use positive leadership skills at this stage to guide efficient car wash management. Motivate your employees as a team to achieve success.

At this stage, your employees will tend to be extra polite, as they are trying to form a good impression. Group members may also identify differences and similarities between their fellow group members and themselves, and may even form personal preferences for sub-groupings or cliques. While this may be unavoidable, what is important is that you orient them well within your business. Outline what is expected of them, your organization culture and what they should expect from you as a leader.

Storming – Dealing With Group Conflict and Competition

After the group has gone through the orientation phase, storming is the next group transition that you will have to understand within your car wash management plan. This stage deals with the conflict that may potentially arise when different individuals are trying to work together as one team. Personalities may clash as everyone has their own way of doing things, and each person may have their own organizational skills. As a leader, you have to be mindful of  these personality differences, so that you know how to deal with conflicts when they arise.

In this phase there might also be a lot of questions about who should be doing what and how they should be doing their work. The natural behavior of group members will also emerge by this stage, as initial pleasantries would have subsided. If conflicts and disagreements are not properly dealt with from the managerial level, this can destroy employee morale. Be open to listening to the concerns of your employees, and pay attention to behavior changes.

Norming – Creating a Unified Front

Now, that you have resolved the conflicts successfully, your team is more unified and cohesive. They understand each other better and know how to work well with each other. The stage gets this description as one creates the norms within the group and the general work flow is understood. As leader in this stage, ensure that you keep the team vibe flowing. Your employees feel that they are a part of the team. Therefore, keep them involved in the business operations and commend their achievements, in order to boost employee morale even more.

Performing – Management Success to Boost Employee Morale

In this stage of your car wash management, your employees are more independent in their operations. They have a clear understanding of what they are required to do. Moreover, they do their job efficiently. You and your team can focus on problem solving and productivity. If the other stages are ok, then your team will be highly motivated. Moreover, you will boost their morale as well. They are operating on a new front and your role as leader will be to captain this ship carefully and guide a successful car wash management system.

Adjourning – Concluding the Group’s Operations

This is the final stage of the group development process, where the group’s operations have come to an end. As a business owner you may not be thinking of closing soon, but when the time comes it is important to know how to conclude business well. Group members bid farewell to each other in this stage, reflecting on the job done. As a manager, you should commend workers for a job well done, and if possible rewards them.

Practice Makes Perfect

Now that you know how to improve your car wash management skills to build group dynamics and boost employee morale, practice implementing some of these tips. Be mindful of these group dynamics as well as the traits that you need to have as a manager to ensure a successfully run car wash operation.

If you would like to know more about becoming a franchisee or get more franchise training information on employees and car wash management, take some time to view the information on our site.

Enjoyed this post? Sign up for our newsletter to receive more valuable business and franchise info, ideas, and extras!